Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Struggle Is Learning. Drowning Is Not. One of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that not all struggle is productive. As math teachers, we want students to wrestle with ideas, persevere through challenges, and make sense of mathematics. But there's a fine line between productive struggle and overwhelming frustration. In this episode, we're exploring what productive struggle actually looks like, why support an...

In this weeks episode of Building a Culture of Collaboration, Kurtis and Lorna share considerations and ideas to ensure that classroom spaces are intentionally adjusted to support effective adult collaboration. Resources: Collaborative Meeting Spaces Guide - https://bit.ly/spacechecklist Classroom Setup Checklist for Team Meetings - https://docs.google.com/document/d/11MXHJo0f0h4iOciAiNDu2Cvqtqa8BMnudQCYJ_PAxzE/edit?usp=sharing ______________________ #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadershi

Are screens really changing kids’ brains, behavior, sleep, and mental health? In this episode of The Language of Behavior , Joshua Stamper and Charlie Peck explore what screens are really doing to kids’ brains, behavior, sleep, and mental health. They break down why screen time can lead to more anxiety, distraction, emotional dysregulation, and conflict at home and school. The conversation also offers practical ways parents and educators can set healthy boundaries, build better routines, and hel

Have you ever stared at your packed planning binder, watched a class come in hot, and wished you had a magical lesson plan ready to go? You aren't alone! In this episode, I’m sitting down with veteran educator and author Tonnye Fletcher to rescue your prep time. We’re digging into how you can stop reinventing the wheel by using picture books as the ultimate curriculum foundation. We’ll break down how to stop spending hours hunting for lesson hooks and start using multimedia resources that do the

Paris Woods is an award-winning education leader and bestselling author of The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom. Her recently published book, The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom, speaks directly to a growing concern across K–12 and higher education: how students’ financial instability undermines retention and long-term success. Dr. Woods has held senior leadership roles across multiple education nonprofits, including College Beyond, where, as Co-Founder and Executive Director, she a

Every leader talks about team culture. Very few are actually building it the right way. This week Jon and Coach Jim bust four of the most common myths about team culture, and at least one of them is probably something you believe right now. If you have ever bought the team lunch and wondered why morale did not improve, this one is for you.

In this weeks episode of the Leading Collaborative Response podcast, Kurtis and Lorna provide some ideas that leaders should be considering in June when planning for the fall start-up in relation to establishing, sustaining and deepening your Collaborative Response efforts. Connected Resources: Planning for Fall Start Up on-demand workshop - https://www.jigsawlearningonline.com/planning-for-fall-start-up Planning for Fall Organizer - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YPwjJvc07Zri_jCHybwKDmLh_k

In this powerful episode of the Time for Teachership podcast, Lindsay Lyons talks with Dr. Darla Bishop , educator, public health advocate, and author, about how families and schools can partner together to build financially confident kids from preschool through adolescence . Dr. Bishop shares why children are the carriers of social change , how everyday errands can become rich financial literacy lessons, and what teachers and families can do right now to start conversations about money that bui

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! What I'm Still Figuring Out About Teaching Honors Math After more than 15 years in the classroom, I'm about to do something new: Teach Honors Algebra 2 and Grade-Level Algebra 2 at the same time. And honestly? I'm still figuring out what that should look like. In this episode, I'm sharing the questions I've been wrestling with as I prepare for next year—from rigor and procedural fluency to pacing, grading, and what sho...

Connect with the Show Here! The conversation you keep delaying is probably the one shaping your school culture right now. We talk with superintendent Erika Bare and instructional leadership coach and former principal Tiffany Burns about how educational leaders can handle tough conversations with students, staff, and caregivers without slipping into power struggles, mixed messages, or avoidance. We dig into what “caring out loud” really looks like in classrooms and hallways, especially for st...

Looking for the 102 books from Kurtis and Lorna’s bookshelf that will have a dramatic impact on your collaborative culture? Download the free 1012 Must-Reads for Educational Leaders at https://bit.ly/102reads Welcome to the milestone 100th episode of the Building a Culture of Collaboration podcast! In this special episode, Kurtis and Lorna are diving into their ultimate summer reading list for leaders: 5 essential books (plus one powerful bonus) designed to help you move your teams, break down

In Episode 142, Kasey and Brian sit down with Mr. Rupp, a high school English teacher and creator known for his sharp, funny, and thoughtful videos about rhetoric, fallacies, and how we think. The conversation moves from logical fallacies to grading, leadership, parent communication, and the complicated realities of teaching. Mr. Rupp breaks down ideas like the bike shed effect , the Nirvana fallacy , and hostile attribution bias , while pushing educators to think more clearly about the systems,

What does it take to build a leadership team that truly works? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Marlene Rombach, Rocio Rhoads, and Christina Shires—the leadership team at Locust Grove Middle School in Locust Grove, Virginia—to reflect on their first year leading together. With a first-year principal, a first-year assistant principal, and an assistant principal stepping into a significantly expanded role, this team faced enormous challenges from day o

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer, Lorna, and Kurtis discuss one of many scenarios around bringing new personnel into an established collaborative culture. This conversation focuses on how to bring in new staff to a school where Collaborative Response is already “the way things are done”. --------- Connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @hewsonk27 LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson Connect with Lorna Hewson Email lorna.hew

What if the biggest key to better leadership is not focusing on the lagging measures, but learning how to measure what truly matters?In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Dave Schmittou to talk about leadership, priority management, and the difference between lead measures and lagging measures. Dave shares practical insight from his work with schools, districts, and organizations, and explains why leaders must clarify the results they want before they can effectively

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the weight of leadership and life's challenges? In this episode of Lead with HOPE, we explore how hope, faith, and intentional habits can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth and purpose. Join us as Steve Warmer shares his journey from self-doubt to confident leadership, emphasizing the importance of community, mindset, and unwavering hope. In this episode: How hope serves as a core leadership strategy, especially during tough seasons Steve’s personal

What if the reason your message isn't landing has nothing to do with your speaking skills and everything to do with your healing? In this powerful episode of Lead with H.O.P.E. , Dr. Brandi Kelly sits down with pastor, speaker, and speech coach David Swihart to uncover what separates forgettable presentations from messages that truly transform lives. David shares the surprising truth about storytelling, why unresolved pain can undermine your impact, and how leaders can turn their experiences int

______________________ #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership #systems Are you looking to further your growth as a collaborative leader? Access numerous FREE resources and webinars designed to help you build and sustain a strong culture of collaboration. https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/free Interested in learning MORE about a framework that can transform your PLC and MTSS efforts? Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response Article https://bit.ly/CR-overview Explore the book Collabo

This is audio pulled from a conversation Jeff had with a member of our EDUpreneur Community. For more information on the community, visit www.teachbetter.com/edupreneur

Danny Steele, a 31-year education veteran, shares insights on building a positive school culture, finding purpose in education, and the paradigm shift in school leadership. He discusses the power of redefining light bulb moments, making a difference, collaborating with Todd Whitaker, and finding hope in education. Takeaways Positive school culture is built through purposeful leadership. Redefining light bulb moments and making a difference are key to staying inspired in education. Chapters 00:00

What if a student’s lack of attention is not defiance, but overload? In this episode of The Language of Behavior , Josh and Charlie respond to a question about student attention and engagement in the classroom. They explore why what looks like disengagement is often confusion, overwhelm, or a need for more predictable routines and clearer expectations, especially for neurodivergent learners. The conversation also connects attention to executive functioning, impulse control, and emotional capacit