PODCAST · education
Two Pint PLC
by Laurence Woodruff & Michael Ralph
Teaching is a personal profession. We shine brightest when we work together in a safe environment for the betterment of our students. Two Pint PLC is a podcast that invites you to join two educators who discuss the big issues in education in a personal and casual conversation. Two Pint PLC combines the research base, current events and personal experiences to provide a context for each listener’s own professional development.
Episodes
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116 Deflating Help & Microbreak Focus
It feels good to be able to help others, but what is the impact of providing that help? A review of helping behaviors highlight how helping too soon or in overbearing ways actually undermines learners. Teachers should focus on helping behaviors that cultivate student agency. Later, we see how...
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115 Collaborative Grading & Deep Notetaking
Our approach to grading has connections to everything in our class design. We are joined by guest host David Clark to talk about alternative grading approaches that can focus on supporting student growth and protecting motivation by rejecting assumptions about how grades must work. Later, we read...
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114 Season 9 in Review
Our year in review looks back to find the most noteworthy learning from the past season. We always search for concrete “should’s” in our classroom - like encouraging students before tests or interleaving your skill practice. However, our top prizes go to big picture ideas about the very structure...
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113 Control States & Interleaved Grammar
Research has already shown that human attempts to multitask come with heavy costs. New research suggests other cognitive control activities also come with costs. In a classroom with many sources of potential distraction, how should practitioners help students put brain energy toward learning?...
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112 Grammar Study & Grading Policies
Pressure to improve reading and writing performance is bringing fresh scrutiny to language instruction. Author Patty McGee joins us to discuss a curiosity-focused curriculum that eschews rules and correction to foster literacy growth. How can literary structure unlock new layers of meaning for...
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111 School Reform & Reward Spacing
Many school reform efforts are seeking new ways to structure the teaching profession. Dr. Mary Laski joins us to discuss a program that integrates pay-for-performance as a key element. Their results show definitively positive effects in both near- and long-term outcomes, and we ponder how…
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110 Class Structure & Positive Relationships
Classroom management is a frequent topic in teacher preparation and professional development, but what kinds of classroom structures really have an impact? We look at balancing support with avoiding being controlling and the importance of clarity of goals and purpose. Later, we discuss themes in...
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109 Dual Enrollment & Multilingual Discourse
Participation in dual enrollment programs has skyrocketed in recent years, but how many college credits in high school is the right amount? We see that getting the first dual credit course is good for most students, and that additional courses have diminishing returns or overwhelm students.…
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108 Personalize or Differentiate and Inquiry Classrooms
How should we approach making adjustments in the classroom to ensure we meet the needs of every learner? Dr. Ling Zhang joins us to discuss how US law and policy frame individualization and other requirements for tailoring instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Focus on…
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107 Disruption Gaze & Assessment Encouragement
How do experienced teachers effectively monitor a classroom? We read an eye-tracking study comparing pre-service teachers with expert teachers that revealed more systematic patterns that were more resilient following disruptions. We discuss how teachers can make space to practice this element of...
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106 Professional Development & Student Perseverance
Professional learning should be improving teaching, which ultimately should benefit students. We read a meta-analysis showing that effective teaching methods within professional development is far more likely to impact learning than the learning topic or time spent in the program. Later, we read…
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105 Technology Applications & Feedback Structure
A listener request led us to a paper on eye-tracking technology for emerging multilingual learners. However, our conversation will focus on problems related to AI use and disconnects between the use of technology in the classroom and the real needs of teachers. Later, we learn about how a…
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104 Dopamine Motivation & Emotion to Memory
In a neuroscience-focused episode, we start with a new model of how having agency influences how much our brains are learning from moment to moment. Building classroom routines that emphasize student choice, from tiny procedural choices to major learning decisions, can boost the positive impacts…
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103 Peer Tutoring & Collaborative Creativity
Student collaboration is a powerful tool for learning in many contexts, and we read a meta-analysis that highlights the benefits to both the givers and receivers of help in peer tutoring situations. It seems to be almost categorically good… but the details of successful programs remain elusive....
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102 Season 8 Finale
Our season finale again reviews the most noteworthy papers from the past year. We reflect on hosting student data talks, the use of errors in the classroom, and more. We also spend time thinking about our goals for the types of papers we read and what kinds of “shoulds” (or “shouldn’ts”) we hope…
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101 Ed Tech & Opportunity Makers
Education research, from technology to instruction to design, too often uses an instrumentalist approach that assumes the right tool or trick will simply solve a problem. Jason McDonald joins to talk about the need for entangled research that actually changes both the researcher and the system…
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100 Data Talks with Imogen Herrick
In this extra length episode, we talk with Dr. Imogen Herrick about her work developing Community Science Data Talks. These talks help students engage the local consequences of climate change to develop their STEM knowledge while navigating their emotional experiences with the data. Our ranging...
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099 Synthesis of PD & Classroom Technology
All professional learning occurs when teachers try things in their classroom and iterate to make it better. We reflect on the importance of articulating aspirational goals and supporting teachers as they iterate toward their goals as on-going professional development. Later, we grapple with how...
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098 Racial Literacies & Multilingual Content
Dual language programs provide a local opportunity for students to get closer to an immersive experience learning a language directly within their school community. However, we read research on the barriers to providing multilingual instruction that fosters racial literacy within a similarly...
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097 Team Teaching & Epistemic Empathy
Team teaching is increasing in popularity among schools to help educators work together in their daily practice. We read about different models for team teaching and think about how it maps to our past experiences in a wide variety of teaming approaches from our own careers. Later, we reflect on...
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096 PLC Outcomes & Early Numeracy
Professional Learning Communities, or PLCs, provide a collegial network for educators to reflect on and improve their practice. We look at an evaluation of a pre-packaged PLC program that did not improve PLCs in schools, and wonder how we can support educators at the building level instead.…
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095 Error Climate & Remembered Success
Edutopia did another review of the best research of 2024, and we are here to talk about it. First, discussion of student errors can lead to big gains in student learning. However, those gains only come in an interactive, collaborative class culture. Later, the remembered success effect shows that...
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094 Playback Memory & UDL Differentiation
Teachers may give lectures or create videos to provide information to students, and the speed of information delivery affects the cognitive load of students. We read a study of video playback speed and support materials that shows speeding up the videos may not be particularly harmful to their...
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093 The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Episode
This month is our official “AI episode.” We are joined by Ben Riley, who wrote a guide for considering the use of AI for education. Our discussion considers the tasks for which AI might be useful, and the multiple concerns we have for its use as a substitute for thinking. Later, we read a study...
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092 Teaching Statistics & Fostering Creativity
Effective statistics instruction - like many other disciplines - should empower students to ask questions and interrogate data to answer questions. We look at research evaluating the impact of an inquiry-focused statistics curriculum that showed very large gains for student learning by…
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091 Political Discourse & Media Literacy
We start Season 8 in a tempestuous election cycle in the United States. We are joined by guest host Chris Carter to discuss an approach to civic education in today’s political landscape, with a focus on grounded discussions based on essential anchor questions. Later, we look at the absence of…
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090 Season 7 Finale
We review the most noteworthy papers of the past year, developments in our practice, and the top beers of AY23-24.
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089 Curriculum Sensemaking & Behavior Grading
Many curriculum decisions are made at the district-level, but each classroom teacher must figure out how to implement those decisions for themselves. We read a study showing how “philosophical fidelity” is far more important than “mechanical fidelity” to the success of district efforts to improve...
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088 Disagreement Listening & Aphantasia
It can feel like people in disagreement just aren’t listening to each other. We read a study showing disagreement significantly reduces our perceptions of being listened to, regardless of how well our audience does listen. We discuss takeaways for exhibiting active listening behaviors that reduce...
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087 Memory Spacing & Homework Parents
Practice is more effective when we space it out, rather than doing lots of repetitions all at once. We read research that looked at the effect of varied practice compared to identical practice over time. Their results show subtle variation helps students focus and remember the important elements...
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086 PBL Effects & Mindfulness Introspection
Project-Based Learning is a thoroughly researched method of instruction with many benefits. We read a meta-analysis looking specifically at how PBL affects student motivation, and saw data illustrating just how important an excellent project prompt is to project success. Later, we read a study...
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085 Academic Anxiety & Principal Leadership
More schools are looking to address the socio-emotional needs of students, and a key area for that work is helping students manage anxiety in the classroom. We look at a study showing how some accommodations may be reinforcing their anxiety, and how teachers can help students develop healthier...
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084 Theater Empathy & Cognitive Load
Field trips to the theater can be memorable opportunities for students to engage in community-based performing arts. Dr. Goldstein joins us to talk about how even a single theater experience can have an impact on socio-emotional outcomes like empathy and perspective-taking for students. Later, we...
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083 Underachievement & Artificial Intelligence
Student underachievement occurs when students’ day-to-day class performance is lower than their test scores predict it should be. We read a review of research that shows the causes of underachievement can vary widely. Still, it gives teachers some useful starting points when trying to help a...
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082 Stimulus Complexity & Student Caregiving
This month is a collaborative episode with the hosts of the School Spirits podcast. We read a study of pigeon working memory that indicates complex visuals activate substantially more of our brains than simple ones, which can help with memory and processing of information. Later, we discuss new...
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081 Instructional Agency & Bilingual Math
Researchers measured the impact of student-directed project weeks on their sense of motivation over the course of a school year. We reflect on the importance of consistently prioritizing learner agency throughout the year, rather than sequestering it to a single week of freedom. Later, we read a...
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080 Growth Mindset & Music Distractions
This month we talk with Dr. Elisabeth Tipton about the research support for growth mindset interventions, and the flaws in last month’s meta-analysis. Together we consider how growth mindset should be part of a more comprehensive approach to helping students improve. Later, we read how listening…
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079 Meta-Analyses: Co-Teaching & Growth Mindset
A meta-analysis of co-teaching showed that it benefits students to have more than one adult in the classroom, regardless of the specifics. We reflect on what it could mean to successfully build a co-teaching classroom based on trust among the teachers and students. Later, we read another...
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078 Season 6 In Review
This month we reflect on our year of reading scholarship and growing as humans. First we’ll return to the segments we felt had the greatest impact on our practice and our thinking from the research we read. Later, we’ll reflect specifically on our praxis. We share some of the changes we’re making...
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077 PBIS Trauma & Reciprocal Reading
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a framework being adopted by many schools, and some claim it can integrate trauma-informed pedagogies. However, we read scholarship that shows how PBIS is fundamentally incompatible with trauma-informed education. Later, we discuss a...
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076 Standards - Based Instruction & Belonging Interventions
Many schools have adopted new instructional standards in recent years, but some schools have struggled in helping teachers align their instruction. We talk with author Morgan Polikoff about his team’s work studying why flexible specificity is so important for success. Later, we look at a very…
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075 Evaluation Reform & Retrieval Memory
Feedback is an essential component of professional growth, and teacher evaluation has changed in most places across the US over the last 15 years. What do we actually know about how those changes impacted school performance? Later, we read a study that showed retrieval practice is only beneficial...
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074 UDL In MTSS & Feedback Processing
Universal Design for Learning represents a framework that can impact every part of the school. We read research looking at how UDL can contribute to more effective MTSS Tier 1 interventions… if teachers have an accurate understanding of UDL. Later, we look at an eye-tracking study to examine how...
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073 Creative Constraints & Good Errors
This month we are joined by two authors of a piece on constraints that fuel creativity. They share how limits on our writing help us focus on new parts of the writing process and make interesting connections along the way. Later, we read about how errors are essential to the learning process and...
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072 Contextual PD & Teacher Mentorship
This month we look at professional development. A fresh framework for PD lays out how we need to consider teacher learning in-context, with definite answers to the “for whom” and “when” when discussing whether something works. Later, we look at norms for co-teaching by examining the role of a...
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071 Extended Research With Youki Terada
This month we are joined again by guest Youki Terada to discuss his 2022 education research roundup. His team at Edutopia has curated their 10 top studies of the year - from retrieval practice to play-based learning - and we discuss every last one of them in a marathon episode.
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070 Critical Ignoring & Reverse Engineering
Digital literacy skills are important for teachers to consider across many teaching contexts. We read about how critical ignoring should be part of what we are teaching to help students manage the information overload of today’s digital landscape. Later, we read a classroom study of how reverse...
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069 Self-Regulation & Pedagogy Of Enactment
This month we read a robust, experimental study on teaching self-regulation and the increasing benefits to students over time. They learn more AND close a key achievement gap. Later, we read about a pedagogy of enactment - how to learn about teaching through teaching. It underscores the many ways...
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068 Learning Styles & Learning To Learn
The theories about teaching students according to learning styles have been debunked in research, but the idea has been difficult to interrupt in practice. We read a new paper focused on helping teachers move on from old thinking related to learning styles with more productive contemporary...
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067 Teacher Shortage & Homework Inequality
Staffing challenges in districts across the United States are fueling a narrative of a nationwide teacher shortage. However, Paul Bruno joins us to talk about his recent work showing there may not be a national shortage… or national anything. Later, we read a paper showing some of the inequitable...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Teaching is a personal profession. We shine brightest when we work together in a safe environment for the betterment of our students. Two Pint PLC is a podcast that invites you to join two educators who discuss the big issues in education in a personal and casual conversation. Two Pint PLC combines the research base, current events and personal experiences to provide a context for each listener’s own professional development.
HOSTED BY
Laurence Woodruff & Michael Ralph
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Two Pint PLC have?
Two Pint PLC currently has 117 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Two Pint PLC about?
Teaching is a personal profession. We shine brightest when we work together in a safe environment for the betterment of our students. Two Pint PLC is a podcast that invites you to join two educators who discuss the big issues in education in a personal and casual conversation. Two Pint PLC combines...
How often does Two Pint PLC release new episodes?
Two Pint PLC publishes regularly with 117 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Two Pint PLC 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 Two Pint PLC?
Two Pint PLC is created and hosted by Laurence Woodruff & Michael Ralph.
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