Schoolutions: Teaching Strategies to Strengthen School Culture, Empower Educators, & Inspire Student Growth

Maggie Beattie Roberts highlights brain-based, whole-child teaching at its most practical. It's exactly the kind of insight that transforms how teachers approach lesson planning, student engagement, and instructional strategies for learners who seem "stuck."

What if the reason your students struggle with writing has nothing to do with effort — and everything to do with how their brain is wired? In this clip,...

Part One of my S5E24 ⁨@schoolutionspodcast⁩ ⁨conversation uncovers why underdeveloped executive functioning for kids can impact areas like working memory and response inhibition. Melanie Meehan and Maggie Beattie Roberts make foundational writing skills accessible by highlighting how understanding executive function deficits can completely change how we approach literacy education. We discuss how addressing these executive dysfunct...

Welcome back to Part Two of my S5E23 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Stacey Shubitz. We discuss the importance of looking beyond just IEP goals and accommodations in special education. Stacey emphasizes considering child development and the need for downtime, joy, and culturally relevant books. Caregivers can use these parenting tips to provide emotional support and foster inclusive education for children with disabilities o...

Discover a powerful perspective shift on educational evaluations that eliminates stigma and empowers families. In this transformative reel clip, Stacey Shubitz shares how one parent reframed the evaluation process as "finding the key to unlock the brain" – a beautiful metaphor that changes everything about how we approach student struggles and student success.

If your child is experiencing low engagement, classro...

Part One of my S5E23 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, literacy specialist and parent Stacey Shubitz shares her dual perspective on navigating special education. If you've ever felt lost in IEP meetings or unsure how to advocate for your child, this episode is your roadmap.

Stacey, author of Make the School System Work for Your Child With Disabilities, reveals why leading with your child's strengths—not deficits...

This February, join @schoolutionspodcast as it highlights educators and researchers advancing child support. 

🎯 What You'll Learn:
• How to navigate IEPs, 504s, and disability services with confidence
• The shocking research behind foundational writing skills that transforms student success
• A neurodivergent educator's journey supporting thriving students in inclusive classrooms
• The alarming t...

Welcome back to Part Two of my S5E22  @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Katie Keier. This episode builds on the foundation from Part One, exploring Katie's unique classroom strategies. We dive into her innovative teaching techniques, including why she creates classrooms that foster belonging and student engagement through choice, materials, and the honoring of every child's story. Katie shares powerful examples of st...

Are standards enough to inspire real writers? In this powerful reel, Katie Keier shares why teaching writing standards in isolation isn't creating confident, motivated writers in our classrooms. Learn about the "iceberg method" - where standards are just the tip, and meaningful purpose sits beneath the surface.

The truth: Kids can learn to spell "cat" and blend sounds, but without an authentic audi...

Part One of my S5E22  @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Katie Keier shares how her Writers Playshop is changing kindergarten writing through play. Learn about effective teaching strategies and how to create a dynamic classroom environment where children thrive.

In this episode, 33-year veteran teacher Katie Keier shares how a five-year-old revolutionized her entire approach to teaching writing. Discover why she refuses t...

In Part Two of my S5E21 @schoolutionspodcast conversation,  literacy expert Maria Walther focuses on the power of the read aloud. This episode offers more teaching strategies for educators and builds on our Part One conversation. Discover how incorporating read aloud stories and read aloud books can enhance reading instruction and foster a love for storytime in your classroom.

What You'll Learn:
✅ The Monday-Frida...

In this reel clip, we discuss the essential components of shared reading and why it needs to be updated. Many classrooms lack traditional materials, impacting effective teaching strategies. Maria Walther also shares reading tips for creating a more engaging and impactful literacy experience for students.

Shared reading doesn't have to disappear from your classroom just because big books are hard to find!  Maria Walthe...

In Part One of my S5E21 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Maria Walther breaks down the critical difference between read aloud and shared reading, and shares why those short, focused bursts of instruction are the bridge your students need between teacher-led learning and independence. We discuss how to make this work alongside published curriculum, effective teaching, instructional strategies, and lesson planning that honors what ...

Part Two of my S5E20 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh, learn about effective digital media and edu tech tools that give students creative agency, fostering interactive learning.

In this episode, you'll discover:
🎯 Why traditional curriculum fails and how storytelling bridges the gap
📱 Digital storytelling tools: Canva and Adobe Spark
🎤 The guest speaker strategy that ...

Start Monday With One Story | Transform Student Engagement Through Storytelling 📚✨

One simple shift can revolutionize classroom belonging and student motivation. Start with ONE story. ONE perspective. ONE moment. Stories aren't just content—they're entry points that help students see themselves, stay engaged, and go deeper into learning. When we incorporate stories, we raise the humanity in our classrooms.
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In Part One of my S5E20  @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh shares how inclusive teaching can profoundly impact the student experience and foster a sense of belonging for all students, emphasizing that education for all hinges on deeply connected learning. She discusses how a Spanish teacher's innovative language learning approach helped her overcome feelings of invisibility in the classroom.

Part Two of my S5E19 @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Rusty Keeler tackles the "how" of implementing adventurous play—storage solutions, liability myths, phantom policies, and the 13-year success story of Ithaca Children's Garden's Anarchy Zone.

🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Storage and organization strategies for loose parts play (yes, even for Type A educators!)
• How to address liability...

Discover the power of loose parts in creating engaging, natural play spaces that boost creativity, student engagement, and active learning! In this reel clip with Rusty Keeler, we explore how simple, low-cost materials can transform any outdoor environment—whether it's a school playground, backyard, or homeschool setting—into a space where children thrive.

Learn why traditional playground equipment like monkey bars is...

Part One of my S5E19  @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Rusty Keeler explores how to integrate more unstructured play, loose parts, and outdoor activities for kids into daily life, fostering child development and encouraging open-ended play. It's time to grow imagination.

Rusty has spent 30+ years designing and advocating for natural outdoor play around the world, and he's witnessed firsthand how we've ...

Happy New Year! I'm excited to share a Schoolutions Teaching Strategies podcast update with you, designed to enhance your weekly planning routine and boost your productivity. Starting January 5th, 2026, guest conversations will be divided into two shorter episodes, released on Mondays and Fridays. Wednesdays will feature a 60-second reel, offering a bite-sized piece from our conversation that you can share with a colleague.