Best St Vrain Opd Podcasts (2025)

1
Refine, Refresh, Relate! 43:44

8d ago43:44

43:44

We're wrapping up Season 7 with two master St. Vrain teachers, Joylynn Boardman and Brian Huey, who continue to refine their practice, create relevant learning experiences, and champion their students! No matter how long we've been in education, adapting, tweaking, and reflecting are the keys to sustaining student engagement. But the most crucial p…

1
Scaffolding, Mastery, and Self-Image 27:40

22d ago27:40

27:40

Tune in as we chat with Professor Dan Willingham about his flow chart for independence, mastery in education, and building up the self-image of our students. Check out his book, Outsmart Your Brain, for strategies to combat learned helplessness, understanding what it takes to achieve true mastery, and how crucial it is to help our students reframe …

1
Teaching to the whole student 27:38

3M ago27:38

27:38

It's time to connect the Physical and the Education in the classroom. Nothing is in a silo in our world. We are teaching the whole student, so connecting mind and body in our instruction benefits everyone. Incorporating movement in our classrooms creates engagement and builds attention, which helps content stick. Tune in as we chat with two @SVVSD …

1
Sound Body, Sound Mind! 43:38

4M ago43:38

43:38

Welcome to 2025! The month of January is famous for starting new physical activity routines and we can't emphasize enough how important it is to move in the classroom too! "Movement snacks" as @DrJulianReed describes them are not only crucial for a sound body but also translate to increased academic performance. Tune in as we talk about the benefit…

1
Holy Cats! Learning Progressions 20:50

4M ago20:50

20:50

Looking to build agency and standards mastery in your classroom? Then look no further than learning progressions! Tune in as we say goodbye to 2024 and chat with our very own @BennerBrainiacs. She motivates her students to self-assess on standards, visualize their goals more clearly, and achieve true mastery using learning progressions in her class…

1
Self Assessment 1 through 6 30:04

6M ago30:04

30:04

Inspiring students to self-assess and start working independently doesn't have to be complicated! Not only are students becoming aware of what they need and advocating for themselves, but also engaging in some beautiful metacognition. Another added benefit? All that independence and efficacy actually leads to higher-quality collaborative work! Tune…

1
What's Your Lead Domino? 49:19

7M ago49:19

49:19

Happy October to our Vrain Waves listeners! The perfect follow-up to our first episode with Brandon Slade is our conversation with these two rockstar St. Vrain educators, secondary special education teacher, Sarah Patton, and elementary counselor, Mike Laurent. Tune in as we talk about go-to strategies for not just students with needs, but the whol…

1
Setting Up for Success in Season 7! 52:20

9M ago52:20

52:20

Welcome to Season 7 of Vrain Waves! We are kicking off with what we all need at the start of the year. Setting up for success means explicitly unpacking directions and expectations for all students, especially those with executive functioning deficits. Tune in as we chat with Brandon Slade from Untapped Learning and let's all be reminded that what'…

1
Reframing Assessment in Action 1:03:42

12M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Wrapping up Season 6 with two rockstar teachers who show us what it looks like to reframe Assessment in the classroom. The key to engaging students is not tricky; it's building intrinsic motivation through authentic assessment and grading practices! Tune in as our very own Sam LaFever and Gideon Matchey unpack how they use explicit assessment strat…

1
Assessment as Evidence of Success 29:43

1y ago29:43

29:43

What are some ways we can reframe assessment? How can we shift toward seeing assessment as evidence of success rather than a "gotcha"? Tune in as Hacking Student Motivation author Tyler Rablin speaks to creating multiple opportunities for students to grow and learn over time. Let's stop focusing on mistakes and start focusing on trends in our class…

1
Shift the Epicenter! 33:12

1y ago33:12

33:12

March Madness and the solar eclipse might be over but the excitement of Spring continues! Tune in to hear from our very own @missluker as she speaks to shifting the epicenter of learning, replicating yourself, and creating more powerful feedback loops. How do we do this & still ensure quality instruction? Blended Learning! Dive in, build your stude…

1
Small Shifts for Big Impact 37:02

1y ago37:02

37:02

Tune in for our conversation with Dr. Scott McLeod about his 4 Shifts Protocol and how these shifts can help teachers engage in reflection, apply deeper learning principles, and build student agency in their classrooms. As we learn and grow as educators, the 4 Shifts Protocol is intended "to get at some specific, concrete ‘think abouts’ and ‘look f…

1
Find an Open Door! 36:15

1+ y ago36:15

36:15

If the instructional door you chose to open isn't working, find a different door! We can hold high expectations for our students AND meet them where they are at the same time! Tune in as our second married teaching couple, Ken and Kendra Versoi, drop amazing and tangible strategies for effective facilitation (hint, hint it starts with Relationships…

1
Necessary Condition: Learning TOGETHER 32:58

1+ y ago32:58

32:58

Gifting our listeners with all things Geoff Krall! Author of one of our favorite books, Necessary Conditions: Teaching Secondary Math with Academic Safety, Quality Tasks, and Effective Facilitation, Geoff speaks to creating academic safety, moving from an emphasis on speed to thoughtfulness, and the power of letting go. But if you're not a math tea…

1
Learning Party, Part 2: All Ages Welcome! 26:23

1+ y ago26:23

26:23

Think that the Science of Learning practices are only for older students? Not true! The learning party invitation can and should be extended to all grades, Kindergarten through 12th. Tune in to our first mini-wave episode of Season 6 to hear how master (and married) St. Vrain Valley teachers, Arianne Tasker and Adam Wellington, incorporate the Scie…

1
Learning is a party; make sure to invite your students! 40:10

1+ y ago40:10

40:10

Why did we all become teachers? Chances are, it's because we love to learn. How can we create and inspire that same love for learning in our students? By magic? No, not with magic at all, but with science. The science of learning allows students to internalize their successes, invest in the outcomes, and get in the driver's seat! Learning is a part…

1
Feedback Part 2: So Nice, We Had to Do It Twice! 40:45

2y ago40:45

40:45

Feedback is too important to only talk about once! We return to one of our favorite topics with two of our own St. Vrain Valley teachers, @HeatherLea303 and @Janis Vogelsberg, to hear how they model feedback in their classrooms, give explicit instruction around the tricky peer feedback loop, and inspire students to shift away from the external moti…

1
Feedback is Nourishment 34:14

2y ago34:14

34:14

"Feedback is not a luxury, it's a necessity; not a means to an end, but an end in itself. It's the purpose of why we teach." If these aren't mic-drop quotes for you, we need to talk! Or you need to for sure read this duo's latest work, Feedback for Continous Improvement in the Classroom. Listen in as we talk all things feedback with Brent Duckor an…

1
Classrooms, Community, and Collective Efficacy! 33:48

2y ago33:48

33:48

Our first mini-wave goes straight to the source...2 classroom teachers right here in St. Vrain! Join us as Altona Middle School's Cleveland Smith and Westview Middle School's Danny Hernandez talk classroom connections, relationships, and building collective efficacy. @SuzannahEvans2 @saeed_shane @WestviewSVVSD @AltonaMS…

1
We Love It Here! 32:11

2+ y ago32:11

32:11

We Love It Here! Yep, we sure do! Shane and I are loving being behind the mic with Vrain Waves and in this episode, we chat with Clint Pulver, the Undercover Millennial, whose book, I Love It Here, is a must-read for anyone in the business world AND anyone in education.“No significant learning can ever happen without significant connection” is just…

1
New Year, New Hosts, New Vrain Waves! 27:47

2+ y ago27:47

27:47

The mic has officially been passed to us from Ben Kalb! With the re-launch of the podcast, we are celebrating all things NEW; new year, new students, and new teachers! Our goal is to create inspiration and empowerment for educators, so alongside the giants of education, new hosts Suzy Evans and Shane Saeed will also be talking with classroom educat…

1
Grading for Equity with Joe Feldman 54:29

4y ago54:29

54:29

Episode 060: Grading for Equity with Joe Feldman Connect with Joe Feldman Website: https://crescendoedgroup.org/ | Twitter: @JoeCFeldman Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Lindsay Laporte Twitter: @LaPorteLindsay |Oakley Schilling Twitter: @OakleySchilling| Ben KalbTwitter: @mrkalb…

1
Principal Kafele on Transformative Change 53:04

4+ y ago53:04

53:04

Episode 059: Principal Kafele on Transformative Change Connect with Principal Kafele Website: https://principalkafele.com/| Twitter: @principalkafele| YouTube: School Leadership Thoughts Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Shane Saeed| Instagram: @fantasticallyfourth Twitter: @saeed_shane Ben Kalb| Twitter: @mr…

1
Dr. John Spencer and the Sporky Food Truck 52:38

4+ y ago52:38

52:38

Episode 058: John Spencer and the Sporky Food Truck Connect with John Spencer Website: http://www.spencerauthor.com | Twitter: @spencerideas| YouTube: Spencer Videos Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Violet Twitter: @vhchristensen | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Violet hosts a podcast for instructional coaches called …

1
Dr. Katie Martin: Clarity and Purpose during a Pandemic 47:36

4+ y ago47:36

47:36

Katie Martin is a best selling author, an acclaimed keynote speaker, and a highly sought after educational consultant! Whether you are teaching completely in person, totally virtually, or in a hybrid environment, in this episode we discuss how you can thrive! Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Temple Hayles Gu…

1
Apollo 13'ing it with Zaretta Hammond 49:05

5y ago49:05

49:05

Connect with Zaretta Hammond Twitter: @Ready4Rigor | Website: crtandthebrain.com | Book: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Intro Ryan Holiday, Stillness is the Key, Stoicism, Blog post about habits Zaretta’s Curre…

1
You're Not Listening with Kate Murphy 37:07

5y ago37:07

37:07

Connect with Kate Murphy Website: https://www.nytimes.com/by/kate-murphy | Book: You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Intro to Kate Murphy, her book (01:24) Best Nonfiction book of 2020 Listening for …

1
Coping with Covid: Catlin Tucker on teaching during a Quarantine 53:09

5y ago53:09

53:09

Episode 054: Coping with Covid, with Catlin Tucker As we all try to wrap our heads around the implications the pandemic will have on our students, our communities, our families, and ourselves, we hope to provide some comforting guidance from an expert in remote learning. Catlin Tucker, whose original Vrain Waves interview aired back in Season 2 abo…

1
Ending Average with Todd Rose 53:49

5y ago53:49

53:49

Episode 053: Ending Average with Todd Rose Connect with Todd Rose Website: https://toddrose.com | Twitter: @ltoddrose | Most Recent Book: Dark Horse Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Intro to Todd Rose (00:22) Episode with John Couch WWII cockpit story Episo…

1
Aligning Words and Intentions with Mike Anderson 59:26

5y ago59:26

59:26

Aligning Words and Intentions with Mike Anderson Connect with Mike Anderson Website: https://www.leadinggreatlearning.com/| Twitter: @balancedteacher | Most Recent Book: What We Say and How We Say it Matter Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb What We Say and H…

1
Live your Excellence with Jimmy Casas 54:19

5+ y ago54:19

54:19

Connect with Jimmy Casas Website: https://jimmycasas.com/ | Twitter: @casas_jimmy | Most Recent Book: Culturize Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Jimmy, Intro (00:32) Live your Interview (03:18) Elena Aguilar, Bright Morning “The biggest problem facing publi…

1
The Reshaping of the World with Thomas Friedman 36:07

5+ y ago36:07

36:07

Connect with Thomas Friedman Website: www.thomaslfriedman.com | Twitter: @tomfriedman | Most Recent Book: Thank you for Being Late Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Importance of Public Education (05:20) Thomas Friedman’s Educational Experiences (06:09) Mr. …

1
Bored and Brilliant with Manoush Zomorodi 32:51

5+ y ago32:51

32:51

Connect with Manoush Zomorodi Website: www.manoushz.com | Twitter: @manoushz | Book: Bored and Brilliant Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Manoush’s work (01:08) Note to Self podcast Zig Zag podcast Ted Radio Hour podcast Stable Genius Productions Bored and …

1
Knowledge Party with Natalie Wexler 56:43

5+ y ago56:43

56:43

Episode 048: Knowledge Party with Natalie Wexler Today on Vrain Waves we have an exciting and somewhat earth shaking interview from Natalie Wexler, education journalist and author of The Knowledge Gap. She walks us through the contributing research and education history that led her to write the book, and some strategies for schools to set the foun…

1
Teach Like an Advertiser with Dr. Lindsay Portnoy 48:09

5+ y ago48:09

48:09

Teaching & Advertising (01:30) Episode 5 w/ Pirate Dave Rosie the Riveter / Uncle Sam This Girl Can (02:28) Sport England Missy Elliot, Get Ur Freak On Authenticity over perfection (05:05) Dove Real Beauty campaign Commercial with sketch artist Zaretta Hammond's book, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (07:26) Selective Vulnerability as a…

1
The Power of Joyful Teaching: A Compilation 45:39

5+ y ago45:39

45:39

Episode 048: The Power of Joyful Teaching I know, I know - clips episodes seem overdone, but bear with us… in this show, we went through our interviews to this point and used Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA model for happiness to think through how we can be more joyful in our classrooms (and beyond). Links to all other shows can be found below! Connect…

1
The Champions Mind with Dr. Jim Afremow 51:27

5+ y ago51:27

51:27

Episode 047: Dr. Jim Afremow - The Champion’s Mind Sports psychologist Dr. Jim Afremow joins Vrain Waves to share the importance of cultivating a champion’s mindset in everything you do. There are plenty of parallels between sports and teaching and learning; some of these parallels are useful for thinking about your classroom or your collegial rela…

1
Dr. John Medina, Brain Rules 42:38

5+ y ago42:38

42:38

Episode 046: Dr. John Medina - Brain Rules We’ve been waiting for years now for the chance to interview Dr. John Medina: Developmental Molecular Biologist, Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and author of Brain Rules, Brain Rules for Baby, Brain Rules for Aging Well, and Attack of the Teenage Brain, to n…

1
Expertise in Education with Dr. Tom Nichols 43:52

5+ y ago43:52

43:52

Episode 045: Dr. Tom Nichols, Expertise in Education Five-time Jeopardy! Champion, professor, and author Dr. Tom Nichols joins us on Vrain Waves to discuss the implications of his work on K12 education. We chat with Dr. Nichols about the importance of relying on experts, cultivating our own expertise, and the cognitive heuristics that get in our wa…

1
Teaching from a Full Tank with Chase Mielke 56:51

5+ y ago56:51

56:51

Connect with Chase Mielke Website: https://affectiveliving.com/ | Twitter: @chasemielke | Newest Book: The Burnout Cure: Learning to Love Teaching Again, ASCD Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes Out of Our Heads and Into the Classroom (01:56…

1
Fisher & Frey PLC+ 59:25

5+ y ago59:25

59:25

Episode 041: PLC Plus with Nancy Frey & Doug Fisher Join us for this discussion with the potent pair Doug Fisher & Nancy Frey! We learn about their new book, PLC+ and the five questions that get to the heart of what collaboration time should look like in schools. Stay tuned until the end for a special promo code for our listeners for the PLC+ Insti…

1
First Week of School Activities 16:02

6y ago16:02

16:02

Episode 040: Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year!!! A quick intro episode after our summer break. Listen for some inspiration, activities, and free resources to help get your year started off right!! Please consider sharing with a friend, and point some feedback our way at tinyurl.com/vrainwavesfeedback! Thank you! Connect with Vrain Waves Website…

1
Making the Most of Your Summer 15:08

6y ago15:08

15:08

Episode 041: Making the Most of Your Summer A compilation episode highlighting advice on how to make the most of your summer, courtesy of the interviews from some of our amazing guests. Don’t let decision fatigue get you down! And share with us your summer plans at #makesomevrainwaves. Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @Vr…

1
Doris Kearns Goodwin & Michael Goodwin - Learning Through History 53:27

6y ago53:27

53:27

Episode 038: Doris Kearns Goodwin & Michael Goodwin, Learning from History Connect with Doris Kearns Goodwin Website: https://doriskearnsgoodwin.com/ | Twitter: @DorisKGoodwin Connect with Michael Goodwin Website: https://riversc9.wixsite.com/riversandrevolutions/michael-goodwin-rivers Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @Vr…

1
School Leadership Reimagined with Robyn Jackson 55:51

6y ago55:51

55:51

Dr. Robyn Jackson, School Leadership Reimagined Connect with Dr. Jackson Website: mindstepsinc.com | schoolleadershipreimagined.com | Twitter: @robyn_mindsteps Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes Dr. Jackson’s books on ASCD 4 Disciplines of …

1
Teaching Kids Who Read with Daniel Willingham 44:02

6y ago44:02

44:02

Episode 038: Dr. Dan Willingham, Cognitive Scientist Connect with Dr. Willingham Website: http://www.danielwillingham.com/ | Twitter: @DTwillingham Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Links & Show Notes Loving reading the most (05:07) Make it an easy choice (0…

1
Positive School and Classroom Culture 44:20

6y ago44:20

44:20

Episode 037: Jennifer Gonzalez, Cult of Pedagogy It’s not a real cult. It’s a mindset, a family, a ton of free resources, a podcast, great blog posts, relevant topics, and, frankly, a security blanket for busy teachers. Many times it’s pushed our thinking, strengthened our practice, and given us solace. It’s the Cult of Pedagogy, and we had the pri…

1
Digital Minimalism With Cal Newport 1:01:58

6y ago1:01:58

1:01:58

** Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism** Join us to learn from best-selling author & Computer Science professor Cal Newport as we talk to him about exploring the world of digital abundance, using technology with intention, and walking through life with purpose. Learn more from Cal on his website, at calnewport.com, where he has archived about 10 years …

1
Evicting The Enemies of Yes (ASCD Recap) 18:52

6y ago18:52

18:52

Connect with Alyssa Gallagher & Kami Thordarson Website: www.inprogress-consulting.com/ | Twitter: @am_gallagher; @kami_thor Connect with Vrain Waves Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalbBy Alyssa Gallagher, Kami Thordarson, Ben Kalb, Becky Peters

1
Ditching Deficit Thinking (ASCD Recap) 24:54

6y ago24:54

24:54

Connect with the Dream Team Websites: learningpersonalized.com, habitsofmindinstitute.org, nuatc.org | Twitter: @allison_zmuda, @benakallick Connect with Vrain Waves Website: vrainwaves.com | Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb Connect with ASCD Website: www.ascd.org | Twitter: @ASCD, @ASCDConf, #Empower19…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

St Vrain Opd Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide