The Balance, by Dr. Catlin Tucker

Skills Before Tools: Questioning and Purpose Setting for Student-Led Learning with AI

In this episode, I unpack why questioning and purpose setting are foundational skills for student-led learning, especially in classrooms where AI is becoming more common.

I explore the difference between students looking busy and students actually thinking, and why AI makes that distinction impossible to ignore. We walk through what purpose-setting and questioning can look like across K–12 classrooms, from nurturing curiosity in the early grades to supporting strategic, responsible AI use in high school.

Along the way, I share classroom examples and practical teacher moves to help students clarify what they’re trying to learn, ask better questions, and make more intentional decisions about when and how to use AI. The focus is on keeping students, not tools, at the center of learning.

Click here to check out SchoolAI!

Episode Resources

• Skills Before Tools: K-12 AI Implementation Guide

AI in Schools: A Skills-First Framework for Sustainable K–12 Implementation

In this episode, I introduce my Skills Before Tools: K–12 AI Implementation Guide and what we can learn from past EdTech rollouts that missed the mark.

Too often, schools rush to adopt new tools without first building the skills students and teachers need to use them well, and AI raises the stakes even higher. I walk through the five through-line skills that anchor the guide, skills that matter in every grade level and content area, with or without AI. We also explore how this approach helps schools avoid reactive decision-making and instead design a thoughtful, developmentally appropriate progression for AI use.

If you’re a school or district leader trying to make sense of AI without chasing the next shiny tool, this conversation will give you a grounded place to start.

Click here to check out SchoolAI!

Click here to download your copy of the guide.

Building Thinking Classrooms with Peter Liljedahl: Designing Conditions for Deep Thinking, Productive Struggle, and Student

In this conversation, I chat with Peter Liljedahl to unpack the research behind Building Thinking Classrooms and what it really means to design classrooms where students think deeply.

We explore the conditions that support thinking, from how tasks are introduced and timed to the surprisingly powerful role furniture and physical space play in student engagement. Peter clarifies what productive struggle looks like in action and how to normalize getting stuck. We dig into questioning, including the types of questions students ask and which ones teachers should actually answer, and we reframe homework as a tool for students to check their understanding.

This episode is packed with research-backed insights that invite educators to rethink how they design for thinking every day.

Click here to check out SchoolAI!

 

Episode Resources

• Check out Peter’s books
• Instagram: @‌buildingthinkingclassrooms
• X: @‌pgliljedahl or @‌BTCthinks

End-of-Year Reflection for Teachers: How to Make Meaningful Changes That Stick

As the year winds down, many teachers find themselves thinking about what they want to change and why it’s been so hard to change it.

In this episode, I guide listeners through a practical reflection process that helps explain why meaningful change often feels elusive, even when the desire is there. Using real coaching stories and classroom-based examples, I unpack how hidden commitments and assumptions shape our instructional choices.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, get curious, and replace self-blame with clarity. If you’re feeling tired, stuck, or ready for a different kind of reset, this conversation offers a more humane path forward.

Related Resource: Activity—Immunity to Change Model

The Station Rotation Model: Smooth Transitions That Save Time and Eliminate Chaos

Transitions can make or break a station rotation, especially when time is tight and energy is high.

In this episode, I respond to a teacher’s question about transitions and logistics by unpacking practical strategies for creating clear, consistent routines that students can actually manage. I share why transition systems need to be explicitly taught and practiced, how strategic seating can eliminate the scramble for spots, and the powerful role of a group facilitator in keeping stations running smoothly.

These small design moves reduce friction, protect instructional time, and help students build independence. The strategies connect directly to the design principles in The Station Rotation Model and UDL, with a focus on clarity, predictability, and student agency.

Related blog: The Station Rotation Model Tip #3: Practice Rotating for Seamless Transitions

Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction Through Flexible Use of High-Quality Instructional Materials

High-quality instructional materials are designed to strengthen Tier 1 instruction, but what happens when fidelity turns into rigidity?

In this episode, I explore how HQIM can function as a strong foundation rather than a script teachers are expected to follow. I unpack when whole-group instruction makes sense, when small-group instruction is more effective, and how data can guide those decisions. Using a reimagined HQIM lesson as an example, I share how flexible structures like station rotation can create space for differentiation, formative feedback, and student agency.

Click here to check out SchoolAI!

 

Episode Resources

• Using High-Quality Instructional Materials Flexibly to Strengthen Tier 1 Instruction
• Resource: Design with HQIM: Guiding Questions for Instructional Coaches & Teachers

Connecting the Dots: How Learner Agency, Metacognition, and the Science of Learning Work Together with Suzy Evans and Dr. Shane Saeed

In this episode, I chat with Suzy Evans and Dr. Shane Saeed about how learner agency, metacognition, and assessment can work together rather than be siloed or disconnected.

We explored what the science of learning tells us about helping students take more ownership of their thinking and how teachers can design routines that make assessment something they do with students, not to them. Shane and Susie shared concrete strategies they use in classrooms across their district, along with insights from hosting their popular podcast, Vrainwaves. They also talked about what it looks like to seek balance while juggling so many roles in education.

This episode brings the pieces together for anyone trying to make their practice feel more connected and purposeful.

Click here to check out SchoolAI!

 

Episode Resources

• X: @‌drshanesaeed 
• Instagram handle: @‌drshanesaeed
• X: @‌SuzannahEvans2
• LinkedIn: Suzy Evans

Quiet Collaboration in Station Rotation: Secondary Strategies That Work

In this episode, I dig into one of the most common challenges teachers face when using the Station Rotation Model: managing noise while maintaining meaningful collaboration.

I walk through six quiet, high-engagement collaborative routines—from virtual scavenger hunts to shared visual artifacts—that help students think together without the chaos. These strategies are easy to set up, work across subjects, and support deeper learning in secondary classrooms.

I also share tips for balancing station types and setting clear expectations so teachers can stay focused on their small-group instruction. If you want rotations that run smoothly and keep students engaged, this episode gives you concrete moves to try tomorrow.

• Click here to check out SchoolAI!

Episode Resources

• Related Blog: Station Rotation: 6 Silent Collaborative Activities for Secondary Classrooms
• Googlel Slides Scavenger Hunt
• The Station Rotation Model & UDL: Elevate Tier 1 Instruction and Cultivate Learner Agency

Tier 1 Instruction with Video: Strategies That Get Students Thinking and Talking

In this episode, I talk about using video strategically for explanations or models that we plan to present the same way for all students, and that they often need to revisit.

I dig into the common concerns teachers raise about video and explain why it can actually remove barriers that live instruction sometimes creates. I share strategies that turn watching into an active, collaborative experience so students are thinking, talking, and making meaning together. I also explain how this shift frees teachers to support individuals and small groups while keeping the whole class engaged.

This episode is all about moving from delivery to discovery and designing classroom experiences that let students take a more active role in their learning.

Episode Resources

• Click here to check out SchoolAI!
• Related Blog: Using Video for Tier 1 Instruction: From Passive Watching to Active Learning

How School and District Podcasts Build Stronger Connections with Families featuring Matt Graham

In this episode, I talk with Matt Graham, an award-winning educator and the digital media specialist for Chesapeake Public Schools.

Matt shares how he first used podcasting with middle school students, then expanded that work and eventually led efforts to create a districtwide podcast focused on clear, consistent communication with families and the larger community.

We dig into the origin story, the early challenges, and the systems he put in place to get the district podcast off the ground. Matt also talks about how this work has helped the district build trust, highlight student and staff voices, and strengthen the connection between schools and the community. It’s a practical look at how one district is using podcasting to open doors and keep families informed.

Episode Resources

• Check out Chesepeake Public Schools' Podcast Amplified

• Connect with Matt Graham on LinkedIn