PODCAST · education
Beyond the Worksheet
by Dr. Jess Laine
Beyond the Worksheet is the podcast for educators who are ready to break free from busywork and reimagine what real learning looks like. Hosted by Dr. Jess Laine, a passionate educator and researcher, each episode explores innovative, student-centered teaching methods that go deeper than the surface—from discovery learning and project-based instruction to inquiry, creative assessment, and more. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, school leader, or education student, you’ll gain practical strategies, research-based insights, and honest conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) in today’s classrooms. Because worksheets have their place—but learning should go beyond them.
Episodes
-
More Life on Set Bonus Ep. 7
In this bonus episode of Beyond the Worksheet, Dr. Jess Laine continues sharing her journey through the world of studio teaching as her career begins to gain momentum. From stepping onto the set of You and having a memorable (and slightly awkward!) moment with Penn Badgley, to working on a...
-
What’s Next? (Season Finale) Ep. 12
In the season finale of Beyond the Worksheet, Dr. Jess Laine reflects on the key insights from her research and the bigger picture of what truly drives student success. While discovery learning and innovative approaches can support achievement, this episode emphasizes that no single method...
-
Behind the Scenes: Touring, Disney Cruises, and Reality TV Bonus Ep. 6
In this bonus episode, Dr. Jess Laine continues her studio teaching journey, sharing stories from a fast-paced and unforgettable year in 2017. From touring with The King and I to working with young talent on Nickelodeon projects, she gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really…
more -
Advice for Parents and Policymakers Ep. 11
In this episode of Beyond the Worksheet, Dr. Jess Laine shifts the focus beyond the classroom to the people who play a critical role in shaping education—parents, community members, and policymakers. Drawing on the findings from her dissertation, she breaks down what the research really says…
more -
Barriers, Biases, and Realities Ep. 10
In this episode of Beyond the Worksheet, Dr. Jess Laine takes a deeper look at the real-world challenges of implementing discovery learning in today’s schools. While research shows the potential of student-centered approaches, this episode explores the barriers that often stand in the way,...
-
Guided vs. Unguided: Does Structure Matter? Ep. 9
In this episode of Beyond the Worksheet, Dr. Jess Laine tackles a common question in education: How much structure should discovery learning really have? Drawing on research and insights from her dissertation, she explores the debate between guided and unguided learning and explains why effective...
-
When the Doors Opened Bonus Ep. 5
In this bonus episode, Dr. Jess Laine shares the moment her studio teaching career truly began to take off. After years of piecing together freelance opportunities, 2016 became a turning point when she landed a role on Netflix’s The OA, marking her first major television production. From working...
-
What This Means for Teachers - Ep. 8
In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine translates the research findings from her dissertation into practical, classroom-ready takeaways. After examining both engagement and achievement data, she answers the question every educator is asking: What do I actually do with this information? From prioritizing...
-
What We Found (Part 2 - Knowledge Acquisition) Ep. 7
In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine dives into the academic achievement findings from her dissertation research. Using STAAR assessment data from Dallas ISD middle schools, she compares Montessori and traditional students to determine whether discovery-based learning leads to stronger academic...
-
The Leap Into the Unknown Bonus Ep. 4
In this bonus episode, Dr. Jess Laine shares the pivotal moment when she walked away from the traditional classroom without a safety net and stepped fully into the uncertainty of studio teaching. After years of burnout and feeling misaligned within the system, she made the courageous decision to...
-
What we Found (Part 1 - Engagement) Ep. 6
In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine unpacks the engagement data from her dissertation study comparing Montessori and traditional middle schools in Dallas ISD. What does “student engagement” really mean? How was it measured? And did Montessori classrooms actually lead to higher engagement? Spoiler:...
-
How I Designed the Study Ep. 5
In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine pulls back the curtain on the research process behind her dissertation. How do you design a study that reflects real classrooms—not just theory? Dr. Jess explains how she used districtwide data from Dallas ISD to compare Montessori and traditional schools, focusing...
-
Early Studio Teaching Lessons Bonus Ep. 3
In this heartfelt bonus episode, Dr. Jess Laine shares the next chapter of her journey into studio teaching—navigating unfamiliar laws, unpredictable filming schedules, and the deep desire to meet students where they are. From tutoring on Nickelodeon’s Every Witch Way to juggling traditional...
-
The Research Gap Ep. 4
Why do we need another study on discovery learning? In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine explores the research gap that sparked her dissertation, and why it matters for real classrooms today. She breaks down what’s missing from current studies, including the lack of data on middle school students in...
-
What Is Discovery Learning, Really? Ep. 3
“Discovery learning” gets tossed around in education, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine breaks down the theory, the practice, and the research behind this student-centered approach. Drawing directly from her dissertation, she unpacks what discovery learning looks…
more -
Studio Teaching, Year One (2011): Learning as I Went Bonus Ep. 2
In this bonus episode, Dr. Jess Laine takes listeners back to 2011, her first year as a studio teacher, and a turning point in her career. After leaving the traditional classroom, she stepped into the unknown: teaching on the first national Broadway tour of The Addams Family. With no roadmap, no...
-
Montessori vs. Traditional: What’s the Difference? Ep. 2
In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine takes a deep dive into two widely used but very different educational models: Montessori and traditional schooling. Drawing directly from her dissertation research in Dallas ISD, she breaks down how each model operates, what they look like in practice, and what the...
-
From Classroom to Set – My Journey as a Studio Teacher Bonus Ep. 1
In this special bonus episode, Dr. Jess Laine shares the personal journey that led her from traditional classrooms to one of the most unique teaching roles out there: studio teacher for film and television. Hear how a math-loving, theater-curious college student became an educator on the sets of...
-
Why Discovery Learning Matters Ep. 1
In the premiere episode of Beyond the Worksheet, Dr. Jess Laine explores the growing crisis in student engagement and academic achievement—and why discovery learning may be part of the solution. Drawing directly from her dissertation research, this episode breaks down what discovery learning…
more -
Meet Dr. Jess Laine
Hi, I’m Dr. Jess Phelps—but in the podcast world, you’ll hear me go by Dr. Jess Laine. I’ve been an educator since 2005 and a California Studio Teacher since 2011, and honestly, teaching is my calling. I began teaching middle and high school math in the classroom immediately after graduating with…
more -
Beyond the Worksheet Trailer
Beyond the Worksheet is the podcast for educators who are ready to break free from busywork and reimagine what real learning looks like. Hosted by Dr. Jess Laine, a passionate educator and researcher, each episode explores innovative, student-centered teaching methods that go deeper than the...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Beyond the Worksheet is the podcast for educators who are ready to break free from busywork and reimagine what real learning looks like. Hosted by Dr. Jess Laine, a passionate educator and researcher, each episode explores innovative, student-centered teaching methods that go deeper than the surface—from discovery learning and project-based instruction to inquiry, creative assessment, and more.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, school leader, or education student, you’ll gain practical strategies, research-based insights, and honest conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) in today’s classrooms.
Because worksheets have their place—but learning should go beyond them.
HOSTED BY
Dr. Jess Laine
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Beyond the Worksheet have?
Beyond the Worksheet currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Beyond the Worksheet about?
Beyond the Worksheet is the podcast for educators who are ready to break free from busywork and reimagine what real learning looks like. Hosted by Dr. Jess Laine, a passionate educator and researcher, each episode explores innovative, student-centered teaching methods that go deeper than the...
How often does Beyond the Worksheet release new episodes?
Beyond the Worksheet has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Beyond the Worksheet?
You can listen to Beyond the Worksheet on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Beyond the Worksheet?
Beyond the Worksheet is created and hosted by Dr. Jess Laine.
URL copied to clipboard!