In today's episode, we're talking and taking a closer look at what I call five learner energy profiles. These aren't learning styles per se in the traditional sense. They are patterns that I've seen over and over again. Patterns that help explain why some students engage instantly, why some stay quiet for months, and how we can meet all of them where they ar ... Show More
Mar 2026
Episode 173 - Brain Science Meets the Classroom: A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Riegel
As teachers, we are incredibly well-trained in structure, curriculum, and how to organize the day-to-day of teaching. But what about the human side of the classroom—for both our students and ourselves?In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Riegel to explore what really drives beha ... Show More
34m 36s
Mar 2026
Episode 172. Why Your EL Lessons Feel Scattered (and How Backward Design Fixes It)
In this episode, I’m diving into lesson planning and introducing a process called backward design, which is a truly great way to plan for our English Learner (EL) students. You will hear how backward design differs from the traditional, “build-as-you-go” approach that often leave ... Show More
18m 10s
Oct 2025
Episode 159: Progress is Incremental. But Do Your Students Know?
Ever had a student say, “I’m not progressing” or “I feel stuck”? It’s disheartening for and for you too. But often, it isn’t true.In this episode, we’ll explore why learners feel this way, how to help them see the progress they’re actually making, and practical classroom strategi ... Show More
9m 30s
Sep 2025
6 Ways to Engage Kids in Learning & Personal Growth with Jim Kwik
What if the key to unlocking a child’s potential isn’t about forcing more facts, but about sparking more joy? Too often, learning feels like a chore—but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, I’ll show you how to make learning irresistible, not just for children but for learners of ... Show More
9m 17s
Nov 2020
159: Connecting Students in a Disconnected World
Breakout rooms, collaborative projects, games—whatever we do, it's crucial that we do something to get our students talking to each other. In this episode, I'm giving you a huge list of ideas teachers have shared with me for getting students to interact better, both in-person and ... Show More
35m 18s
Aug 2025
#337 11 Things I Learnt Teaching English
I've been teaching English online for almost 10 years now, and over that time I've picked up quite a lot of patterns and similarities between all my students. In this episode, I share 11 life lessons and other interesting things that I've learnt from my students, my lessons, and ... Show More
30m 4s