Best Lisa at Lab In Every Lesson Podcasts (2025)

1
Lean Into Teaching as a Scientific Experiment! 24:32

1M ago24:32

24:32

As teachers, we constantly seek new ideas, strategies, and inspiration—but when does learning become a crutch instead of a tool for action? In this episode of Deep Roots, Flowers, and Fruit, we'll reflect on the balance between curiosity and implementation. From professional development to classroom experimentation, we'll explore how embracing the …

1
Spring Cleaning Your Science Teaching! 19:41

2M ago19:41

19:41

As the school year winds down, do you ever feel that itch to shake things up? 🌱✨ That sense that what worked this year might need a refresh next year? In this episode, we’re talking about curiosity as an act of service—why great teaching isn’t a “set it and forget it” career, but one that evolves with time, students, and our own growth. I’m sharing…

1
Rooted in Science: Strengthening Student Connections to Inquiry-Based Learning 18:43

2M ago18:43

18:43

February is all about connection—but not just in relationships. In this episode of Deep Roots, Flowers, and Fruit, we explore what it means to truly connect students to science as a practice, not just as a set of facts. Too often, science instruction checks off the boxes—“I did a lab, so I included the science and engineering practices!”—but is tha…

1
Are You Experiencing “Root Rot” in Your Teaching Life? 24:36

2M ago24:36

24:36

This episode takes a deeply personal turn as we explore the hidden struggles educators face—especially in the darker, more challenging seasons of our careers. In keeping with our flora-focused analogy and inspired by the concept of root rot, we’ll dive into the imbalances that drain our energy and passion, from the relentless demands of teaching to…

1
Collaboration in the Classroom: Real Talk and Fresh Strategies 25:41

2M ago25:41

25:41

Collaboration is essential for student growth, but it’s not always easy! In this episode, I reflect on a surprising groupwork success story, the challenges of fostering teamwork in my own high school chemistry classroom, and what I’ve learned from trial, error, and real teacher conversations. Whether you’re struggling with group dynamics or rethink…

1
The Heart of Service – How Connection Fuels Our Impact 25:30

3M ago25:30

25:30

February is the month of love, and in this episode, we’re digging into the root of SERVICE—specifically, how our relationships with stakeholders (coworkers, administrators, special ed staff, guidance counselors, parents) shape our work as educators. Let’s be real: Teaching is hard, especially when the very people who should be on our team don’t alw…

1
Sowing the Seed: A Month of CONNECTION in the Classroom and Beyond 22:38

3M ago22:38

22:38

It's nearly a new month! Each new month we'll explore a new seed from which to grow strong roots in our teaching practice. In February, the new seed is CONNECTION. As educators, we’re constantly forming connections—with students, colleagues, curriculum, and even ourselves. But in the rush of responsibilities, how often do we truly nurture those con…

1
3 Core Elements of Science That Spark Amazing Student Success 31:43

3M ago31:43

31:43

This is the final episode of defining our ROOTS on this podcast! In it, we're diving deep into the idea that science isn't just a collection of facts to memorize; it's an active, ever-present way of thinking and processing the world around us. We'll consider how science is at work as one root of our professional practice and how to use it to grow s…

1
The Only P.H.D. You Need! 13:03

3M ago13:03

13:03

In this episode, we explore the power of a purpose-driven mindset in teaching and its deep connection to the service-oriented nature of our profession. I share my personal journey from pursuing a master's degree in chemistry to embracing the art and practice of education, reflecting on why academic qualifications don’t always equate to effective te…

1
Rooting in STUDENTS 21:45

4M ago21:45

21:45

In this episode, I share the story of a student who found newfound confidence and skills after a shared connection over football fandom and a meaningful classroom challenge. Using this story as a springboard, we’ll explore strategies for creating student-centered learning experiences that foster trust, relationships, and personal growth. Together, …

1
Rebooting With A Focus On Our Roots 21:40

4M ago21:40

21:40

This is the first episode in a reboot of the Lab In Every Lesson podcast for 2025! In it, we'll explore the idea that our strong roots—our core purposes as teachers—lead to abundant outcomes in student learning (our fruit). This year, expect shorter, more interactive episodes focused on our shared roots of STUDENTS, SERVICE, and SCIENCE. I'll also …

1
Why Engagement and Achievement Aren't Improving In Your Science Classroom 29:17

10M ago29:17

29:17

As an Enneagram Type 3 Achiever, I thrive on setting and achieving goals, sometimes to a fault. To balance this while using student-centered teaching strategies to a foster positive classroom culture, I’ve embraced two essential core values that I believe are perfect for science teachers. In this video, I’ll share how these values guide my teaching…

1
Create Custom Core Values For Your Science Classroom 38:29

10M ago38:29

38:29

Throw away that statement of teaching philosophy that you wrote in college or grad school! Then, hang with me through this series where I share with you my own science classroom core values and how they connect to my unique talents and challenges when teaching science. By defining core values for our classrooms that reflect our unique personalities…

1
Are you CRUSHING student confidence in your science classroom? 49:50

12M ago49:50

49:50

Do you realize that LOW ENGAGEMENT is one of the most common signs of low self-esteem and low confidence in our middle school and high school science students?! In this episode, I'll share 3 instructional strategies that might actually be CONTRIBUTING to those feelings and CRUSHING your students' confidence. You’ll learn active learning strategies …

1
When You SHOW OFF, Your Students SUCCEED. 21:10

1y ago21:10

21:10

It's time for a little science teacher reflection! We've been taught to use tools like Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge to think about and plan for how we'll require *our students* to make their learning visible. But, I bet you've rarely (if ever) been encouraged to demonstrate your own mastery of TEACHING & LEARNING using the same so…

1
Turn to Tech for Seamless Science Routines 50:02

1y ago50:02

50:02

Integrating *the right edtech tools* into your middle school or high school science curriculum and instruction -- everyday lesson plans for science -- can make active learning a realistic routine, enhance student-centered culture in your classroom, and make students' thinking visible by providing a means to collect regular, reliable evidence of lea…

1
Your students CAN overcome obstacles. 22:42

1y ago22:42

22:42

Let's create a culture of curiosity in our classrooms by adding COMFORTABLE STRUGGLE to all the lesson plans in our science curriculum! This episode will refresh what you remember about depth of knowledge and why it's important to our instructional design. Then, I'll explain exactly how the scientific method -- especially observation and inferences…

1
NGSS doesn't have to be such a nightmare! 27:30

1y ago27:30

27:30

The CROSS-CUTTING CONCEPTS listed in the Next Generation Science Standards aren’t our enemies! They make active learning possible because they create a list of basic scientific practice we can lean on to ensure our activities are designed to leverage and develop the skills related to scientific investigations and make thinking visible. When we incl…

1
Engage students with science activities like these. 42:48

1y ago42:48

42:48

By creating lesson plans for your science curriculum that focus on the beginning of all science practice -- observation and inferences -- you can increase engagement in a way that makes student thinking visible so that you know *exactly* how to support them. Don't believe the myth that we have to separate "lab" from "lecture" in our science classro…

1
Wake up your science classroom! 35:46

1y ago35:46

35:46

Are you seeking innovative ways to ENGAGE STUDENTS in your science classroom and elevate your science curriculum? Join me as I share THE FIVE THINGS I NEED to plan daily, inquiry-based activities for my high school science students. These five things, when used to strategically design activities, form the foundation of dynamic lesson plans for scie…

1
At long last ... a brand new look! 17:23

1y ago17:23

17:23

!I took a loooong, 5-month break from posting new content here ... and everywhere. But, I'M BACK, and I promise you that it was worth the wait! In this episode, I'll share why you haven't heard from me, and I'll reveal some great new things I have planned in the VERY NEAR FUTURE. ----more---- Episode Highlights: 1. Plans make everything possible. N…

1
Creativity In Science: Support & Solutions For Teachers 36:36

1+ y ago36:36

36:36

Are you a science teacher looking to inject more creativity into your classroom? You're in the right place! Join Lisa from Lab In Every Lesson in this enlightening podcast episode as she dives deep into the world of creativity in science education. In a world where it can sometimes feel like other teachers are more creative, Lisa is here to empower…

1
Modeling Our Love Of Science To Teach With Enthusiasm 46:03

2y ago46:03

46:03

As a science teacher in virtual school, I have the unique opportunity to watch recordings of the classes I lead. This can be an excruciating activity for many reasons, not the least of which is realizing just how boring class can get and how slowly time passes. But, it's empowering to know that when we teach with enthusiasm, the students don't feel…

1
Knowing Every Student: Tools & Strategies To Learn About Student Strengths In The Science Classroom 51:22

2y ago51:22

51:22

When pressed to share individualized input about specific students in your science classroom, can you? For years I struggled with this task because I led a teacher-centered classroom wherein I lectured on every day except "lab day". Now, that's not to say that I didn't ask questions and create discourse ... I did. I also gave them practice opportun…

1
Serving Students: How To Show Them You Care 29:34

2y ago29:34

29:34

Graham Nuthall, in his text "The Hidden Lives of Learners", suggests that students already know 60% of what we're going to teach them. 🤯 When we're talking about teaching science concepts and skills, this is so hard to believe and should be saved for another discussion entirely! But, if that statistic is remotely true, then how much might they poss…

1
Organization Tips for Science Teachers: Active Learning Lesson Plans & Student Data 26:55

2y ago26:55

26:55

Student-centered classrooms are action-oriented. It stands to reason, then, that the data we collect needs to be similarly action-oriented, rooted in what we've planned for students to do and what they've actually done during their time executing the lesson. In this episode, I discuss how my free Active Learning Lesson Plan can be used to ensure th…

1
Setting Goals For Active Learning In The Science Classroom 18:57

2y ago18:57

18:57

Science Teachers! When it comes to setting learning goals for whole content units and individual lessons, you're THE BOSS!!! But, when it comes to setting goals for a science classroom makeover that can help YOU BANISH BURNOUT FOREVER, you might have hit a wall. Since you wear one million hats, the big goals you set -- the ones that align with your…

1
Why and How To Make Teacher Reflection A Routine? 42:18

2y ago42:18

42:18

Continual improvement only comes from regular reflection. When science teachers lecture, the only aspects of their instruction upon which they can reflect include those dictated by the content ... what they say or how they say it. In a student-centered science classroom, teacher reflection can and should happen at all four stages in the teaching an…

1
How To Create Change In The Culture of a Science Classroom 21:16

2y ago21:16

21:16

Knowledge cannot be transferred. Yet, science teachers easily get stuck in the rut of teaching by telling. We sing our Lecture Hall Lullabies, and then complain about the lack of student engagement in our science classrooms! Creating a student-centered classroom environment requires more than just preparing and delivering activities for students to…

1
The One You‘ll Listen To When You Feel You‘ve Failed 51:21

3+ y ago51:21

51:21

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Have you heard that one? It's a quote is by Seneca. Um .... Seneca?! I'm an 80s baby who lived her best life in the 90s so, to me, that's the famous final line of "Closing Time" by Semisonic! ⌚ Good thing it's a catchy tune, because I've needed to remind myself of that as every season of …

1
Generating Student Buy-In and Creating Consistency In A Student-Centered Classroom 58:21

3+ y ago58:21

58:21

Before -- or after -- listening to this episode, you'll want to check out an episode of Cesar Milan's "Better Human, Better Dog" show currently airing on National Geographic. Caesar is an accomplished dog trainer and is able to, essentially, tame some wild, out of control dogs. There are also instances where he encounters dogs who exist in a state …

1
My Interview With A Very Special Student 20:25

3+ y ago20:25

20:25

Currently, the most-downloaded episode of the Student-Centered Science Teacher Podcast is Episode #12, "What Students Say About Student-Centered Learning In Science". In a way, this makes perfect sense to me. As a teacher seeking to transform my instructional practice, I was most concerned about how the students would receive it, what they would do…

1
5 Ways Technology Can Leverage Student-Centered Learning in Science 36:30

3+ y ago36:30

36:30

Technology is a cornerstone of student-centered learning in science in our modern society. In this episode, I’ll give you some examples of which technology I love for my own student-centered science classroom, but this isn't going to be an episode focused on examples of technologies that work or those that may be among the best. In fact, there's no…

1
Adjusting Curriculum Sequence To Support Student-Centered Learning 25:51

3+ y ago25:51

25:51

Three years ago I made the switch to student-centered learning for my virtual chemistry classroom. When I did, I felt as discouraged by fear as I did invigorated by a change toward what I deeply believed was something better, something so much more meaningful and impactful to the lives of my students. I did not believe my students would cooperate. …

1
Getting Real About What It Takes To Make The Shift To Student-Centered Learning in Science 44:07

3+ y ago44:07

44:07

You may have heard, seen, read, or assumed that making the switch to a student-centered classroom will create more time for you, provide you with more freedom, or that you’ll work less hard. With teachers continuing to leave the profession for a laundry list of reasons related to overwork, under-appreciation, unreasonable expectations, and the gene…

1
Teachers Are Servant Leaders In Their Student-Centered Classrooms 27:41

3+ y ago27:41

27:41

Mastering the art of creating unique, engaging and effective lesson plans is only part of the challenge we face in making the switch to student centered learning in our classrooms. While I believe that an effective lesson plan is the cornerstone of student centered learning, its delivery will ultimately determine its worth. This episode begins a se…

1
What Students Say About Interactive Science Lessons and My Student Centered Classroom 38:08

3+ y ago38:08

38:08

YOU are someone’s favorite teacher! That’s right … you brighten that kids’ day, make them smile, or pick them up when they’re feeling down. We’re all drawn to different people for some reason we sometimes can’t quite articulate. But, are you someone’s favorite teacher because of the lessons you’ve planned? Have you’ve helped them overcome some huge…

1
Going Virtual with Student Centered Learning 44:23

3+ y ago44:23

44:23

Do you think student centered learning only works in a traditional classroom with four walls? If so, think again. This was a limiting belief that I had for probably 9 of my 11 years as a cyber school science teacher. No one had ever suggested that I could be more than a talking head or provide more for students to work with than a set of guided not…

1
Why I Include Skill Practice At The End of Every Interactive Science Lesson 29:40

3+ y ago29:40

29:40

In this 5-Element series, I’ve been reviewing each of the elements of my lesson planning framework in the order of how I present them to students throughout the progression of a lesson. In this episode, I discuss the fifth and final component of my lessons: skill practice. For me, skill practice is included on the heels of data dependent analysis o…

1
How Regular Data Analysis Complements Student Centered Learning 40:23

3+ y ago40:23

40:23

In the Data-Dependent Analysis portion of my student centered lessons, I teach students how to use data they collect during their interactive Learning Experience. We pull back and reflect on what they’ve collected to consider what they’ve learned. In the planning, it’s nothing more than a series of questions – sometimes scaffolded questions -- lead…

1
How To Prepare Student Centered Learning Experiences That Work In Any Learning Environment 54:25

4y ago54:25

54:25

The phrases, “learning experience” and “student exploration” are some I’d use to describe what I learned from my study of the Visible Learning for Science text if I had to explain it in a sentence or two. I emerged from my reflection on it with three main professional goals for the 2019-2020 school year, my worst-ever year for student engagement: t…

1
How To Write Learning Intentions & Success Criteria To Provide Clear Expectations 52:38

4y ago52:38

52:38

In my student centered classroom, my role is the same as a variety show host! My job is to plan it out, introduce the cast of characters, and provide some context, but I am not the star of the show. I might as well shout, “Students! Take it away!”. But without knowing what they need to do, why they need to do it, or how they'll demonstrate that the…

1
How to Activate and Integrate Prior Knowledge into Interactive Science Lessons 35:54

4y ago35:54

35:54

This marks the start of a 5-week series where I’ll share details of the framework I use to create interactive science lessons for student centered learning in my very on virtual high school chemistry class! Today's topic is “Review & Preview”. In this episode, I'll share with you the research that inspired me to make it so much more than busy work …

1
A Research-Based Approach to Student Centered Lesson Planning 20:13

4y ago20:13

20:13

My interpretation and understanding of student centered learning may not be textbook. But, then again, is anything that happens in our classroom really "textbook"?! I've spent the last several weeks detailing for you the most impactful research-based concepts from the Visible Learning text that transformed my practice. In this episode, I'll explain…

1
How To Differentiate Student Centered Learning Activities 22:38

4y ago22:38

22:38

Today, we’re talking about DIFFERENTIATION. In my 11 years of participating in professional development, I've learned that we should be able to differentiate content, process, and product. But, no one ever described how we should accomplish that! The authors of Visible Learning get it done, though! So, we'll discuss differentiation, Visible Learnin…

1
Instructional Strategies THAT WORK to Nurture Student Centered Learning 19:11

4y ago19:11

19:11

In our tour through the text, Visible Learning: What Works Best to Optimize Student Learning, we consider the effectiveness of various instructional strategies and something the authors refer to as “effect size". The effect size of common strategies are discussed, but we reveal that those strategies with the highest effect size values, those that a…

1
Is Learning Visible In Your Classroom? 41:52

4y ago41:52

41:52

We begin our study of the text, Visible Learning for Science, by considering some nuances presented by the authors in the introduction which have formed the foundation of the Lab In Every Lesson approach for preparing and delivering interactive science lessons.By Lisa at Lab In Every Lesson

1
Welcome! Who I Am and Why You Should Tune In ... 26:02

4y ago26:02

26:02

Welcome to my new podcast! In this episode, I invite you to learn more about my credentials and begin a book study with me as you seek to explore options for making your classroom more active and your students more capable.By Lisa Karosas from Lab In Every Lesson

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Lisa At Lab In Every Lesson Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen