The Balance, by Dr. Catlin Tucker

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Randy Laist, Dr. Cynthia Murphy, and Dr. Nicole Brewer about their book Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI . Discover how the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) form the bedrock of their innovative strategies, aimed at empowering students to discover and amplify their individual voices as writers. Want to connect with Dr. Randy Laist? rl...

In this Ask Catlin episode, Catlin and Noelle answer your questions about differentiation and what it looks like to differentiate content, process, and products. Plus, you'll find out what song Catlin says is currently reflecting her frame of mind.

Choice boards are a fantastic tool for honoring learner variability and providing students with meaningful choices. Not every student enjoys the same task, so giving them options is critical to maximizing their motivation and focus in a lesson. Choice boards allow us to honor our students’ preferences, needs, and interests, making their learning experience more engaging and effective. Additional R...

In this episode, I chat with Alexis Wiggins, 20-year teacher and author of, The Best Class You Never Taught: How Spider Web Discussion Can Turn Students into Learning Leaders . Alexis explains the purpose, process, and incredible outcomes of using the spider web discussion to engage students in collaborative inquiry and meaning-making. You can connect with Alexis on X at https://twitter.com/alexis...

In this Ask Catlin episode, Catlin and Noelle answer your questions about grading practices and how to make grading more manageable. 

In this episode, I share three reasons teachers should consider using the playlist model to provide students with more control over the pace and path of their learning. https://catlintucker.com/2024/03/3-reasons-playlist-model/

In this episode, I talk with Angela Watson about her most recent work integrating AI into her 40-Hour Work Week Course for teachers interested in leveraging AI to create more work-life balance. Angela also shares a new project called Finding Flow Solutions that is designed to help students be more effective and self-aware learners. You can check out more of Angela's work on her website and podcast...

In this Ask Catlin episode, Catlin answers your questions about assessment.

In this mini-episode, I explore the role of pre-assessment data in designing with a high-level of intention. Incorporating pre-assessment strategies isn't just about collecting data; it’s about creating a responsive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment.

In this episode, I chat with Ben and Jenn about their new book, Eduprotocol Field Guide: Elementary Edition . We explore how these lesson frames empower young learners to build confidence and skills, while also providing educators with strategies to achieve balance in their professional lives.

In this Ask Catlin episode, I answer your questions about the playlist model. So, if you have ever wondered how a playlist is different from a choice board, how long students should work on a playlist, or how to track student progress through a playlist if they are self-pacing, this episode is for you! And find out what Taylor Swift album Catlin would choose to listen to as we transition from spri...

In this mini-episode, I share some exciting professional and personal updates and describe a simple yet effective strategy for keeping students on-task during a station rotation lesson. Instead of assigning a "deliverable" at every station that teachers feel they need to grade, let's explore a checklist that asks students to reflect on their work at each station. Not only does it help students sta...

In this episode, I chat with Pablo Muñoz about his career and book, The Leader's Algorithm . He has 30 years of public education experience as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent of schools. He shares his insights on leading complex educational systems.    You can connect with Pablo Muñoz and learn more about his work. pablo@themunozcompany.com themunozcompany.com themunozcompany.com/pabl...

In this mini-episode, I explore the value and process of cultivating meaning-making in classrooms. Meaning-making is the process by which students interpret, understand, and make sense of the information, experiences, and world around them. In this episode, I share strategies teachers can use to help students construct knowledge on their own and in collaboration with peers.  To read more, check ou...

[ReAir] In this episode, Dr. Katie Novak and I discuss our newest book, The Shift to Student-led . In it, we identify ten teacher-led, time-consuming, often frustratingly ineffective workflows and reimagine them from a sustainable, student-led perspective using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and blended learning. The goal is to help teachers empower students to share the responsibility for le...

In this mini-episode, I share a strategy I call "going horizontal with your agenda." The purpose of this strategy is to help teachers conceptualize how they can shift from a linear whole-group lesson to a station rotation. The goal is to reimagine the individual learning activities in their linear agenda as separate stations in a rotation.    Part I: Station Rotation Design Tip – Go Horizontal wit...

In this mini-episode, I read excerpts from the introduction of my new book, Shift Writing into the Classroom with UDL and Blended Learning. In this excerpt, I explain why Dr. Novak and I wrote it, who the book is for, and how it is structured so you know what to expect. I hope this sneak peek into the book helps to dispel the misconception that a book on writing is only for English teachers. We wa...

In this episode, I talk with James Anderson about his new book, Learnership . James coined the word "learnership" to bring together the idea of craftsmanship and learning. He makes the point that learning is not simply a product of good teaching; learning is the result of what learners do. In this conversation, we discuss Jame's growth mindset continuum, student agency, and how we can support stud...

I answer your questions about student agency in this Ask Catlin episode. You'll also hear about my favorite and least favorite holiday.  If you want to learn more about the student agency, check out my collection of blogs on student agency .  If you have questions about education, blended learning, or work-life balance, please send them to me via X @Catlin_Tucker or Instagram @CatlinTucker.  

In this mini-episode, I introduce a strategy called Keep, Start, Stop for collecting student feedback at the mid-point of the school year. The goal is to identify what is working and what might need to be reimagined to ensure the rest of the school year is as positive and productive as possible. Teachers can also use this strategy to provide students with quick feedback in conferencing sessions. ...

In this episode, I chat with Henry Turner, an award-winning principal, about his work leading change at his school. We discuss his work fostering an inclusive school culture on his campus and his book, Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School.   You can connect with Henry Turner on X . You can find Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your Sc...

In this mini-episode, I discuss the value of writing across the curriculum. Writing deepens learning, positively impacts academic performance, improves students’ ability to establish and maintain relationships, and helps students manage their complex emotions. In our third book, Shift Writing into the Classroom with UDL and Blended Learning , Dr. Katie Novak and I want to ensure all teachers have...

I'm excited to announce that Dr. Katie Novak and I have written a third book titled Shift Writing into the Classroom with UDL and Blended Learning , coming out on January 9, 2024! In this mini-episode, I talk about why we wrote the book and how we hope it will support teachers across disciplines to pull all parts of the writing process into the classroom. The goal is to ensure students have the su...

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Cassondra Corbin-Thaddies about her research on high-achieving black male students. Dr. Corbin-Thaddies shares insights from her research and how it can help teachers support black male students in their classrooms.    You can learn more about Dr. Corbin-Thaddies's work and research below.  : Becoming High Academic Achievers: What are the Supporting Factors for Afr...

In this mini-episode, I discuss the buzz around AI-powered education tools. Instead of focusing on the tools themselves, I want to focus on how we use them to support strong pedagogical practices. These AI education tools can be utilized to meet students' diverse needs, transforming how we design and facilitate learning experiences.    If you want to dive deeper, read the blog post CatlinTucker.co...