BONUS: What Happens When You Break Teaching Traditions?
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
12/12/25
•16m
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In this S5E15 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies BONUS, I unpack the question: What if the teaching traditions we follow aren't actually required? This week's bonus episode explores the revolutionary concept of "stepping aside" in education—not stepping away, but repositioning yourself so students can drive their own learning.
In this reflection on Sarah Zerwin's groundbreaking work, we examine phantom policies (those teaching traditions we follow even though we're not required to), explore why we often work harder than our students, and discover practical strategies for student-driven learning that actually work.
Key Topics Covered:
💫Phantom policies in teaching and why we follow them
💫The OTA (Original Thought Annotation) strategy for student engagement
💫The driving course metaphor for effective teaching and instructional strategies
💫Learning progressions and student self-evaluation
💫How to increase student participation and active learning
💫Practical teaching tips for inspiring students and boosting student motivation
This episode is perfect for teachers, education coaches, instructional leaders, school administrators, teacher mentors, new teachers, and anyone committed to education transformation and student success.
Featured Concepts:
✓ Student-driven learning frameworks
✓ Culturally responsive teaching approaches
✓ Inclusive teaching strategies
✓ Whole child education
✓ Professional development insights
✓ Instructional coaching techniques
✓ Teacher support and mentor teachers guidance
Whether you're dealing with low engagement, seeking innovative teaching methods, or looking to improve classroom behavior and classroom belonging, this episode offers actionable education strategies you can implement tomorrow.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction: The Challenge of Stepping Aside
1:00 - What Are Phantom Policies in Teaching?
3:00 - Common Phantom Policies We All Follow
4:00 - The OT (Original Thought) Annotation Strategy
6:00 - Building Student Thinking: The Three-Step Process
7:00 - The Driving Course Metaphor for Teaching
9:00 - Student-Driven Learning vs. Teacher-Centered Learning
10:00 - The Elephant in the Room: Grades & Evaluation
12:00 - Learning Progressions & Student Self-Evaluation
13:00 - Book Recommendations & Final Reflections
14:00 - Your Challenge: Find One Place to Step Aside
15:00 - Closing Thoughts on Student Agency
🚀📚 Watch the full S5E15 interview here (https://youtu.be/bsiNQiIn5DQ)
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.
📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
Don't forget to 👍LIKE &🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!
#StepAside #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsTeachingStrategies #ForeverGettingBetter #TeachingStrategies #StudentEngagement #EducationPodcast #TeacherTips #InstructionalCoaching #StudentMotivation #ActiveLearning #EducationLeadership #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalDevelopment #InclusiveTeaching #StudentSuccess #InnovativeTeaching #ClassroomStrategies #EducationTransformation #WholeChild #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #TeacherCoaching #LessonPlanning #InspiredTeaching #EmpoweredEducators #SchoolLeadership #StudentDrivenLearning #EducationReform
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Launching Students into High-Level Work They Care About
December 8, 2025
•45m
In this S5E15 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, join me with teacher and author Sarah M. Zerwin as she shares strategies from her book Step Aside: Strategies for Student-Driven Learning with Secondary Readers and Writers (Illustrated by Jane Zerwin).
🚗 The Driving Course Metaphor: Student-driven learning isn't about abandoning students—it's like teaching someone to drive. You don't toss them the keys; you sit beside them, teach the rules, create a safe course, and strategically step back while staying present.
📝 The Power of the Humble Post-it Note: Discover how Original Thought Annotations (OTAs) using simple sticky notes can revolutionize student engagement, classroom belonging, and student motivation. Students write "I noticed... I think..." and build complex thinking from small observations.
🎯 The Three Step Meaning Making Process:
1️⃣Start Small (notice details through OTAs)
2️⃣Seek Connections (through rambling writing and discussion)
3️⃣Take Action (apply thinking to authentic work)
Resources:
- Pointless by Sarah Zerwin
- The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer
- Reading With Presence by Marilyn Pryle
- A Novel Approach by Kate Roberts
- The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez
- The Quickwrite Handbook by Linda Rief
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction: Working Harder Than Your Students?
1:00 Meet Sarah Zerwin and Step Aside
3:00 Parker Palmer & The Third Thing
5:00 The Driving Course Metaphor
8:00 Phantom Policies We Don't Need
12:00 Collaborating with Jane
15:00 The Humble Post-it Note Revolution
17:00 Original Thought Annotations (OTAs)
20:00 Building Thinking from Small Observations
23:00 The 3-Step Meaning-Making Process
26:00 Start Small: What Students Notice
28:00 Seek Connections: Rambling & Discussion
32:00 Take Action: Thinking into Learning
34:00 Evolution from Pointless
36:00 Learning Progressions
38:00 Student-Generated Goals Using AI
42:00 Lightning Round
44:00 Misconceptions About Student-Driven Learning
46:00 Where Can You Step Aside?
48:00 Final Invitation
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
Find Your Inner Calm in the Classroom
December 15, 2025
•40m
In this S5E16 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, join me with seasoned clinician MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW, as she shares the story of a 14-year-old who mooned a bus—and how nine minutes of curious conversation taught him life skills that lasted decades. Discover why curiosity requires discomfort, how to create calm from the inside out, and the simple "notice" practice that even Notre Dame football players started using in their huddles.
In This Episode You'll Discover:
✨Why classroom belonging starts with curiosity, not compliance
✨How to shift from judgment to curiosity to improve classroom behavior and student engagement
✨The "notice" practice that transforms student motivation and attention in class in under 60 seconds
✨Why low engagement often signals adults need to change, not students
✨ Active learning strategies that inspire students through emotional regulation
✨ How student participation increases when teachers practice co-regulation
✨ Instructional strategies that support the whole child approach
Resources Mentioned:
- Brené Brown's research on curiosity and vulnerability
- Inner Challenge Mental Wellness Program
- Creating Midlife Calm Podcast:
- Ep. 130: 1 Simple Coping Skill To Stop Stress & Anxiety From Spiraling Out Of Control & Derailing Midlife Calm
- Ep. 131: 5 Simple Words That Will Transform Stress, Anxiety & Chaos Into Calm, To Make Better Midlife Decisions
- Ep. 91: Use These 2 Mindfulness Practices To Instantly Increase Focus, Calm & Joy To Ease Stress & Anxiety
- Ep. 1: What Is Mental Wellness & One-Pager
CHAPTER MARKERS
0:00 - Introduction: The Power of "Help Me Understand"
1:00 - Meet MJ Murray Vachon: 50,000+ Therapy Sessions
3:00 - Brené Brown's Research on Curiosity
4:00 - Why You Can't Be Curious and Comfortable
6:00 - The Two-Word Shift: From Judgment to Curiosity
9:00 - The Bus Mooning Story Begins
10:00 - The Four-Minute Wait That Changed Everything
11:00 - Teaching the Do-Over: Life Skills in Action
13:00 - The 9-Minute Conversation vs. A Day of Emails
14:00 - Why Repair Matters More Than Punishment
17:00 - Letting Go: What Education Needs to Release
19:00 - The Teacher Who Got Retooled at 67
21:00 - When "Kids Are Lazy" Is Actually Adult Control
23:00 - Creating Calm from the Inside Out
25:00 - The "Notice" Practice Explained
26:00 - Notre Dame Football Players in the Huddle
28:00 - Co-Regulation: Students Need Us Until 18
30:00 - Teaching Kids to Notice: Slowing Down to Speed Up
33:00 - Lightning Round: Best Advice for Teachers
34:00 - What MJ Believed Then vs. Now
36:00 - The Podcast Origin Story: Students Made Me Do It
38:00 - Your Invitation: Try Notice Tomorrow
39:00 - Outro & Resources
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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