Home Podcasts Two Pint PLC
Two Pint PLC

Two Pint PLC

Laurence Woodruff & Michael Ralph 115 Episodes Oct 12, 2026

Two Pint PLC is a podcast by two educators who chat about the big issues in education in a personal and informal way. Each episode combines research, current events, and personal experiences, offering a context for professional development. The show highlights the importance of collaboration and a safe environment for teachers, reflecting the belief that teaching is a personal profession best supported by community.

Episodes

116 Deflating Help & Microbreak Focus
116 Deflating Help & Microbreak Focus Oct 12, 2026 00:44:51 It feels good to be able to help others, but what is the impact of providing that help? A review of helping behaviors highlight how helping too soon or in overbearing ways actually undermines learners. Teachers should focus on helping behaviors that cultivate student agency. Later, we see how small, frequent breaks produce better test outcomes than a single, large break in a long class. We consid
115 Collaborative Grading & Deep Notetaking
115 Collaborative Grading & Deep Notetaking Sep 13, 2026 00:44:38 Our approach to grading has connections to everything in our class design. We are joined by guest host David Clark to talk about alternative grading approaches that can focus on supporting student growth and protecting motivation by rejecting assumptions about how grades must work. Later, we read about the impact of even slight training in note-taking on student metacognition… but then we go righ
114 Season 9 in Review
114 Season 9 in Review Aug 12, 2026 00:44:41 Our year in review looks back to find the most noteworthy learning from the past season. We always search for concrete “should’s” in our classroom - like encouraging students before tests or interleaving your skill practice. However, our top prizes go to big picture ideas about the very structure of our education system. Later, we reflect on our personal teaching journey and what we’ve learned ab
113 Control States & Interleaved Grammar
113 Control States & Interleaved Grammar Jul 13, 2026 00:43:07 Research has already shown that human attempts to multitask come with heavy costs. New research suggests other cognitive control activities also come with costs. In a classroom with many sources of potential distraction, how should practitioners help students put brain energy toward learning? Later, we read about classroom experiments that dispel the myth that interleaved practice can’t work in l
112 Grammar Study & Grading Policies
112 Grammar Study & Grading Policies Jun 13, 2026 00:44:41 Pressure to improve reading and writing performance is bringing fresh scrutiny to language instruction. Author Patty McGee joins us to discuss a curiosity-focused curriculum that eschews rules and correction to foster literacy growth. How can literary structure unlock new layers of meaning for readers? Later, we discuss the lack of adequate research on grading policies. What are grades for and ho
111 School Reform & Reward Spacing
111 School Reform & Reward Spacing May 13, 2026 00:44:51 Many school reform efforts are seeking new ways to structure the teaching profession. Dr. Mary Laski joins us to discuss a program that integrates pay-for-performance as a key element. Their results show definitively positive effects in both near- and long-term outcomes, and we ponder how monetary incentives may be received at scale. Later, we read how the rate limit for simple learning in lab mi
110 Class Structure & Positive Relationships
110 Class Structure & Positive Relationships Apr 13, 2026 00:43:59 Classroom management is a frequent topic in teacher preparation and professional development, but what kinds of classroom structures really have an impact? We look at balancing support with avoiding being controlling and the importance of clarity of goals and purpose. Later, we discuss themes in building positive student relationships. Students notice teacher enthusiasm, authenticity, and a healt
109 Dual Enrollment & Multilingual Discourse
109 Dual Enrollment & Multilingual Discourse Mar 12, 2026 00:43:55 Participation in dual enrollment programs has skyrocketed in recent years, but how many college credits in high school is the right amount? We see that getting the first dual credit course is good for most students, and that additional courses have diminishing returns or overwhelm students. Later, we read multilingual dialogue examples from a science class that fosters a safe classroom environmen
108 Personalize or Differentiate and Inquiry Classrooms
108 Personalize or Differentiate and Inquiry Classrooms Feb 12, 2026 00:44:29 How should we approach making adjustments in the classroom to ensure we meet the needs of every learner? Dr. Ling Zhang joins us to discuss how US law and policy frame individualization and other requirements for tailoring instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Focus on pacing toward common goals shows the most promise for legal compliance and learning gains. Later, we discu
107 Disruption Gaze & Assessment Encouragement
107 Disruption Gaze & Assessment Encouragement Jan 12, 2026 00:44:56 How do experienced teachers effectively monitor a classroom? We read an eye-tracking study comparing pre-service teachers with expert teachers that revealed more systematic patterns that were more resilient following disruptions. We discuss how teachers can make space to practice this element of classroom management. Later, we discuss how teacher encouragement shapes student motivation on major a
106 Professional Development & Student Perseverance
106 Professional Development & Student Perseverance Dec 12, 2025 00:44:12 Professional learning should be improving teaching, which ultimately should benefit students. We read a meta-analysis showing that effective teaching methods within professional development is far more likely to impact learning than the learning topic or time spent in the program. Later, we read a study of student perseverance that underscores the importance of establishing mastery goals with stu
105 Technology Applications & Feedback Structure
105 Technology Applications & Feedback Structure Nov 12, 2025 00:43:35 A listener request led us to a paper on eye-tracking technology for emerging multilingual learners. However, our conversation will focus on problems related to AI use and disconnects between the use of technology in the classroom and the real needs of teachers. Later, we learn about how a person’s fear of evaluation influences their response - both positive and negative - to different kinds of fe

Recommended