Best Differentiated Instruction Podcasts (2025)

1
#97 Teachers Deserve their Time Back with Rae Hughart 38:44

3h ago38:44

38:44

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Teaching doesn’t have to be exhausting. What if small shifts could give you back your time, reduce burnout, and make learning more engaging—without adding extra stress? In this episode, I’m joined by Rae Hughart, educator, speaker, and founder of Teachers Deserve It. Rae is pas…

1
Episode 236: Gifted Education 51:44

2d ago51:44

51:44

TR is joined by Alex Clough to talk about gifted learners and how to help them thrive in a modern classroom. Show Notes Differentiation Doesn't Work, by James Delisle Differentiation Does, in Fact, Work, by Carol Tomlinson NAGC and the NAGC Annual Convention SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted and the SENG Annual Community Conference and…

1
Rock Your First Year: Thriving in the Classroom from Day One: #230 10:52

6d ago10:52

10:52

In this episode, I talk about how to Rock Your First Year: Thriving in the Classroom from Day One. I address tips and tricks for a successful transition in the classroom. 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.By teacherrockstar

1
375: Try this Engaging Swift-Inspired Prompt with any Text 9:34

6d ago9:34

9:34

I miss the Eras tour. Even though it hasn't been that long. My daughter is requesting Wicked songs and Katy Perry in the car all of a sudden, instead of our usual Taylor Swift-a-thon. But I haven't forgotten the joys of the Swiftiverse. And today I want to share a prompt you could use with any poem, short story, or novel that comes from Taylor's mu…

1
#96 Fun Math Activities To Get out and Enjoy the Spring Weather 8:14

7d ago8:14

8:14

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if you could take math outside and still hit your learning goals? Say goodbye to packets and hello to sunshine ☀️—because spring is the perfect time to take your math lessons outdoors without sacrificing rigor. In this episode, I’m sharing two of my favorite math project…

1
Episode 235: Is AI the Solution? 1:03:08

9d ago1:03:08

1:03:08

TR is joined by Carlos Canela to talk about how educators can use AI responsibly and the importance of connection, even in an AI-forward classroom Show Notes Carlos' Padlet with AI resources for teachers MCP's Instagram Black Male Educators Convening (BMEC) conference Knowlej Padlet Canva Magic School Diffit TextFX Large Language Models discussed i…

1
Making Science Practical and Applicable with Moriah Houseman 31:34

11d ago31:34

31:34

In this episode, Craig Randall speaks with Moriah Housman, a passionate middle school science teacher at the Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. They discuss Moriah's journey into teaching, her unique classroom strategies, and an engaging lab activity that sparks curiosity and higher-order thinking among her students.…

1
374: 5 Top Poetry Activities Worth Trying 14:35

13d ago14:35

14:35

It's poetry month, and that means it's time for me to share as many poetry activities, poetry projects, and poetry workshops as I can muster over here! Today, I'm going to walk you through a toolkit of creative poetry options for your ELA classroom. We'll start with one of my favorite introductory activities for any poetry unit, poetry collage, and…

1
What Teachers OVERLOOK in Classroom Routines: #229 10:41

13d ago10:41

10:41

In this episode, I talk about classroom routines that work and how you can create a calm, consistent, and productive learning environment from Day One. 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.By teacherrockstar

1
Anti-DEI And Enlightenment Liberal Principles 1:13:14

13d ago1:13:14

1:13:14

Drew Perkins talks with Tim Minella, Senior Constitutionalism Fellow at The Goldwater Institute, about their work to eliminate DEI in higher education. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Why Open-Source AI Is the Future and needs its 'Linux Moment'? | Manos Koukoumidis 1:19:38

14d ago1:19:38

1:19:38

Manos is the CEO of Oumi, a platform focused on open sourcing the entire lifecycle of foundation and large models. Prior to that he was at Google leading efforts on developing large language models within Cloud services. He also has experience working at Facebook on AR/VR projects and at Microsoft’s cloud division developing machine learning based …

1
#95 Hands-On Math Activities + Projects Students Love 11:46

14d ago11:46

11:46

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if your next math review or intro lesson didn’t feel like a worksheet… but like a real, creative challenge your students couldn’t wait to do? If spring fever has hit your classroom, it’s time to switch gears and bring in hands-on math activities that are engaging, meanin…

1
Episode 234: Learned Helplessness 1:07:09

16d ago1:07:09

1:07:09

Toni Rose is joined by Ernest Rodriguez to discuss learned helplessness and the importance of SEL and vulnerability in a student-centered classroom Show Notes Hot Yoga On Purpose, with Jay Shetty Gimkit Connect with Ernest by email at [email protected] Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week Toni Rose Deanon and Lauren Kimlinger, MCP implemen…

1
Creating a Supportive Learning Environment for Neurodivergent Students with Thaint Elliot 30:43

18d ago30:43

30:43

In this episode, Craig speaks with Thaint Elliot, a dedicated reading interventionist, about her experiences and methodologies in creating a supportive and efficient learning environment for neurodivergent students. They also delve into broader educational challenges and potential solutions for public school systems.…

1
DEI: Expansive or Restrictive? A Salon Conversation 57:47

19d ago57:47

57:47

Drew Perkins is joined by educators and DEI practitioners Carlos Hoyt, Daryl Sinclair, and Nunana Nyomi for a salon-style conversation about the complexities and nuances of DEI. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
373: The Most Popular Books to Teach 9th and 10th Graders (Tournament Results) 22:27

20d ago22:27

22:27

This winter, inspired by cool bookish tournament projects by Melissa Alter Smith of Teach Living Poets and Jared Amato of Project Lit, I decided to launch my own English teacher-y tournament. I wanted to know - of the hundreds of amazing books out there - which were working BEST in the classroom for the teachers in our community? After polling over…

1
Are Rewards HURTING Your Students? #228 5:12

20d ago5:12

5:12

In this episode, I talk about the unique hidden dangers of rewarding students. Research has shown that extrinsic rewards, like stickers or prizes, can actually have some unintended negative effects. We break down the science behind why stopping these rewards might be beneficial. 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.…

1
#94 Unlocking AI for Math Teachers: Easy Ways to Start Today 9:46

21d ago9:46

9:46

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if AI could save you hours of planning each week? AI can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, I’m sharing three easy, no-stress ways to start using AI in your math classroom right now. We’ll explore how to: ✨ Use AI to simplify lesson planning an…

1
Episode 233: Driver Education 1:01:28

23d ago1:01:28

1:01:28

TR is joined by Debbie Fry to talk about how she uses the MCP model in her Driver Education, P.E., and Health classes Show Notes MCP Podcast Episode 231: Physical Education Connect with Debbie by email at [email protected] Contact us, follow us online, and learn more: Email us questions and feedback at: [email protected] Listen t…

1
Unlocking Student Potential with Jill Stedman 29:27

25d ago29:27

29:27

In this episode, Craig Randall interviews Jill Stedman, a seasoned social studies teacher from the Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. They discuss Jill's innovative teaching methods, including her use of Madeline Hunter's instructional strategies, Project Zero routines, and the thought-provoking unit on fast fashion and its impact on the Chinese ec…

1
CREATE a Positive Classroom Environment with Simple Rules: #227 11:16

27d ago11:16

11:16

In this episode, I address how to create a positive classroom environment with simple rules. We break down why rules matter, how to create them, and how to make them stick. 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.By teacherrockstar

1
Powerful Questioning, Powerful Pedagogy 1:01:00

27d ago1:01:00

1:01:00

Drew Perkins talks with Bruce Robertson about his new book, Power Up Your Questioning: A Practical Handbook for Teachers. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
372: Teaching Long Way Down? Flash Verse, Colorful Character Analysis, and Outside-the-Box Discussions 32:26

28d ago32:26

32:26

If you’re teaching Long Way Down (and ready for some Long Way Down lesson plan ideas!), let me just start by saying “YAY!” It’s a reader-maker, an incredible book you can teach in a short time with a high impact. Today, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite ideas and resources for you to pair with this book. We'll talk about discussion format…

1
#93 Spring into Something New: Why Now is the Best Time to Try PBL 9:34

28d ago9:34

9:34

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 Have you ever thought about trying something new in your classroom but worried about the timing? Spring might be your perfect opportunity to experiment with project-based learning (PBL)! In this episode, I’ll show you why the final stretch of the school year is actually the b…

1
Episode 232: Workforce Readiness Training 55:30

1M ago55:30

55:30

TR is joined by Sam Meisenburg, co-founder of Study Snacks, to talk about the importance of, and methodologies for, teaching cybersecurity and AI concepts to high schoolers Show Notes Study Snacks Transparent bird feeder Brave Browser Onion Router and the Tor Project Duck Duck Go (alternative search engine, more private than Google) Connect with Sa…

1
Building Strong Foundations Early with Macee McGill 26:16

1M ago26:16

26:16

In this episode, Craig Randall speaks with first-year teacher Macee McGill about her teaching strategies, classroom management, and the importance of planning. Macee shares her journey into teaching, insights into her classroom techniques, and how she manages behavioral challenges to create an engaging and effective learning environment.…

1
Secure Top-tier College Admission: #226 22:53

1M ago22:53

22:53

In this episode, I interviewed Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross as she addressed how to get your Students into dream schools with personal branding. She is the founder of SP Grace and creator of Elevate by SP Grace: The College Smarter Method. Contact Dr. Carmen: Website: spgrace.com 📩 Email: [email protected] 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter: https://bi…

1
371: Top Middle School Book Recommendations (A Teacher's Perspective) 28:06

1M ago28:06

28:06

Today's guest, middle school teacher Susan Taylor, has repeatedly gone the extra mile to build a reading program that makes an impact. Not only does she guide her students towards the best books available, she guides her teaching network the same way, through her podcast, Wonder World Book Cafe. Today, we're going to go rapid fire through her favor…

1
Breaking The Generational Cycle Of Poverty 1:08:34

1M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

Drew Perkins talks with Dr. Abraham George about his work to help children transcend India's caste system through education and his Shanti Bhavan School. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
#92: 3 Ways AI Can Help with Lesson Planning and Differentiation 13:41

1M ago13:41

13:41

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Wish you had more time to personalize lessons, create engaging activities, and support all learners—without adding hours to your prep? AI might just be the tool you need. In this episode, we’re breaking down three powerful ways AI can help with lesson planning and differentiati…

1
Episode 231: Physical Education 58:00

1M ago58:00

58:00

TR is joined by Jake Bersin to talk about the unique considerations of teaching health and PE and the ways he thinks MCP may benefit health and PE teachers. Show Notes TGFU Model of PE teaching Jake's Padlet "Advocacy and Education Beyond the Classroom Walls" MAHPERD (Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance I…

1
Creating Safe Spaces for Growth with Amanda Jelen 32:48

1M ago32:48

32:48

In this episode, Craig Randall speaks with Amanda Jelen, a dedicated third-grade teacher at Holy Redeemer in Marshall, Minnesota. Amanda shares her teaching journey, the importance of building strong teacher-student relationships, and strategies for effective classroom management and engagement. She also discusses differentiation practices to meet …

1
Differentiated Instruction With Modern Classrooms Project 57:10

1M ago57:10

57:10

Drew Perkins talks with Robert Barnett, Modern Classrooms Project cofounder, about his new book, Meet Every Learner's Needs: Redesigning Instruction So All Students Can Succeed. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
I Tried This Strategy for a Month and this is What Happened: #225 6:40

1M ago6:40

6:40

In this episode, I address a strategy that I tried for a month and this is what happened. And the results? They were more surprising than I expected. 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.By teacherrockstar

1
370: An Easy Win for Differentiating Writing Instruction: Video Lessons 32:30

1M ago32:30

32:30

If you've ever felt stymied over the fact that some of your students aren't sure how to write a thesis while others are ready to tackle counterargument, today's episode is for you. Not so long ago, Kareem Farah of the Modern Classrooms Project was here to share the MCP vision for a differentiated blended classroom, and how it can support all learne…

1
#91 Spring Reset: Simple Teaching Strategies to Re-Energize Your Classroom 13:07

1M ago13:07

13:07

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Feeling the mid-semester slump? You’re not alone! March is that tricky time of year when energy dips, students get distracted, and classroom routines start slipping. But the good news? A simple spring reset can help bring back structure, engagement, and momentum for the rest of…

1
Episode 230: HS Credit Recovery Team 1:06:00

1M ago1:06:00

1:06:00

TR is joined by Amy Steele, Kara Cisco, Renee Swanson, and Sierra Burris to talk about their work incorporating MCP into the credit recovery program in St. Paul Public Schools Show Notes Alternative Education in St. Paul MCP University (link to come) Canva, and Kara's video on using it ChatGPT Sierra's class layout You can contact Amy, Kara, Renee,…

1
Building Thinking Classrooms with Emily Welu 32:22

2M ago32:22

32:22

In this episode, Craig Randall interviews Emily Welu, a dedicated math teacher at Holy Redeemer School in Marshall, Minnesota. Emily shares her innovative teaching strategies, including building thinking classrooms, using story arcs for lesson planning, and creating a career wall to connect math to real-world applications. The conversation delves i…

1
10 No Fail Tips for Classroom Success: #224 7:18

2M ago7:18

7:18

In this episode I'll be addressing 10 classroom management strategies that will help you create a structured, engaging, and positive learning environment. Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a veteran looking to refine your approach, these strategies are tried, tested, and teacher-approved. 📩 Sign-up for our weekly newsletter.…

1
369: Highlight Real-World Connections for Any Book with this Easy Activity 5:08

2M ago5:08

5:08

It all started with 1984, as so many things do. I wanted students to see how the ideas in the book were splashed across the world around them - yes, in their magazines and ads, but also in the current events they saw on the news and the news sites covering them. So I asked them to create collages, connecting 1984 to their lives. As we put the colla…

1
The Knowledge Revival, Curriculum For Deep Thinking 1:06:47

2M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Drew Perkins hosted this conversation with Paul Kirschner, Claudio Vanhees, and Daniel Muijs, three of the ten co-authors of the open-access book, Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking: The Knowledge Revival. This was a ThoughtStretchers Community event that included registered participant questions. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode…

1
#90 AI in Math Education: What’s Hype vs. What Actually Helps? 16:08

2M ago16:08

16:08

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! AI is everywhere—but is it actually useful in math class, or just another tech buzzword? 🤔 When ChatGPT first hit the scene, I dismissed it. I thought, "This is just Mathway for English teachers." But after hearing how my colleagues were using AI in creative and time-saving way…

1
Episode 229: Family and Consumer Science 58:58

2M ago58:58

58:58

TR is joined by Mauranda Comley to talk about using the MCP model in a middle school Family and Consumer Sciences classroom Show Notes Family and Consumer Science Mauranda's article in NGLC, "Benefits of Self-Pacing in Skills-Based, Hands-On Classes" Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development Mauranda's Reflection Form and Exploring Career's Choice Bo…

1
Movement and Engagement in Kindergarten with Paula Dudgeon 35:36

2M ago35:36

35:36

In this episode, Craig Randall is joined by Paula Dudgeon, a seasoned kindergarten teacher from Holy Redeemer in Marshall, Minnesota. Paula shares her extensive teaching experience, the importance of fitting well within a teaching role, and her journey in kindergarten teaching. They explore the significance of movement in learning, the effectivenes…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Differentiated Instruction Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide