School's In

What does air quality have to do with learning, health, and childhood? And how should families respond as environmental risks grow? This week, we’re sharing an episode from Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast, hosted by Russ Altman. Originally released in 2025, this episode features Stanford pediatrician Lisa Patel discussing how pollution, wildfire smoke, plastics, and environ...

How do we teach kids not just how to read, but to enjoy it? And what inspires a young person to pick up a book on their own? On this episode of School’s In , originally recorded in 2018, we’re revisiting a conversation with Stanford Graduate School of Education senior lecturer Jennifer Wolf on cultivating a love of reading. We’re bringing this episode back as a timely touchpoint for anyone looking...

How does research change how schools work at scale? And how do you turn data into decisions that actually improve classrooms? On this episode of School’s In , Stanford Graduate School of Education Professor Susanna Loeb discusses Getting Down to Facts III , a major California report that uses research to evaluate the state’s education system. Through large-scale studies and collaboration with poli...

Why does learning to read come easily for some students but feel like an uphill battle for others? Can the science of the brain teach us how to better support young readers in this effort? This week, we’re sharing an episode from Stanford’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute’s podcast From Our Neurons to Yours , hosted by Nicholas Weiler. Originally released in August 2025, this episode features Stan...

Growth mindset is everywhere, but does it really work? Can we turn buzzwords into lasting change in education? On this episode of School’s In , Dan and Denise sit down with Stanford Professor Eric Bettinger to explore the research and real-world applications of growth mindset. They dive into what a growth mindset is, what kinds of interventions work, and how those lessons can help students succeed...

What would it look like if pediatricians and early childhood educators worked hand in hand to prepare every child for kindergarten? On this episode of School’s In , Dr. Lisa Chamberlain joins the hosts to explore how health and education systems can work together to support young children and their families. Drawing from her work as both a pediatrician and researcher, Dr. Chamberlain examines what...

What do you really know about concussions? Can education increase self-reporting and help prevent long-term damage from brain injuries? On this episode of School’s In , Dan and Denise are joined by Piya Sorcar, Adjunct Professor, Stanford School of Medicine and founder and CEO of TeachAids and Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and a concussion researcher. Together...

What does truly inclusive education look like for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)?  On this episode of School’s In , Stanford Professor Chris Lemons joins us to explore the idea of “presumed competence” and how educators, schools, and school systems can better serve students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From outdated assumptions to pr...

Can edtech really teach kids to read? What works, what doesn’t, and what does the research say about tools for decoding versus comprehension? On this episode of School’s In , Stanford Professor Rebecca Silverman joins us to explore how educational technology can meaningfully support reading development. From helping students learn to decode words to supporting deeper reading comprehension, she exp...

What does it mean to make an ethical decision in the classroom? And how can schools prepare for dilemmas that don’t have a single right answer? On this episode of School’s In , we’re joined by Stanford GSE Professor Meira Levinson, a leader in the emerging field of educational ethics. She walks us through the complex terrain of real-world ethical decision-making in schools – where competing values...

Could the “word gap” be more myth than fact? Or is it a useful tool for understanding inequality in early childhood? On this episode of School’s In , Stanford Assistant Professor Monica Ellwood-Lowe joins the show to unpack one of the most cited – and most debated – ideas in early childhood development: the so-called “word gap,” or idea that children from lower-income families hear fewer words tha...

What will it mean to teach and learn in an AI-powered world? Can we use artificial intelligence to enhance, but not replace, the best of what humans do? Recorded live in Los Angeles at Stanford’s Open Minds event, this episode of School’s In dives into how AI is reshaping education – its promises, pitfalls, and surprises. Dan and Denise welcome Stanford faculty members Judith Ellen Fan, a cognitiv...

*Please note: This episode includes discussion of youth mental health, including mentions of suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.* Could the future of school-based mental health include chatbots—and should it? On this episode of School’s In , Stanford Assistant Professor Nick Haber joins the show to unpack research on AI chatbots as tools to support young people’s mental health. As a...

What happens when a school shuts down? And how do those decisions ripple through the students, families, and communities left behind? On this episode of School’s In , Stanford Assistant Professor Francis Pearman joins us to discuss the complex and often emotional issue of school closures. We dive into why schools close, who is most affected, and how these decisions ripple through communities – esp...

How can AI be used as a tool that supplements, rather than supplants, the learning process? And what does research say is the most effective way to use the tool? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome GSE Assistant Professor Hari Subramonyam to discuss AI in education. He covers several topics, including: (01:41) What is critical thinking? (05:03) Beyond prompting: AI, creativity, a...

What does it mean for students to be successful? And how can parents, schools, and educators create the conditions for students to thrive? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome co-host and GSE Senior Lecturer Denise Pope in the guest seat to discuss how to improve student wellness, belonging, and engagement. She covers several topics, including: (1:54)  Challenging a narrow definition o...

Season 3 is here, and we have a great lineup for you, our listeners. We kick off the season with our very own Denise Pope in the hot seat, sharing research on what constitutes student success. This season we also bring you research on AI as an educational tool, chatbots as therapists, the impacts of school closures, and much, much more. Subscribe now. You won’t want to miss an episode!

What does the growing popularity and utility of AI tools mean for students, teachers, and schools? And what can educators do to leverage these tools to make learning stick? This week we are sharing an episode from our friends at Stanford School of Engineering – an episode of The   Future of Everything , with host Russ Altman . Originally released in August 2024, this episode features our own...

How does sleep affect student academic performance? And how might school start times be setting them up to fail? On this episode of School’s In , originally broadcast in April 2019, we welcome Professor Rafael Pelayo, a  clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He discusses what sleep does for the brain and how it matters for learning. Pelayo tackles several topics, including...

How can schools help students develop digital literacy in the classroom? And how can these techniques be applied to how we consume news and identify reliable information? On this episode of School’s In , recorded live on campus in May 2025, we welcome a panel including GSE Professor Emeritus Sam Wineburg, Stanford journalism lecturer Janine Zacharia, high school teacher Valerie Ziegler, and Stanfo...

What is digital literacy? And how does critical thinking play a role in students’ ability to avoid falling prey to false information online? On this live episode of School’s In , taped in front of an audience at Stanford, we welcome Stanford Professor Emeritus Sam Wineburg to discuss digital literacy and how to help students navigate the internet in the era of AI and fake news. Wineburg covers sev...

How does the average person interact with their cell phone? And what does this say about the way we process information? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Professor Nilam Ram to discuss his research into the digital lives -- specifically, cell phone use -- of teenagers and adults, and how these findings might be used to support awareness and positive change in a person's life. R...

How soon can reading challenges like dyslexia be identified in children? And what role can technology play in supporting teachers as they work to develop student literacy? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Associate Professor Jason Yeatman to discuss advancements in dyslexia screening, and how teachers can use technology to ease the burden of a...

What does it mean to be a lifelong learner? And how might education and learning be reframed to enable flourishing across the lifespan? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Professor Mitchell Stevens to discuss the nature of work and learning in a world where people are living and working longer. We also touch on how parents and educators can prep...

Why is early childhood math important? And how can parents and teachers use research-backed, and play-based practices to encourage math learning? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Professor Emerita Deborah Stipek to discuss why learning and practicing math is important for young children. We also touch on ways to engage young children in playfu...