The Making Schools Work Podcast - SREB

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Special Announcement: Season 2 Changes

Wednesday, July 9, 2025 • Duration 11:31

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In this short announcement, Ashley and Dan sit down to talk about all of the exciting changes coming to the podcast in the fall.

Season 2 has a lot of big changes, but each change is just to make it bigger and better for you.

Plus, we talk about the Season 2 preview episodes we will be releasing during the 2025 Making Schools Work Conference from July 14-18.

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Summer AI Series: Using AI to Support Personalized Learning

Season 1 · Episode 27

Tuesday, July 1, 2025 • Duration 39:40

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Part of our summer series on SREB’s Guidance for the Use of AI in the K12 Classroom

In this episode, Ashley talks with Leslie Eaves, SREB’s director of project-based learning, about how AI can support personalized learning.

They dig into what it really means to differentiate in today’s classrooms and how teachers can use AI tools to give students tools to use at home, create custom learning plans and much more.

Topics covered:

What Pillar 3 is and why personalized learning matters
How teachers can use AI to differentiate more easily
First steps for using AI to personalize instruction

🗂️ Resources:

Also available on YouTube if you prefer video
Download the free report: https://www.sreb.org/publication/guidance-use-ai-k-12-classroom-0
Get the free AI checklist: https://www.sreb.org/publication/ai-tool-procurement-implementation-and-evaluation-checklist

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Summer AI Series: Using AI to Help Streamline Teachers' Administrative and Planning Tasks

Season 1 · Episode 26

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 • Duration 43:23

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Part of our summer series on SREB’s Guidance for the Use of AI in the K12 Classroom

In this episode, host Ashley Shaw is joined by Leslie Eaves, SREB’s director of project-based learning, to talk about Pillar 2: Using AI to streamline teacher administrative and planning work.

This conversation dives into practical, real-world ways teachers are using AI to save time—without giving up professional judgment.

From parent emails to lesson planning to the elephant in the room (grading), Ashley and Leslie discuss where AI can actually make a difference and where it shouldn’t replace human thinking.

🎯 Topics covered:

What Pillar 2 is and why it matters
The line between modeling good AI use and cutting corners
Fast, low-risk ways to start using AI
Grading with AI: when it might help and when it goes too far
Where to start if you’re AI-curious but overwhelmed

🗂️ Resources:

Also available on YouTube if you prefer video
Download the free report: https://www.sreb.org/publication/guidance-use-ai-k-12-classroom-0
Get the free AI checklist: https://www.sreb.org/publication/ai-tool-procurement-implementation-and-evaluation-checklist

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Summer AI Series: Designing Cognitively Demanding Tasks With Help From AI

Season 1 · Episode 25

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 • Duration 49:13

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In this episode of Class-Act Coaching, we dive into Pillar 1 of SREB’s Guidance for the Use of AI in the K12 Classroom—using AI to design cognitively demanding tasks that engage students in deep, meaningful learning.

Ashley is joined again by Leslie Eaves, SREB’s project-based learning program director, to talk about what makes a task truly cognitively demanding (hint: it’s about thinking, not just doing), and how AI tools can help teachers brainstorm, plan and scaffold rich learning experiences.

We cover practical ways to use AI for lesson design, what to watch out for and why starting with your standards is key. Whether you’ve read the report or not, this episode is packed with actionable ideas you can try right away.

Also available on YouTube if you prefer video
Download the free report: https://www.sreb.org/publication/guidance-use-ai-k-12-classroom-0
Get the free AI checklist: https://www.sreb.org/publication/ai-tool-procurement-implementation-and-evaluation-checklist

Topics include:

What cognitively demanding tasks are (and aren’t)
How to use AI as a lesson planning thought partner
Examples from real classrooms
Connecting content to student interests
Avoiding over-reliance on screens
A simple way to get started this week

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Summer AI Series: How to Get Started With AI in the K-12 Classroom

Season 1 · Episode 24

Monday, June 9, 2025 • Duration 37:05

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In this kickoff episode of our special summer series, Ashley Shaw sits down with Leslie Eaves, SREB's project-based learning director and a key member of the SREB Commission on AI in Education, to explore the new, free report: Guidance for the Use of AI in the K12 Classroom.

Whether you’re AI-curious or already experimenting, this episode is your entry point into making AI a helpful tool—not a headache—in your classroom.

What We Cover:

Why SREB created this report (and who it’s for)
The 4 pillars of AI use in K12 classrooms
Why AI is best seen as a tool, not a replacement
Practical first steps for busy teachers
Key opportunities—and real risks—you should know about

Download the Free Report:
Guidance for the Use of AI in the K12 Classroom (https://www.sreb.org/publication/guidance-use-ai-k-12-classroom-0)

And for the first time, watch the episode on our YouTube channel: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PIFw2QBwpJE

Next Up: In the next episode, we dive deep into Pillar 1: Creating cognitively demanding tasks with AI.

Subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel to make sure you catch the whole series.

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Season Wrap-Up: Collective Teacher Efficacy, Clarity and True Engagement

Season 1 · Episode 23

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 • Duration 44:12

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In the final episode of the school year, the Class-Act Coaching crew is back together! Ashley is joined by co-hosts Jason and Dan to reflect on the biggest takeaways from this semester’s episodes — and this time, Dan takes the reins as host.

Together, they dive into three powerful themes that kept coming up in coaching conversations:

Collective Teacher Efficacy: What it really looks like in action — and how to tell if it’s missing.
Teacher Clarity: Why learning goals and success criteria matter, not for compliance, but for student understanding.
Authentic Engagement: The difference between fun and purposeful learning — and how to get students thinking deeply (not just moving around).

With examples from classrooms, podcast guests and even Ashley’s own students, this wrap-up connects all the dots and leaves you with plenty to reflect on. Plus, find out what Ashley told a student that she realized she should’ve been telling herself.

We’ll be back in the fall, but until then — enjoy your well-earned summer. And if you’re joining us at the Making Schools Work Conference in New Orleans (July 15–18), be sure to say hi!

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Special Episode: Coaching the Coaches - How One Georgia District Supports Instructional Coaching at Every Level

Season 1 · Episode 22

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • Duration 50:19

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In this episode, Jason and Dan sit down with Kanisa Williams, an instructional coach from a large Georgia district, who coaches other instructional coaches. They talk about how coaching cycles are implemented not just with teachers, but with coaches, and the importance of modeling, trust-building and communication.

Kanisa shares how she supports new coaches in clarifying their role, planning productive coaching cycles and using teacher data to identify priorities.

Key Takeaways:

How coaching cycles for instructional coaches mirror those for teachers
Why modeling and co-planning are essential, even for coaching coaches
Strategies for building trust in new coaching relationships
Tips for setting clear goals and boundaries when you're new to a campus
Using teacher data to guide the focus of coaching cycles

Mentioned in the Episode:

Importance of early wins to build confidence with new coaches
Creating clarity around a coach’s role to avoid being seen as “just an extra helper”
The power of transparency and reflection in professional growth

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

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Designing Meaningful Projects: Making Project-Based Learning Work in the Classroom

Season 1 · Episode 21

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 • Duration 51:48

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In this episode of Class-Act Coaching, Ashley is joined by Marty Sugerik, an instructional coach with a passion for project-based learning (PBL). Marty shares practical coaching strategies to help teachers design or refine classroom projects that connect to real-world skills.

Whether you’re a coach supporting teachers in PBL or an educator looking to strengthen your own projects, this conversation is packed with hands-on strategies for making learning more engaging and meaningful.

Key Topics Covered:

How instructional coaches can help teachers start or refine a PBL unit
The importance of authenticity—connecting projects to real-world work
Scaffolding student success within project-based learning
Coaching strategies for helping teachers overcome common PBL challenges
The role of feedback and reflection in making projects better over time

Resources Mentioned:

📄 SREB’s Powerful Project-Based Learning Instructional Practices

Don’t Miss:

Marty’s advice on balancing structure and student choice in project design
Real-life coaching stories about helping teachers bring PBL to life
A step-by-step coaching framework for guiding teachers through project creation

📘 Homework Challenge: If you’re a teacher, take a current unit and brainstorm how it could be turned into a project with a real-world connection. If you’re a coach, work with a teacher this week to refine a project idea!

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

Tips for Creating an Engaged Class: Writing, Movement and Meaningful Talk

Season 1 · Episode 20

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 • Duration 29:21

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Getting students to truly engage can be one of the hardest parts of teaching—but this episode is here to help! Ashley is joined by two instructional coaches, Kari Meldrum and Sharon Moehle, who share two powerful, easy-to-implement strategies that promote deeper student engagement across all content areas.

Whether you teach math, ELA, science or social studies, these techniques are designed to get every student participating, thinking more critically and taking ownership of their learning—without requiring a complete lesson overhaul.

Key Topics Covered:

Why traditional think-pair-share sometimes falls short—and how adding a quick writing step (“think-ink-pair-share”) can improve participation
How to make group work more equitable and effective using the “Traveling Salesman” strategy
Tips for keeping all students engaged and accountable during partner and group discussions
Ideas for adapting these strategies across subjects—from writing to problem-solving to historical analysis

Resources Mentioned:

📄 Kari & Sharon’s full Engagement Strategies PDF—packed with even more ideas
🧠 Think-Ink-Pair-Share (TIPS) strategy template
🚶 Traveling Salesman + Numbered Heads Together structure for accountable talk

Don’t Miss:

Ashley’s real-life reflections on student group work
How "TIPS" and “the traveling salesman” can keep even hesitant students engaged in group presentations
Ways to modify the traveling salesman strategy for ELA, history, math, science and beyond

📘 Homework Challenge: Try both strategies—TIPS and Traveling Salesman—with your class this week! Reflect on how they changed participation, clarity and engagement.

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.

The Making Schools Work Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Making Schools Work Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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