• Executive Functions in K-3 with Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle

    Executive Functions in K-3 with Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle
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    • What are executive functions, and why do they matter?
    • What are the differences between core and higher order executive functions?
    • How can we tweak the physical and acoustic environment of our classrooms to support all learners?

    My guests in this episode are Sarah Oberle and Mitch Weathers, authors of Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start.

    Mitch Weathers is an educator, author, and nationally and internationally recognized expert on executive functioning in the classroom, known for translating brain science into practical strategies that work in real schools. His work centers on strengthening students’ skills in organization, task initiation, self-regulation, and follow-through through intentional systems that support learning without increasing teachers’ workloads. Through his writing, speaking, and consulting, he challenges educators to reconsider why students struggle and equips them with a shared language and concrete tools to unlock student potential.

    Sarah Oberle is an educator, writer, and professional learning designer with 18 years of experience as a primary classroom teacher. Her work centers on helping educators understand how learning happens and how that understanding shapes daily instructional decisions.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle are veteran educators and authors
    • 2:37 – What are executive functions?
    • 4:29 – Why executive functions matter in primary grades
    • 6:59 – Designing tier one environments that support all learners
    • 10:10 – Confusing behaviors with executive functions
    • 14:13 – Core vs higher order executive functions
    • 16:45 – How to reduce cognitive load and improve working memory
    • 20:51 – Two ways to reduce cognitive load in the primary classroom
    • 25:22 – How to tweak the physical and acoustic learning environments
    • 31:15 – Why starting the whole class together makes a difference
    • 36:07 – How Sarah uses voice recorders in her first grade classroom
    • 38:45 – A first step to take for the overwhelmed educator
    • 45:38 – How and where to connect with Mitch and Sarah online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Retired But Still Learning, Podcasting: Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt from After the Bell

    Retired But Still Learning, Podcasting: Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt from After the Bell
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    • How can an education podcast impact personal growth and professional practice?
    • Is there still room for more education content creators today?
    • How do two veteran educators view today’s educational landscape?

    About These Guests

    This episode features Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt, hosts of the After the Bell podcast. Martin Stuible is deep into his third chapter of life with his creative company, Creative Moments on 11th. Roy Hunt is a geologist, world traveller, master teacher, and podcaster.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt are the hosts of the After the Bell podcast
    • 1:28 – How Martin and Roy connected
    • 4:45 – How the After the Bell podcast was born
    • 9:24 – How the podcast has impacted personal growth
    • 13:46 – Is there still room for more education podcasts
    • 20:21 – Practical habits of self-compassion for overwhelmed educators
    • 24:26 – Thoughts on AI in education today
    • 31:08 – Thoughts on the thesis of the Digital Delusion
    • 40:20 – How to connect with the After the Bell podcast

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Brokers of Hope, Cultures of Joy – with Dean Shareski

    Brokers of Hope, Cultures of Joy – with Dean Shareski
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    • How can educators model healthy skepticism while also being brokers of hope regarding AI tools?
    • What practical boundaries can we set so our students don’t outsource their critical thinking to algorithms?
    • With all that is going on in education and politics, how can we preserve cultures of joy in today’s classrooms?

    About This Guest

    Dean is a Senior Partnership Consultant with Advanced Learning Partnerships, bringing decades of experience at the intersection of education, leadership, and innovation. He works closely with school systems to translate big ideas—especially around learning design, leadership development, and emerging technologies—into practical, scalable strategies. Known for his clear thinking and candid approach, Dean helps leaders move from aspiration to action.

    Connect with Dean Shareski

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Dean Shareski is an author, speaker, writer, and K-12 education consultant
    • 1:50 – Educators as “brokers of hope”
    • 4:53 – How to model healthy skepticism with AI tools
    • 7:38 – Losing students’ productive struggle to AI
    • 13:38 – Leverage digital tools to amplify and transform student learning
    • 17:26 – How to protect the wonder and joy of our classrooms
    • 20:59 – Building school teams like the Blue Jays of 2025
    • 24:42 – Sports gambling creeping into schools
    • 28:31 – What gives Dean hope for the future
    • 31:48 – What keeps Dean’s fire for learning burning bright
    • 34:33 – How and where to connect with Dean Shareski online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Are Our Schools TOO SAFE? A Conversation with Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni

    Are Our Schools TOO SAFE? A Conversation with Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni
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    • What does recess look like if it is as safe as necessary but not as safe as possible?
    • What are the links between the decline of independent, risky play and the rise in student anxiety?
    • How do we distinguish between healthy ‘rough-and-tumble’ play and actual aggression?

    My guests in this episode are Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni, the authors of the recently published Embracing Risky Play at School: Getting Kids Outdoors to Explore, Learn, and Grow. 

    About These Guests

    Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor within the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and a scientist with British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she leads the Outside Play Lab. Her research reimagines how outdoor and risky play can be integrated into everyday life to help children thrive.

    Dr. Megan Zeni is a teacher consultant and researcher in the province of BC. She has 3 decades of professional K-7 teaching experience in classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and school gardens. Megan supports just about anyone interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable implementation of risky play, school gardens, and outdoor classrooms in elementary schools. Learn more and follow her work at meganzeni.com.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – Welcoming Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni 
    • 2:00 – Distinguishing between RISKS and HAZARDS in the school environment
    • 5:24 – As safe as necessary but not as safe as possible
    • 7:14 – Surplus safety as a barrier to development
    • 10:06 – The 17-second pause before intervening
    • 12:42 – Links between the decline of risky play and the rise in student anxiety
    • 18:35 – Creating ‘Yes spaces’ in our schools
    • 27:02 – Healthy rough-and-tumble play vs actual aggression
    • 30:19 – Items to add to a playground
    • 35:22 – Going outdoors consistently beats occasional trips
    • 38:16 – How and where to connect with the authors online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

  • Are Classroom AI Tools Doing More Harm Than Good? with Massachusetts History Teacher David Cutler

    Are Classroom AI Tools Doing More Harm Than Good? with Massachusetts History Teacher David Cutler
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    • Is it still possible to engage productively as a teacher on social media?
    • What do our students risk losing when they lean into AI tools and strategies?
    • What can be gained by bringing student writing to authentic audiences?

    About This Guest, David Cutler

    David is a dad, husband, and writer. He’s also a veteran US history, government, and journalism teacher who is exploring AI in education with caution.

    Timestamps from This Episode

    • 0:00:00 – David Cutler is a high school history and journalism teacher in Massachusetts
    • 1:30 – “ChatGPT has no place in my classoom!”
    • 2:41 – Don’t let AI climb the hill for our kids
    • 6:01 – Too much help from AI tools
    • 7:49 – Is there a contradiction in belief when teachers use AI tools?
    • 12:01 – How teachers can use social media productively
    • 17:38 – Teaching students to identify fake news
    • 20:53 – Using comic books in the social studies classroom
    • 22:40 – The value of frequent, low-stakes assessments
    • 24:49 – Sharing student writing with authentic audiences
    • 27:31 – Why David writes about education on Medium
    • 30:10 – How and where to connect with David Cutler online

    Connect with David Cutler

    • on LinkedIn,
    • on X @spinedu,
    • on Instagram @teachercutler,
    • on Medium at medium.com/@spincutler, and 
    • on his website, dcutler.pressfolios.com.

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.