The Balance, by Dr. Catlin Tucker
Dr. Catlin Tucker, a bestselling author and education consultant, hosts this podcast exploring blended learning strategies. She shares insights from her books on student-led learning, UDL, and balancing technology in education. The show aims to help educators create more effective and engaging learning environments.
Episodes
Zaretta Hammond: Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power
In this episode, I talk with Zaretta Hammond about her book, Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power, and what it means to position students as the primary actors in teaching and learning.
We explore the shift from a pedagogy of compliance to a pedagogy of possibility, where students have opportunities to think, talk, make mistakes, and work through challenges. Zaretta explains why explicitly teaching
Deep Dive - Are We Actually Designing Professional Development for Learning?
Schools and districts invest significant time and resources in professional development, but are we creating the conditions for teachers to actually learn?
In this deep dive, I explore ideas from a recent blog by my colleague Nicole Wilkinson, Blend Education’s new implementation support specialist, who makes an important distinction between professional learning and what she calls “PD as PR,” tim
Ask Catlin — Can Chunk, Pause, Process Work with Read-Alouds and Gradual Release?
Can you use Chunk, Pause, Process when you’re reading aloud to students or teaching with an “I do, we do, you do” lesson?
In this Ask Catlin episode, I explain how to build meaningful pauses into both approaches so students have time to think, talk, and make sense of new information. I walk through examples from elementary read-alouds and secondary classrooms, then show how the cycle can make eac
Beyond the AI Debate: Designing for Connection, Collaboration, and Better Writing with Adam Sparks
Technology has the potential to connect students, foster collaboration, and support richer learning experiences, but those benefits exist alongside real concerns about AI, screen time, and the role technology should play in schools.
In this episode of The Balance, I talk with educator and Scriblit founder Adam Sparks about how we navigate those tensions without reducing the conversation to technol
Deep Dive - Reciprocal Teaching & Reading Comprehension
How can teachers help students become more strategic, confident, and independent readers?
In this deep dive episode, Dr. Catlin Tucker explores reciprocal teaching, a guided, inclusive strategy that engages students in collaboratively making meaning from texts through four comprehension lenses: summarizing, questioning, clarifying, and predicting.
She explains why explicit instruction is essentia
Deep Dive - MIT’s 2026 AI Report: What It Means for Teaching and Learning
In August 2026, MIT released a report examining how generative AI is affecting teaching, learning, assessment, and the human relationships at the heart of education.
In this deep dive, I explore why the report carries particular significance coming from an institution so closely associated with technological innovation. I unpack seven key takeaways, including AI’s potential to expose weaknesses in
Ask Catlin - Are We Expecting Independence Before We’ve Taught It?
In this Ask Catlin episode, I respond to three questions educators have recently shared with me on social media about active processing, note-taking, and the Station Rotation Model.
I explore how teachers can build meaningful processing opportunities into whole-group instruction without creating elaborate activities, and I share a gradual-release approach for explicitly teaching students how to ta
Teachers as Learning Architects: Rethinking Teaching, Space, and AI with Gerardo Martinez
In this episode, I chat with Gerardo Martinez, Executive Director of Educational Technology for Westminster School District, about what educators can learn from the field of architecture when designing meaningful learning experiences.
Gerardo shares how his journey from architecture to education shaped his thinking about instructional design and the role of physical learning environments. We also
Deep Dive - How to Onboard Students to Student-Led Learning
Student-led learning doesn’t happen simply because we give students more control. Students need to be intentionally onboarded to the roles, routines, and skills that allow them to lead their learning successfully.
In this episode of The Balance, I break down a practical process for onboarding students to student-led learning strategies, from making the purpose clear to explicitly teaching, modelin
Ask Catlin – What's the Best Way to Start the School Year?
Ask Catlin is back! In this monthly Q&A series, I answer questions I've been getting from teachers through my website and social media, sharing practical, research-informed strategies you can put into practice right away.
Over the last few weeks, teachers have been asking thoughtful questions about how to build meaningful relationships with students, create classrooms that foster independence,
Back to School: Set Up Your Classroom for Independence, Access, and Agency
As you prepare for a new school year, it's easy to focus on lesson plans, supplies, and classroom décor. But before students experience your instruction, they experience the environment you've created.
In this episode, I explore how thoughtful classroom design can reduce friction, support student independence, increase access, and create opportunities for learner agency from the very first day. I
AI and the Future of Career Technical Education (CTE) with Dr. Cameron Sublett
AI isn't just changing the tools people use at work; it's reshaping the tasks, decisions, and skills required across nearly every industry.
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Cameron Sublett, co-author of Applied Co-Intelligence: Preparing Career and Technical Education Learners for an AI-Driven Workforce, to explore what these changes mean for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the future of
Deep Dive - Start the School Year Strong: Reflection and Goal Setting for Teachers
A new school year offers more than a fresh classroom and a new group of students; it offers a fresh start for us as educators.
In this episode, I share the reflection routines and goal-setting strategies I use to learn from the previous year before jumping into planning. We'll explore simple ways to capture what worked, identify what needs to change, organize your thinking, and set meaningful pro
Deep Dive - UDL and Station Rotation in Early Elementary: Strategies for Building Independence
Can kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students really thrive in student-centered learning environments?
In this episode, I explore how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the Station Rotation model can help teachers proactively design learning experiences that support learner variability while building growing independence.
You'll learn six practical strategies for teaching routine
Ask Catlin - Can Students Really Handle Station Rotation?
Ask Catlin is back! In response to the thoughtful questions I've been getting through my website and on social media, I'm bringing back this monthly Q&A series to tackle real classroom challenges with practical strategies you can use right away.
In this episode, I answer three of the most common questions I get about the Station Rotation Model:
How do you give directions without spending val
Beyond Coverage: Designing Learning for Understanding & Transfer with Jay McTighe
In this episode, I chat with Jay McTighe about Stage 3 of Understanding by Design and what it really means to create learning experiences that move beyond content coverage toward understanding and transfer.
We unpack the different types of learning goals related to acquisition, understanding, and transfer, and explore how those goals should shape both the teacher’s role and the student experience
Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction with UDL: Rethinking Whole-Group Instruction
In this episode, I explore how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can help us strengthen Tier 1 instruction and redesign whole-group lessons to work for more learners.
Using a simple Hook → Chunk → Pause → Process framework, I connect UDL, MTSS, and cognitive science to share practical strategies for reducing barriers and increasing student engagement.
Related Resources:
[Resource] Think-Pair-Sh
How to Use the Jigsaw Strategy in Your Classroom (and with Station Rotation)
In this episode, I explore the jigsaw strategy, a powerful cooperative learning structure that positions students as active participants in the learning process.
I break down why the strategy is so effective for increasing engagement, deepening understanding, and helping students develop communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills. You'll learn the step-by-step process for implemen
Teaching AI Literacy in Any Class: A Conversation with Matt Miller
In this episode, I chat with Matt Miller about his new book, AI Literacy in Any Class, and what it means to prepare students for a future shaped by artificial intelligence.
We explore practical ways teachers can integrate AI literacy into everyday lessons without losing focus on meaningful learning, strong instruction, or core content. Matt shares approachable strategies educators can use across g
Using 360 Feedback to Increase Accountability in Small Group Work
In this episode, I explore how a simple 360 feedback protocol can increase accountability and reflection during collaborative learning experiences.
Inspired by feedback systems used in corporate settings, this strategy gives students structured opportunities to assess their own contributions and provide thoughtful peer feedback after small group discussions, reciprocal teaching, project-based lear
Guided Notes vs. Cloze Notes: Are Your Notes Supporting or Stifling Learning?
In this episode of The Balance, I unpack a classroom trend I’ve been noticing across middle and high school classrooms: teachers using what they call “guided notes” that are actually closer to cloze notes.
I explore the difference between guided notes, cloze notes, and completed notes, and why those distinctions matter for cognitive engagement, meaning-making, and long-term learning. I talk abou
AI Tools That Give Teachers Time Back with Robert Mayfield
In this episode, Robert Mayfield and I continue our conversation about deep work in education by exploring specific AI tools that can help teachers reclaim time and focus on more meaningful instructional work.
We discuss how AI can streamline tasks like creating slide decks, writing student-facing directions, designing higher-order questions, generating review activities, providing feedback, plann
Deep Work in the Age of AI: Protecting Teacher Thinking with Robert Mayfield (Part 1)
In this episode, I chat with Robert Mayfield about a growing tension in education: teachers aren’t necessarily resistant to AI, they’re resistant to more fragmentation.
We explore how the structure of teaching leaves little room for the deep thinking required to design meaningful learning experiences and why AI should be used to create space for that work, not add to teachers’ cognitive load.
Robe
Tier 2 Instructional Shifts: Strategies That Strengthen Small Group Instruction
In this episode, I unpack the instructional shifts that make Tier 2 more targeted, responsive, and effective.
Too often, Tier 2 turns into a smaller version of whole-group instruction, repeating the same explanations and tasks that didn’t work the first time. I walk through what needs to change, from grouping students based on specific needs to using different instructional approaches, scaffolding
Rethinking Technology in the Classroom: It’s Not Screen Time, It’s Design
In this episode, I take a closer look at the growing conversation around technology in education.
With rising concerns about screen time, student attention, and mental health, many schools are starting to question their use of devices. But what does the research actually say? I unpack key insights from a recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement, highlighting an important distinction:
Engagement Is the Outcome of Design: Supporting Teachers and Students Through Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness
In this episode, I reflect on a recent keynote I delivered in Singapore, exploring the shared challenges impacting teacher and student engagement.
Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, I unpack the three psychological needs that drive motivation—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—and explain how these needs shape what we see as engagement in classrooms and schools. Too often, we treat engagemen
Fast Finishers: 6 Strategies to Support Self-Paced Learning Without Busywork
In this episode, I tackle one of the most common questions teachers ask when using the station rotation model: What do you do with students who finish early?
Instead of treating fast finishers as a problem, I reframe pacing differences as one of the biggest benefits of blended learning and self-paced environments. I walk through six practical strategies you can use to keep students meaningfully en
Backward Design in the Age of AI: From Coverage to Deep Learning with Jay McTighe
In this episode, I sit down with Jay McTighe to revisit the core principles of backward design and why they matter more than ever in today’s classrooms.
We unpack the ongoing tension between content coverage and deep learning, and what it really means to design for understanding and transfer. Our conversation explores the power of performance tasks as a way to shift from simply learning content to
Block Scheduling: Avoiding Common Design Mistakes and Sequencing for Impact
Block schedules offer the promise of more time, but without intentional design, that time doesn’t always translate into deeper learning. In this episode, I unpack common missteps like stacking and stretching traditional lessons and why they often lead to cognitive overload, disengagement, and fatigue. I explore how to shift from filling time to intentionally sequencing learning with purposeful con
The Empty Station Strategy: Solving the Biggest Challenge in Station Rotation Design
In this episode, I unpack one of the most common challenges teachers face when transitioning from linear, whole-group lessons to the station rotation model, designing for a circular flow when students don’t all start with the teacher.
I introduce the Empty Station Strategy, a simple but powerful variation that allows me to model or introduce new learning at the teacher-led station while ensuring s
Deep Learning in a Distracted World: A Conversation with Dr. John Spencer
In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author and educator John Spencer to talk about the power of deep learning in today’s classrooms.
We discuss insights from his book The Depth Advantage and explore why meaningful, relevant work is key to engaging students and helping them sustain focus and effort.
Our conversation also dives into the role of AI in learning, including how it can provide p
From AI Users to AI-Empowered Learners: 3 Classroom Strategies That Build Critical Thinking and Student Agency with AI
In this episode, I wrap up my Skills Before Tools series by exploring how the five throughline skills work together to shift students from simply using AI to truly leading their own learning.
I walk through three concrete classroom strategies, Jigsaw with NotebookLM, formative feedback cycles, and an AI reflection wrapper, to show how purpose setting, questioning, evaluation, revision, and ethica
Skills Before Tools: Ethical Awareness & Accountability for Student-Led Learning with AI
In this episode, I explore the final skill in my AI implementation guide: ethical awareness and accountability.
As AI becomes more integrated into our classrooms, we have to move beyond teaching students how to use the tools and focus on helping them use them responsibly. I break down what ethical awareness and accountability actually mean, how we can teach students to verify, reflect, and remain
Skills Before Tools: Revision & Improvement for Student-Led Learning with AI
In this episode of The Balance, I continue the Skills Before Tools series with a focus on revision and improvement, the skill that keeps AI from replacing student thinking.
I explore how iterative cycles of draft, feedback, and intentional revision strengthen motivation, reinforce growth mindset, and position students as decision-makers in their own learning. Rather than treating AI as a shortcut
Forward Together, Building Trust and Purpose in Challenging Times with George Couros
In this episode of The Balance, I chat with George Couros about his new book, Forward Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times.
We start with the origin story, why he decided to write another book. George shares how this book is structured around principles and perspectives, not quick fixes, and why trust, relationships, and purpose sit at the center of moving forwa
Skills Before Tools: Evaluation and Judgment for Student-Led Learning with AI
As AI spits out confident-sounding information, students’ ability to evaluate information and exercise sound judgment matters more than ever.
In this episode of The Balance, I explore why evaluation and judgment are foundational skills for responsible AI use and student-led learning. I unpack what it really means for students to stay in control of their thinking before and after they use AI. I’ll
Skills Before Tools: Clarity in Communication for Student-Led Learning with AI
As AI becomes more common in classrooms, students’ ability to communicate clearly matters more than ever.
In this episode of The Balance, I explore why clarity in communication is a foundational skill for student-led learning and responsible AI use. I unpack what clarity really means, why it goes far beyond writing “better prompts,” and how unclear communication can derail learning, especially wh
Skills Before Tools: Questioning and Purpose Setting for Student-Led Learning with AI
In this episode, I unpack why questioning and purpose setting are foundational skills for student-led learning, especially in classrooms where AI is becoming more common.
I explore the difference between students looking busy and students actually thinking, and why AI makes that distinction impossible to ignore. We walk through what purpose-setting and questioning can look like across K–12 classro
AI in Schools: A Skills-First Framework for Sustainable K–12 Implementation
In this episode, I introduce my Skills Before Tools: K–12 AI Implementation Guide and what we can learn from past EdTech rollouts that missed the mark.
Too often, schools rush to adopt new tools without first building the skills students and teachers need to use them well, and AI raises the stakes even higher. I walk through the five through-line skills that anchor the guide, skills that matter in
Building Thinking Classrooms with Peter Liljedahl: Designing Conditions for Deep Thinking, Productive Struggle, and Student
In this conversation, I chat with Peter Liljedahl to unpack the research behind Building Thinking Classrooms and what it really means to design classrooms where students think deeply.
We explore the conditions that support thinking, from how tasks are introduced and timed to the surprisingly powerful role furniture and physical space play in student engagement. Peter clarifies what productive stru
End-of-Year Reflection for Teachers: How to Make Meaningful Changes That Stick
As the year winds down, many teachers find themselves thinking about what they want to change and why it’s been so hard to change it.
In this episode, I guide listeners through a practical reflection process that helps explain why meaningful change often feels elusive, even when the desire is there. Using real coaching stories and classroom-based examples, I unpack how hidden commitments and assum
The Station Rotation Model: Smooth Transitions That Save Time and Eliminate Chaos
Transitions can make or break a station rotation, especially when time is tight and energy is high.
In this episode, I respond to a teacher’s question about transitions and logistics by unpacking practical strategies for creating clear, consistent routines that students can actually manage. I share why transition systems need to be explicitly taught and practiced, how strategic seating can elimin
Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction Through Flexible Use of High-Quality Instructional Materials
High-quality instructional materials are designed to strengthen Tier 1 instruction, but what happens when fidelity turns into rigidity?
In this episode, I explore how HQIM can function as a strong foundation rather than a script teachers are expected to follow. I unpack when whole-group instruction makes sense, when small-group instruction is more effective, and how data can guide those decisions
Connecting the Dots: How Learner Agency, Metacognition, and the Science of Learning Work Together with Suzy Evans and Dr. Shane Saeed
In this episode, I chat with Suzy Evans and Dr. Shane Saeed about how learner agency, metacognition, and assessment can work together rather than be siloed or disconnected.
We explored what the science of learning tells us about helping students take more ownership of their thinking and how teachers can design routines that make assessment something they do with students, not to them. Shane and Su
Quiet Collaboration in Station Rotation: Secondary Strategies That Work
In this episode, I dig into one of the most common challenges teachers face when using the Station Rotation Model: managing noise while maintaining meaningful collaboration.
I walk through six quiet, high-engagement collaborative routines—from virtual scavenger hunts to shared visual artifacts—that help students think together without the chaos. These strategies are easy to set up, work across su
Tier 1 Instruction with Video: Strategies That Get Students Thinking and Talking
In this episode, I talk about using video strategically for explanations or models that we plan to present the same way for all students, and that they often need to revisit.
I dig into the common concerns teachers raise about video and explain why it can actually remove barriers that live instruction sometimes creates. I share strategies that turn watching into an active, collaborative experience
How School and District Podcasts Build Stronger Connections with Families featuring Matt Graham
In this episode, I talk with Matt Graham, an award-winning educator and the digital media specialist for Chesapeake Public Schools.
Matt shares how he first used podcasting with middle school students, then expanded that work and eventually led efforts to create a districtwide podcast focused on clear, consistent communication with families and the larger community.
We dig into the origin story, t
Making Tier 1 Whole Group Instruction More Effective: Chunking, Cooperative Learning, and DOK Questions
In this episode, I explore how we can make Tier 1 whole group instruction more intentional, engaging, and effective for every learner.
I share how chunking content into manageable segments prevents cognitive overload and keeps students engaged in their learning, rather than passive listeners. I share how cooperative learning strategies, like Numbered Heads Together, can transform teacher-led lesso
Maximize Focus, Minimize Distractions: Using Seating Charts with the Station Rotation Model
In this episode, I share how a simple seating chart can transform the Station Rotation Model into a more focused and productive learning experience.
I talk about how intentional grouping can minimize distractions, strengthen collaboration, and make it easier to assign a facilitator or group leader at each station.
I also offer tips for displaying groups and numbering stations so both teachers and
Evolving CUE into CALIE: Building a Modern Network for Innovative Educators with Christine Feenstra
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 means for the community moving forward. We discuss C
Differentiation + AI: Making It Manageable
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-based rubrics and flexible online spaces, I highlight
Differentiation in Action: Making Learning Accessible and Engaging for Every Student
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 environment to make learning more accessible and engagin
Driving Inquiry & Documenting Thinking with Learning Walls featuring Jessica Vance
In this episode of The Balance, Jessica Vance joins me to discuss her new book, Evidence of Inquiry: Exploring, Questioning, and Documenting with Learning Walls.
We explore what it means to “follow your learners” and how inquiry shifts the way teachers engage students around the topics and concepts at the center of the curriculum. Jessica unpacks the purpose and power of learning walls, explaining
Setting the Stage for Station Rotation Success: Agreements, Routines, and Student Accountability
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 consequences, and teaching smooth transitions between st
Differentiated Instruction at the Teacher-Led Station: Making the Most of the Station Rotation Model
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 Knowledge questions and incorporate the feedback proces
Future-Focused Schools: Career-Connected Learning with Shira Woolf Cohen
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 workplace demands urgent attention. We explore what
How Schools Can Balance Curriculum Fidelity and Teacher Creativity
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 joy and engagement for both teachers and students
REFINE: A Structured Approach to AI Prompting for Educators
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, defining nuance, and evaluating outputs—to show how t
Personalized Learning in the Age of AI: Building Strong Foundations with Sunil Gunderia
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 importance of guardrails and evidence-based best pr
Start Strong: Build Classroom Relationships and Community from Day One
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 strategies for learning names quickly, surfacing stu
Start Strong: Why Teacher Reflection Should Come Before Back-to-School Planning
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 shares three practical strategies to help educato
Creating the Classroom You Want: Culture, Ownership, and Doing Things Differently with Evalaurene Jean-Charles (Part 2)
I discovered Evalaurene Jean-Charles on Instagram and was instantly drawn to her joyful, honest, and unfiltered reflections on life as an educator. Her posts tackle hard truths about teaching and school systems, but always with a sense of hope, purpose, and joy.
In the second episode of our conversation, Eva and I explore what it really takes to build the classroom culture we want; one where stude
Teaching with Self-Awareness: Finding Joy and Purpose in the Classroom with Evalaurene Jean-Charles (Part 1)
I discovered Evalaurene Jean-Charles on Instagram and was instantly drawn to her joyful, honest, and unfiltered reflections on life as an educator. Her posts tackle hard truths about teaching and school systems, but always with a sense of hope, purpose, and joy.
In this first part of our two-part conversation, Eva shares why self-awareness is essential, not just for students but for educators navi
Cultivating Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Multilingual Learners with the Station Rotation Model (Part 4)
In this final episode of the four-part series, I explore how the Station Rotation Model can nurture self-regulation, metacognition, and agency in multilingual learners. I share practical routines—like weekly goal setting, thinking routines, and strategy choice boards—that help students reflect, monitor progress, and advocate for their needs. These routines don’t just support language acquisition;
Designing for Independence: How to Support Multilingual Learners at Online and Offline Stations (Part 3)
In this episode, I explore how intentional design can help multilingual learners thrive at the online and offline stations in a rotation model.
I share seven practical strategies—from using visuals and sentence frames to building predictable routines and peer supports—that build student confidence and autonomy. You'll hear how we can move from co-regulated learning to true self-direction by gradua
The Disengaged Teen: Understanding Why Students Check Out—and How We Reignite Their Drive to Learn
Why are so many teens tuned out, stressed out, or just going through the motions at school?
In this episode, I talk with journalist Jenny Anderson and education expert Rebecca Winthrop about their new book The Disengaged Teen, which breaks down four student engagement modes—Resister, Passenger, Achiever, and Explorer—and how each one impacts a young person’s learning and well-being.
We explore th
Why Small Group Instruction Works: Supporting Multilingual Learners at the Teacher-Led Station (Part 2)
In this episode, I explore how small group instruction can transform learning experiences for multilingual learners.
You'll learn why the teacher-led station in a station rotation model is the ideal space to differentiate support, build confidence, and offer real-time feedback. I break down three high-impact strategies—I Do, We Do, Pairs Do, You Do, Concept Attainment, and Real-Time Formative Fee
Supporting Multilingual Learners: Why Station Rotation Works (Part 1)
In this first episode of my new series, I explore how the station rotation model can be a game-changer for multilingual learners.
I break down the barriers these students often face in whole-group instruction and explain how small-group, differentiated stations create more equitable learning experiences. You'll hear how this model can help build language skills, support self-direction, and shift
From Curiosity to Curriculum: How Inquiry-Based Learning Boosts Student Engagement and Agency with Trevor MacKenzie
In this episode of The Balance, I chat with educator and author Trevor MacKenzie about how inquiry-based learning creates accessible entry points and personalized pathways that build student agency, curiosity, and deeper engagement.
Trevor shares practical strategies, unpacks the phases of the inquiry process, and offers guidance for aligning inquiry with curriculum goals. We also explore how AI c
Maximizing Personalization and Agency with Must-Do vs. May-Do Stations
In this episode, I dive into a powerful variation of the station rotation model designed to maximize personalization and student agency.
By using data to assign must-do stations and allowing students to choose from may-do options, teachers can tailor learning while giving students meaningful control over their experience. I share examples across subjects and tips for making this model work in your
The Station Rotation Model + UDL = Stronger Tier I Instruction
The Station Rotation Model + UDL = Stronger Tier I Instruction
In this episode, I’m announcing the release of my new book, The Station Rotation Model and Universal Design for Learning: Elevating Tier 1 Instruction and Cultivating Learner Agency. I wrote it to help educators tackle a challenge I hear all the time—how do we meet the needs of such diverse learners in a single classroom?
When whole-gr
Leading AI Implementation: Building an Inclusive, Integrated Approach to Emerging Tech in Schools with Dr. Brandee Ramirez
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Brandee Ramirez about what it takes to lead AI implementation across a school district. She shares how her work focuses on supporting all stakeholders—teachers, students, families, and staff—in building confidence with AI tools and understanding their practical value. Dr. Ramirez unpacks the difference between an edtech rollout and an AI rollout, highlights why sca
From Distraction to Transformation: 3 Ways to Use Tech to Truly Personalize Learning
In this episode, I unpack three guiding principles for using technology to personalize and improve learning. From designing tech-enhanced instructional models to using tools to remove barriers and collect better data, this conversation will help you shift from simply using tech to using it well. If you've ever felt frustrated or overwhelmed by technology in the classroom, this one’s for you.
Relat
End-of-Year Engagement: Student-Led Learning with the 5Es Model
End-of-Year Engagement Made Easy
As the school year winds down, it can be tough to keep students focused and motivated. In this episode, I share a strategy that uses the 5Es instructional model to guide students through a self-directed inquiry project. This approach gives learners voice and choice, encourages deep exploration, and meets their need for autonomy, competence, and connection—helping y
Heart, Mind, and Action: How Concept-Based Inquiry Positions Students to Make Meaning with Ruba Abi Saab
In this episode of The Balance, I sit down with Ruba Abi Saab, Instructional Coach and Teaching and Learning Coordinator at Al Rayan International School in Accra, Ghana. Ruba shares how concept-based inquiry shapes her work with teachers and students, encouraging deeper thinking, empathy, and purposeful action. We talk about her passion for integrating service learning, graphic organizers, and pl
Asset-Based Language in Feedback and Rubrics
Feedback and rubrics are powerful tools. In this episode, I explore how shifting from deficit-based to asset-based language can transform both your feedback and your rubrics. Drawing from my recent blog, I share why this shift matters, how it aligns with UDL, and how small changes in language can have a big impact on student motivation and self-efficacy. Plus, I offer practical strategies and AI t
Revisited: The Modern Classrooms Project with Kareem Farah
We revisit an earlier episode when Dr. Catlin Tucker spoke with Kareem Farah about maximizing teacher time, boosting student engagement, and reimagining workflows through his Modern Classrooms Project.
About Modern Classrooms Project
Modern Classrooms Project Free Course
Revisited: Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning with Andratesha Fritzgerald
What do we mean when we say Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?
How can UDL support an antiracist learning environment? In this episode of Dr. Catlin Tucker’s podcast, The Balance, she invites Andratesha Fritzgerald, an inclusive practices implementation consultant and life-long educator, to offer clarity around these themes and questions.
Learn More about Andratesha Fritzgerald
Antiracism an
Revisited: Sparking Engagement in Urban and Culturally Diverse Classrooms with Dr. Shaun Woodly
Catlin talks with Dr. Shaun Woodly about his personal experience teaching in urban schools with culturally diverse students. Catlin and Shaun discuss the need to consider, “What learning really looks like?” and whether teachers are creating spaces to foster authentic learning experiences for kids.
Listen to Shaun and Catlin as they discuss the four elements of urban education-–awareness, achievem
AI with Intention: Dr. Tony Frontier on Leading, Teaching, and Learning in the Age of AI
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tony Frontier, author of AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for School Leaders and Teachers, to explore how educators and school leaders can navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI with purpose.
We discuss intentional leadership, the risks and opportunities of AI in education, the role of academic integrity, and how to design learning experien
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The Healer Revolution
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton
McKinsey on Consumer and Retail
megahired.com
Hard Knocks Podcast
Effective Weight Loss for Moms | High protein, Strength Training, Lose Weight, Meal Planning, Fat Loss, Healthy Habits
