How We Teach This

How We Teach This is taking a short summer break. We look forward to reconnecting in August for Season 12.

https://linktr.ee/hwtt In this episode, we explore a common misconception about the Science of Reading—that it only applies to early elementary instruction and foundational phonics skills. Our conversation with Dr. Sage Maydew and Dr. Sharice Adkins, both Assistant Professors for The Teachers College at Emporia Sate University focuses on what reading development looks like beyond K–2 and why inter...

Dr. Cecil Shor t and Dr. Jered Borup discuss how digital engagement is shaped by emotional, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions, and why it matters for educators, families, and school leaders. The episode also introduces the Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) Framework and explains how it helps educators understand student learning as something supported across interconnected communities ra...

In Part 2 of our conversation with New Hampshire Teacher of the Year Megan Philbrook , we explore the tools that help bring her classroom “recipe for success” to life. Megan shares how her lesson planning has evolved over twelve years of teaching and how she thoughtfully incorporates resources like Teachers Pay Teachers and generative AI into her planning process. The discussion also moves beyond...

How can blended instruction and mastery-based learning support diverse classrooms? In this episode, Wichita Public Schools educators LaKeshia Brooks and Cathy Peters—both middle school math teachers working in different settings, one fully virtual and one in a traditional classroom—share their experiences with the Modern Classroom Project, outlining its core pillars and what it looks like in pract...

Join us to listen to our conversation with 2026 Kansas Master Teachers. They highlight what great teaching looks like in real classrooms today. Across grade levels and contexts, these educators emphasize a shared foundation: building meaningful relationships with students. From creating environments of trust and belonging to finding ways to make learning engaging and even fun, they share practical...

In this episode, we welcome the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team , a group of outstanding educators representing schools and communities across Kansas. From early childhood through high school, these teachers bring diverse experiences and perspectives, united by a shared commitment to student success. Throughout the conversation, the team reflects on how their approach to teaching has evolved—...

What makes a lesson both engaging and academically rigorous? In this episode of How We Teach This , we talk with Megan Philbrook, New Hampshire’s 2026 Teacher of the Year , about the essential ingredients behind meaningful learning. Megan shares how her approach to active teaching keeps students thinking, participating, and accountable for their learning. Rather than relying on lecture-heavy instr...

Classroom focus and student regulation remain central challenges. In this episode, we explore mindfulness as a classroom-based strategy. Our guest, Stefanie Lachenauer , educator, author of "Let the Glitter Settle", and 2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, discusses what mindfulness actually looks like in real classrooms and how teachers can introduce it in ways that students under...

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed schools into emergency remote teaching, revealing gaps in how prepared education systems were to sustain learning during disruption. Because future challenges may look very different, intentional readiness for virtual learning is essential. In this episode, Michael Barbour, PhD examines what the pandemic revealed about virtual learning and how education can move beyond...

This episode explores how Open Educational Resources (OER) are reshaping lesson planning through the Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching (JTILT). Editors-in-Chief Dr. Craig E. Shepherd and Dr. Cecil R. Short explain how JTILT uses peer review to support high-quality, classroom-ready lesson sharing. The conversation highlights implications for K–12 teachers, instructional coaches,...

This episode examines how Wichita Public Schools is preparing its educators for the rapidly evolving age of generative AI through deliberate policy development and clear instructional guidelines. Guest Katelyn Schoenhofer, the district’s AI Specialist, explains how the organization built a positive culture around AI use by establishing legal policy, creating practical guidance for instructors, and...

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Pascale Creek Pinner , a National Board Certified science educator and 2025 National Teachers Hall of Fame inductee who has built engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students across Hawai‘i Island.  In this episode, she shares how projects such as Envelopes of Science Awesomeness and community-based environmental investigations help students see science...

In this episode, Dr. Ann Addison talks with two instructional coaches who guide beginning teachers through the early years of their professional journey. The discussion explores what inspires educators to become mentors, how they build trust, and the strategies that make coaching relationships most effective. The coaches share experiences supporting both teachers of record in apprenticeship progra...

In this episode of How We Teach This, elementary educator and 2025 National Teachers Hall of Fame inductee Michael J. Dunlea III shares how inquiry can break down classroom walls and connect learning across every subject. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Michael discusses how he weaves science, literacy, math, and community service to help students explore their world with curiosity...

In this episode of How We Teach This, guest host Dr. Ann Addison leads a conversation with mentor teachers who guide future educators in secondary classrooms. These mentors—including those teaching in K–12 specialty areas like music—share how they set clear expectations, provide constructive feedback, and foster confidence and autonomy in their interns. Listeners will hear thoughtful insights on b...

In this episode, we talk with Tom Jenkins , a National Board Certified Teacher and 2025 National Teachers Hall of Fame inductee, about bringing authentic STEM education to life. From student-driven projects that led to a U.S. patent to creating teacher-developed curriculum in a rural district, Tom shares insights on inquiry-based learning, STEM identity, and professional development that truly sup...

In this episode, with guest host, Dr. Ann Addison, experienced elementary mentor teachers share what it means to guide future educators. They discuss what inspired them to welcome interns into their classrooms, how they set expectations, and the ways they build trust and confidence with new teachers. From offering consistent feedback to celebrating growth, these mentors provide practical strategie...

In this episode of How We Teach This , we sit down with Elizabeth “Liz” Anstine — the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year and a dynamic business educator at Leavenworth High School — to explore how student entrepreneurship can transform classroom learning. Liz shares powerful stories from her business and marketing courses, where students design and run hands-on projects like candy sales, sustainable...

In this opening episode of Teaching Teachers: Mentoring Conversations , host Dr. Ann Addison introduces the mini-series and explores the vital role mentor teachers play in shaping future educators. Listeners will learn about foundational coaching frameworks, flexible mentoring stances, and practical strategies for supporting both student teachers and new teachers of record. Blending real stories w...

“He told me I was the reason he was still in school..." This powerful moment is one of several shared by Kansas Master Teachers as they reflect on their work in middle and high school classrooms. As a continuation of our earlier episode featuring elementary educators, this conversation highlights the importance of student relationships, adaptability, and creating meaningful, real-world learni...

In this special reunion episode, guest host Stephanie Taylor leads a conversation with a panel of elementary educators recognized as Kansas Master Teachers. These award-winning teachers share the strategies, stories, and philosophies that have shaped their approach to teaching —covering everything from classroom management and student engagement to the power of play, authentic learning, and teache...

In this inspiring episode of How We Teach This, we turn the mic over to a special guest host, Brooklynne Morrison — an honors student and future educator from the Teachers College—who interviews the 2025 Kansas Master Teachers . With fresh curiosity and thoughtful questions, she explores what motivates exceptional educators, how they build connections with students, and the wisdom they would pass...

In this inspiring episode of How We Teach This, we sit down with the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year team —educators recognized for their outstanding impact in the classroom and beyond. They share the purpose statements that guide their teaching, memorable “this is why I teach” moments, and practical strategies that consistently support student success. The conversation explores the thoughtful use...

We’re joined once again by Amanda Young , principal at Education Imagine Academy, a Microsoft Showcase School known for its forward-thinking approach to teaching and learning. In this follow-up conversation, she is joined by educators LaKeshia Brooks and Robert Black , who share how they are using technology to design engaging, personalized learning experiences. Microsoft Reflect, for example, can...