The Epic Classroom with Trevor Muir

In this episode, Trevor reflects on the teachers who shaped his life, from losing a spelling bee in middle school to seeing a former teacher waiting in the crowd at graduation years later. Along the way, he explores the powerful research behind mentorship, role models, and the lasting impact educators have on students long after they leave the classroom. Portrait of A Graduate Email List:  ht...

What if a dog could change the feel of a school? After the pandemic, Laura Schuler saw students struggling in ways she hadn’t before. Instead of waiting for a perfect solution, she helped bring school support dogs into her district. In this episode, we break down how the program works, what it costs, and why it’s making a difference. Read the how-to guide on starting a support dog program.

Most employers today aren’t asking, “What do you know?” They’re asking, “What can you do?” Problem solving has become one of the most valuable skills in the workforce, yet it’s one of the least consistently developed in school. In this episode, I unpack the growing shift toward skills-based hiring and what it reveals about the gap between how students are taught and what they’ll actually be expect...

From freelancers and engineers to designers, city planners, and researchers, millions of people earn a living by solving problems through project work. Yet in many classrooms, projects still show up as add-ons instead of the main way students learn. In this episode, Trevor unpacks why students need to learn how to do projects, not just complete them. You’ll hear why “dessert projects” fall short,...

This week we explore the 20% rule and why you don’t need to love every part of work. Learn how finding and protecting the parts you enjoy can help you avoid burnout.

Over the past month, schools in the Twin Cities have been operating in the shadow of ongoing ICE raids and heightened immigration enforcement. The impact has been felt far beyond the headlines, inside classrooms, hallways, and school communities. In this episode, I speak with three educators who are teaching in Minneapolis and St. Paul right now. They share what they are seeing in their schools, h...

In a world dominated by bad news, this episode explores why teaching students to notice and share real good news matters more than ever. Get The Good News Project free here: https://www.trevormuir.com/good-news   Sign Up for the Weekly Newsletter: https://www.trevormuir.com/newsletter

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most impactful projects I ever did with my students, and it all came down to one thing: their work mattered. My class was studying tolerance, conflict, and what it looks like for people to live together throughout history. Instead of teaching it the traditional way, we partnered with a local college and gave students a real challenge: master the content, tur...

A look at how boredom fuels creativity for students and professionals, and simple classroom strategies to build quiet, low-stimulation moments that spark ideas. Read the Article: https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/need-boredom

In this episode I share a winter lesson that almost got shut down after a single complaint and how my principal’s unexpected pivot changed the entire day. What happened next taught me one of the most important lessons about leadership, flexibility, and what modern students need from us. This episode is about staying open, adjusting when the moment calls for it, and why adaptability is one of the m...

In this episode, I talk about the importance of knowing how to ask for what you want and need, along with what I’ve learned about helping students develop the skill of making clear, respectful requests. Because asking is one of the most essential forms of communication in adulthood, and it’s something we can start teaching long before students enter the workforce. We’ll explore how teachers can gu...

A story about the power of one-on-one teaching, why it matters, and how teachers can make space for it, even in a busy classroom. Email Trevor at trevor@trevormuir.com Collaboration Toolkit: https://www.trevormuir.com/collaboration-toolkit

In this episode we talk about strategies to spark student curiosity and excitement in the classroom. Learn how passion, relevance, and student choice can turn flat lessons into engaging learning experiences. Here's the research I mention: https://news.gallup.com/poll/648896/schools-struggle-engage-gen-students.aspx?utm Read my article here: https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/student-interest

With AI tools able to record, transcribe, and even generate polished notes in seconds, it is easy to wonder: do students still need to take notes at all? In this episode, Trevor explores why the answer is a resounding yes. You will hear the brain science behind note-taking, why it leads to deeper comprehension than passive listening, and how different strategies—from handwritten notes to sketch no...

If your students seem distracted, this episode explains why it’s not a decline in attention span but a lack of purpose — and what you can do to fix it.   Collaboration Toolkit (FREE):  https://www.trevormuir.com/collaboration-toolkit Read the article:  https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/attention-span Watch the video:  https://youtu.be/pltYo40JzPg

In the days after the shooting that killed Charlie Kirk and yet another school shooting, many teachers are wondering how to respond to students who are processing fear, grief, and confusion. In this episode, Trevor shares personal stories of how teachers’ reactions shaped him during past tragedies like Columbine, 9/11, and Sandy Hook. He unpacks the psychology of emotional contagion, showing...

When calculators first appeared in classrooms, many schools banned them. Decades later, we’re asking the same kinds of questions about AI and other innovations. What do we hold onto, and what do we change? In this episode, Trevor explores the history of calculators in schools, the neuroscience of learning, the enduring value of art and music, and a simple litmus test for deciding what belongs in e...

In this episode, we unpack why traditional grading often fails to reflect student growth—and how competency-based grading offers a more accurate, equitable alternative. We explore what it looks like to grade for mastery, not averages, and share simple ways teachers can start making the shift. Read the article:  https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/competency-based-grading Check out the LHRIC Tech...

What if the key to student engagement isn’t about attention spans, but about giving kids a reason to care? In this episode, I sit down with Jerry Kolber—executive producer of Brain Games and Who's Smarted?—to talk about the science of engagement, the power of relevance, and why a simple “because” can transform the way students learn. We’ll explore how great teaching isn’t about forcing information...

Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HLzzrwYSw If we have artificial intelligence, do we still need school? Will it replace traditional classrooms? Is AI better at teaching reading and writing and math? Can school take place from a computer? Does learning always have to be plugged in? If we have chatbots with limitless knowledge and information, the entire world, at our fingertips, D...

In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with Shannon Anderson about growth mindset and helping students develop one. Shannon is an award-winning children's book author, teacher, and national speaker. She served as the regional advisor for the Indiana Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and was named one of the Top 10 Teachers who inspired the Today Show in 2019. Her works...

The impact of teachers stretches far beyond the physical time with students in the classroom. But the extent of the long reach of teachers is hard to remember in the midst of all of the challenges. Here's a little story of a teacher from my past and a near-miraculous meeting 30 years later.

Today we talk about math class, slapping the word YET onto the end of certain sentences, a 99 year-old skydiver, and why teaching a growth mindset is one of the most important tasks of every educator. Free YET posters: https://www.trevormuir.com/yet-posters

In this episode, I share a tradition from my first school: hosting a Thanksgiving feast for the entire school. More than just a meal, it was a way to build a sense of community, foster connections, and help students feel a deeper bond with their school. We’ll explore how creating a culture of belonging can impact student engagement and learning—and how small, intentional efforts can make a big dif...

Creative struggle is difficult, but it's also important. In this technology age, students have become so used to instant gratification, accessing the information and the answers they need instantly rather than dealing with the stress and frustration that can come with creative problem solving. But the reality is, sometimes the struggle is necessary. So as educators, we have to teach them how to wo...