Best Differentiated Instruction Podcasts (2025)

In this episode, the Creativity Department talks with Sarah Delphus, NAEA’s Eastern Region Vice President-Elect, about ways to make hybrid learning spaces into environments where students can be their creative selves. Explore practical strategies for adapting lessons to meet specific student needs, challenges and successes of integrating technology…

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Evolving CUE into CALIE: Building a Modern Network for Innovative Educators with Christine Feenstra 36:01

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4d ago36:01

36:01

In this episode, I chat with Christine Feenstra, Executive Director of the California Association for Leading Innovation in Education (CALIE)—formerly known as CUE—about the organization’s evolution and rebrand. Christine shares the why behind the shift, how her team engaged educators and stakeholders throughout the process, and what this change me…

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104. Anger and Explosive Behaviors: Understanding the Why Behind the Outburst 14:23

5d ago14:23

14:23

In this episode, Lisa dives into one of the toughest challenges special educators face — anger and explosive behaviors. From meltdowns to moments of defiance, Lisa helps you unpack the why behind the outburst. You’ll learn how the brain responds to stress, what common triggers look like, and how to co-regulate and respond with empathy instead of re…

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Episode 252: Success Criteria 54:19

6d ago54:19

54:19

TR is joined by Mike Friedberg to talk about middle school science and using success criteria to check for mastery and track student progress Show Notes Edutopia videos profiling MCP: High School Elementary School Mike's unit plan demonstrating his use of success criteria The Danielson Framework Connect with Mike on Twitter/X @mfriedbergteach Learn…

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Beyond Accuracy: Evaluating the learned representations of Generative AI models | Aida Nematzadeh 53:17

9d ago53:17

53:17

Dr. Aida Nematzadeh is a Senior Staff Research Scientist at Google DeepMind where her research focused on multimodal AI models. She works on developing evaluation methods and analyze model’s learning abilities to detect failure modes and guide improvements. Before joining DeepMind, she was a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley and completed her …

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Episode 235 – Susan Silva – Empowering Students through Photography 40:01

9d ago40:01

40:01

In this episode, Matt and Laura chat with art educator on the topic of photography. Specifically, the role photography plays in art education, how she integrates both technical skills and creative expression when teaching, how photography helps students develop critical thinking and visual literacy skills, and practical tips for making photography …

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Differentiation + AI: Making It Manageable 16:14

11d ago16:14

16:14

In this episode, I explore how AI can make differentiation not only doable but sustainable. I share how I use AI tools to support differentiation across content, process, product, and learning environment—helping teachers meet diverse learner needs without doubling their workload. From creating leveled texts and choice boards to designing asset-bas…

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Ep. 27: SLAyyy Creating Compelling Content with Señor Wooly 1:09:37

11d ago1:09:37

1:09:37

Gaslight What is it that we want to / have to teach? There Is No Faking a Storyteller’s Intention “One Day, You Will Have a Real Conversation” Gatekeep - Jim Wooldridge What does the life of a kid look like? The Novelty Disappears - What is the Driving Reason? Start With Your Problem and Communicative Purpose Girlboss Know Your Context and Know You…

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103. When Paras Don’t Listen: Training and Leading with Confidence in Inclusion 11:08

12d ago11:08

11:08

In this episode, Lisa gets real about one of the hardest parts of being a special education teacher — training paraprofessionals who just won’t listen. She breaks down why this happens, how to set clear expectations, and how to lead with confidence and compassion in an inclusion setting. You’ll learn how to build buy-in, communicate effectively, an…

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Episode 251: Chesapeake Schools 39:17

13d ago39:17

39:17

TR is joined by Jataune Jones and Freddie Alarcon to talk about how they supported teachers in a district-wide rollout of the MCP model and the positive outcomes of implementing at a large scale Show Notes Modern Classrooms + Chesapeake Impact Report Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week It often feels harder to miss school than to teach when …

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Differentiation in Action: Making Learning Accessible and Engaging for Every Student 30:12

18d ago30:12

30:12

Differentiation doesn’t have to mean creating 30 different versions of a lesson. In this episode, I unpack what differentiation really looks like in practice and why it’s essential in today’s diverse classrooms. I share examples from elementary, middle, and high school to show how teachers can adjust content, process, product, and learning environm…

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102. ADHD Tips and Tricks in the Classroom 14:18

20d ago14:18

14:18

In this episode of Teach Task Box Inspire, Lisa dives deep into practical, classroom-tested strategies for supporting students with ADHD. From setting up structured environments and predictable routines to using movement, visuals, and positive reinforcement, she shares realistic tools that teachers can implement immediately. Lisa also explores moti…

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Episode 250: Visual Rubrics 50:14

20d ago50:14

50:14

TR is joined by Eileen Ng to discuss her use of visual rubrics to enable authentic assessment, reflection, and learning Show Notes Examples of Eileen's visual rubrics: Spider Web Lab Report Four-Level Rubric EDrenaline RUsh The Personal Record Rubric The Spider Graph rubric, based on Dungeons and Dragons See also - Lucas Blair's "Dungeons and Drago…

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Episode 234 – Momo Pixel – Coding, Culture, & Creativity 42:27

23d ago42:27

42:27

In this episode, Matt and Laura welcome back award-winning art director, game designer, and artist Momo Pixel to talk about her work across the mediums of games, fashion, pixel art, and music! Momo is the creator of the viral game “Hair Nah” as well many other interactives for Hulu, Google, and much more. Momo shares her personal approach to creati…

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Driving Inquiry & Documenting Thinking with Learning Walls featuring Jessica Vance 49:34

25d ago49:34

49:34

By catlinthebalance

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101. Task Boxes Meet Burnout Prevention 8:44

27d ago8:44

8:44

In this episode of Teach Task Box Inspire, Lisa shares a fresh perspective on how task boxes can support not just students, but teachers too. Burnout in special education is real, and sometimes we need practical tools that lighten the load while still building student success. Lisa explains how task boxes can reduce planning stress, create breathin…

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Episode 249: Dungeons and Dragons and Self Pacing 1:02:57

27d ago1:02:57

1:02:57

TR is joined by Travis Hammer to talk about how he uses the MCP model in his Dungeons and Dragons class to teach social and soft skills through gaming Show Notes Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) Balder’s Gate III Wizards of the Coast SchoolAI [Example DnD Assignments](https://open.bu.edu Not Another DnD Podcast Dimension20 D20 Adventuring Academy The Ore…

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Episode 233 – Jorge Lucero – Acts of Caring for Art Educator 42:17

1M ago42:17

42:17

In this episode, Matt and Laura welcome back artist, educator, and author Jorge Lucero to share his practices of caring for fellow art educators. Listen in and hear specifically about how writing letters of recommendation turned into an opportunity to lift up the importance of the work art educators do! Jorge shares what goes into these letters, fr…

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Setting the Stage for Station Rotation Success: Agreements, Routines, and Student Accountability 28:33

1M ago28:33

28:33

In this episode of The Balance, I tackle one of the biggest concerns teachers raise about the Station Rotation Model: can I really trust students to work independently while I’m at the teacher-led station? I share strategies for setting the stage for success, including co-creating class agreements, establishing a clear and consistent path of conseq…

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100. Celebrating 100 Episodes of Teach, Task Box, Inspire 11:24

1M ago11:24

11:24

In this milestone 100th episode of Teach, Task Box, Inspire, I’m celebrating by looking back at the biggest lessons from the past 100 episodes. Instead of just rattling off a list, I’m sharing the stories, strategies, and “aha” moments behind your favorite episodes—classroom setup, independence, behavior, staff training, and practical tools that ma…

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Episode 248: Station Rotation 55:54

1M ago55:54

55:54

TR is joined by Catlin Tucker to talk about the Station Rotation model of blended learning Show Notes Catlin Tucker NotebookLM "The Station Rotation Model and UDL," by Catlin Tucker Study Guide for The Station Rotation Model and UDL Universal Design for Learning The Four C's "The Shift to Student Led," by Catlin Tucker Learning Experiences for the …

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Episode 232 – Jason Blair – Scribbles to Stories: The Impact of Elementary Art 44:11

1M ago44:11

44:11

In this episode, Matt & Laura chat with returning guest – Jason Blair about the essential role the arts play in young students’ development. Listen in to discover how artmaking supports the growth of critical skills, strengthens students’ ability to communicate complex ideas, and fosters a deeper sense of community. Through playful exploration, mul…

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Differentiated Instruction at the Teacher-Led Station: Making the Most of the Station Rotation Model 19:12

1M ago19:12

19:12

In this episode of The Balance, I dig into why the teacher-led station is the heart of the Station Rotation Model. I share how I use this time with small groups for differentiated direct instruction, modeling sessions, and need-based instruction driven by real-time data. I also discuss how I facilitate rich discussions using Webb’s Depth of Knowled…

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Ep. 25: SLAyyy Pronunciation Pedagogy 57:50

1M ago57:50

57:50

SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone Website Gaslight Everything Will Work Out in the End (Maybe?) The Critical Period Relationship to One’s Own Accent Gatekeep - Vijay A Ramjattan, Imagining an anti-racist pronunciation pedagogy, ELT Journal, Volume 78, Issue 3, July 2024, Pages 318–325 Webinar on the Same Topic Refusal - Relational - …

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99. Building Paraprofessional Confidence From Day One 14:35

1M ago14:35

14:35

In Episode 99 of Teach, Task Box, Inspire, we’re focusing on the heart of every special education classroom—paraprofessionals. When paraprofessionals feel confident, the whole classroom benefits. In this episode, I share why confidence matters so much, the barriers that often hold paraprofessionals back, and practical ways to build their skills and…

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Episode 247: Engaging Professional Development 1:01:49

1M ago1:01:49

1:01:49

TR is joined by Erin Luckhardt and Kim Weaver to talk about the importance of relevant, differentiated professional development opportunities for teachers Show Notes Meet Every Learner's Needs, by Rob Barnett Kareem on the Cult of Pedagogy podcast: Everything You Need to Know About Building a Great Screencast Video How to Create a Self-Paced Classr…

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98. Fading Prompts Without Losing Independence 13:16

1M ago13:16

13:16

In Episode 98 of Teach, Task Box, Inspire, we’re tackling one of the trickiest parts of special education: how to fade prompts without losing independence. Too much support leads to dependence, but too little too soon can cause frustration. In this episode, I break down what prompt fading really looks like, the biggest mistakes to avoid, and practi…

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Episode 231 – Tamryn McDermott – Multimodal Learning 43:32

1M ago43:32

43:32

In this episode, Laura talks with artist, researcher, and teacher – Tamyrn McDermott about multimodal learning! Listen in to learn what this is and how it can be applied in an art classroom. Tamryn shares strategies and activities she’s used in her own experience that art educators can introduce into their existing programs. During the discussion, …

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Future-Focused Schools: Career-Connected Learning with Shira Woolf Cohen 51:45

2M ago51:45

51:45

In this episode of The Balance, I talk with Shira Woolf Cohen, co-founder of Innovageous and author of Leading Future-Focused Schools: Engaging and Preparing Students for Career Success. With nearly three decades in education and workforce development, Shira shares why the gap between what students learn in school and the skills needed in today’s w…

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Episode 246: Math Mentor Relationship 42:56

2M ago42:56

42:56

Zach is joined by Candi Williams to talk about the MCP virtual mentorship experience and the value of personalized coaching and feedback in the MCP program Show Notes Wavio and The Wavio Pulse Tracker Zach's anonymized progress tracker Connect with Candi by email at [email protected] Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week: Wan…

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Episode 230 – Reflecting & Resetting for the School Year Ahead 47:39

2M ago47:39

47:39

Back-to-school season is upon us with a new crowd of students and new host of challenges! In this episode Matt & Laura discuss common challenges we face as art educators and how to prepare for them. Discover actionable steps and strategies to ensure a smooth transition, including planning curriculum for the year, creating successful routines, formi…

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How Schools Can Balance Curriculum Fidelity and Teacher Creativity 32:07

2M ago32:07

32:07

In this episode, I’m digging into a challenge I hear about a lot: the tension between fidelity to an adopted curriculum and the need for teacher creativity. Too often, teachers feel pressured to follow lessons lockstep, leaving little room to respond to their students’ needs or bring their own expertise into the design. That rigidity can strip away…

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Ep. 24: SLAyyy Shared Reading with Storybooks 40:43

2M ago40:43

40:43

SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone Website Gaslight Missing Out on Kindergarten Day Kids Books Are For the Adults Bored During Shared Reading Gatekeep - Reading Children’s Books Rule How many repetitions do they need? Use of L1 to Get Back to the L2 Program Length, Abstraction, Home Language Girlboss Park and Pause Comprehension-Based…

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97. Winning Over Parents in the First Month-Positive Communication Strategies to Build Trust from the Start 13:00

2M ago13:00

13:00

At the start of the school year, parents are handing over their most precious people to us every day — and for many, that trust doesn’t come easily. In this episode of Teach Task Box Inspire, Lisa shares practical, positive communication strategies for building strong parent partnerships in the first month of school. Through a personal story about …

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Episode 245: Gamification in SPED 58:48

2M ago58:48

58:48

Toni Rose is joined by Dykeisha Hill to talk about using games of all types to bring joy into the classroom and connect with students Show Notes ArtyNerdShop - Dykeisha's Etsy City Year Freedom Riders Some of the games Dykeisha mentions: God of War Kingdom Hearts The Legend of Zelda Ed Tech tools Dykeisha mentions: Edpuzzle Nearpod Peardeck Comic b…

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REFINE: A Structured Approach to AI Prompting for Educators 14:20

2M ago14:20

14:20

AI is transforming education, but I believe strong prompts are the key to unlocking its potential. In this episode, I share the REFINE acronym I developed to give educators a structured approach to writing effective AI prompts. I walk through each step—assigning AI a role, setting clear expectations, framing the context, specifying inclusions, defi…

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96. "Eat That Frog" 10:42

2M ago10:42

10:42

Do you ever feel like your to-do list as a teacher is never-ending—and the hardest tasks keep hanging over your head? In this episode of Teach, Task Box, Inspire, Lisa Hollady shares how the productivity concept “Eat the Frog” can completely transform your teaching day. By tackling your most dreaded, time-consuming, or energy-draining task first, y…

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Episode 244: CTE Student 51:56

2M ago51:56

51:56

Zach is joined by Erin Luckhardt, Michele Deming, and their former student Eve Willoughby, to talk about CTE and using the MCP model to prepare students with real-world career experience Show Notes Kareem on the Cult of Pedagogy podcast: Everything You Need to Know About Building a Great Screencast Video How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom How to …

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Episode 229 – Heather Fountain – Differentiated Instruction - Building Choice, Connection and Ownership 59:41

2M ago59:41

59:41

Honoring learning styles and helping build strong connections is what Differentiated Instruction is all about. In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Dr. Heather Fountain, author of Differentiated Instruction in Art Education. Listen in and explore how art educators can effectively identify the diverse learning needs of students. D…

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Personalized Learning in the Age of AI: Building Strong Foundations with Sunil Gunderia 45:32

2M ago45:32

45:32

In this episode of The Balance, I chat with Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer at Age of Learning, the company behind ABCmouse. Sunil is driving efforts to design AI-powered tools that personalize learning for young children while keeping safety and effectiveness at the center. We discuss how AI can support rather than replace teachers, the i…

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Ep. 23: SLAyyy AI in Language Learning 47:05

2M ago47:05

47:05

Gaslight New Technology! Goals? Overreliance Aligning Classroom with Values Gatekeep - Ivenz, P., & Polakova, P. (2024). Gen Z students and their perceptions of technology in the process of second language acquisition based on the language proficiency level. Arab World English Journal, 15(3), 3-17. Girlboss Nuanced Discussion with Students Referenc…

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95. Your First Paraprofessional Meeting of the Year-What to Cover and Why 12:44

2M ago12:44

12:44

Starting the year strong with your paraprofessionals can make or break your classroom flow. In this episode of Teach Task Box Inspire, Lisa walks you through exactly what to cover in your very first paraprofessional meeting of the school year. From setting clear roles and responsibilities to building rapport, reviewing systems, and creating a commu…

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Episode 243: Math and ELL 40:30

2M ago40:30

40:30

Zach is joined by Miguel Melchor to talk about his approach to working with multilingual learners and coaching teachers using the MCP model Show Notes Miguel's comprehensive resource "Personalized Learning for Multilingual Learners" Screenpal Screencastify Mote Universal Design for Learning Contact us, follow us online, and learn more: Email us que…

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Start Strong: Build Classroom Relationships and Community from Day One 13:56

2M ago13:56

13:56

Strong classroom communities don’t happen by accident—they’re built through intentional, daily practices that prioritize connection. In this second episode of the Starting Strong series, Dr. Catlin Tucker explores how getting to know your students and creating a culture of belonging can transform your classroom environment. She shares practical str…

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Episode 228 – Alicia Gray – Fostering Connection, Healing, and Community through Restorative Practice 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Alicia Gray, Director of Art Education at Montserrat College of Art and contributor to the new book by Davis, Restorative Practice in Education through the Arts. As a former art teacher in a trauma informed school, Alicia brings a new perspective to the conversation about the importance of res…

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94. Teaching: The Most Difficult Profession in the World 15:04

3M ago15:04

15:04

Teaching is more than a career—it’s a calling. But let’s be honest: it’s also the hardest profession in the world. In this episode of Teach, Task Box, Inspire, Lisa Hollady dives into why teaching is so uniquely challenging—and why so many educators feel exhausted, underpaid, and undervalued. From wearing a dozen hats every day to spending our own …

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Episode 242: EduProtocols 48:00

3M ago48:00

48:00

Toni Rose is joined by Zena Brown to talk about the Eduprotocols frameworks and explore the ways Zena uses them in her Modern Classroom Show Notes Edutopia videos profiling MCP: High School Elementary School Eduprotocols Quizziz Eduprotocols Resources ChatGPT Follow Zena on social media @zlbrownschools Contact us, follow us online, and learn more: …

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Episode 227 – Ray Yang & Amanda Karhuse – Meet the Arts Education Alliance 31:44

3M ago31:44

31:44

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Amanda Karhuse, Assistant Executive Director, Advocacy & Public Policy for The National Association for Music Education’s (NafME) and Ray Yang the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) Director of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, and Special Initiatives. Listen in to learn about Arts Ed A…

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Start Strong: Why Teacher Reflection Should Come Before Back-to-School Planning 14:05

3M ago14:05

14:05

Before diving into lesson planning, classroom setup, and organizing all the things, there’s one essential step too many teachers skip—reflection. In this first episode of the Starting Strong series, Dr. Catlin Tucker explores why thoughtful reflection on last year’s wins, challenges, and habits can lead to more intentional, energized teaching. She …