Traveling the Road to Better Teaching with Bryanna Hall as we talk about a moment that might seem small at first: helping a Kindergarten student learn to write her name.

But this wasn’t about handwriting practice or checking off a skill. It was about going above and beyond—slowing down, paying attention, and meeting a student exactly where she was. Through that work, something bigger began to happen. Confidence grew. Engagement changed. And a student who once struggled began to see herself as capable.

This conversation explores how small, intentional acts of teaching can open the door to something much larger—and how relationships and responsiveness can shape the trajectory of a student’s learning.

Links from the episode:

Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)

University of Mississippi Teacher Education, Ph.D.

Capturing Kids' Hearts

The Most Important Year: Pre-Kindergarten and the Future of Our Children by Susan Bouffard

Traveling the road to better teaching as we talk with Katy Pocreva, current University of Mississippi School of Education graduate student, who saw clear evidence of her elementary students’ understanding of parallel and perpendicular lines and angles—not just on their assessments, but in the designs they created.

After learning about these geometric ideas, students were challenged to design a park that used parallel and perpendicular lines and specific angle relationships. What emerged was more than correct answers; it was visible thinking, creativity, and meaningful application of what they had learned.

This conversation explores what counts as evidence of learning, how tasks can move beyond worksheets, and what becomes possible when students are asked to use mathematics in purposeful ways.

Links in the episode

Road to Better Teaching Episode E001 Ann Monroe: Zike's Fantastic Foldables

Amidon Planet E009 Teaching with Problems

Road to Better Teaching is supported by Amidon Planet.

Traveling the road to better teaching as we consider what happens when a teacher stops teaching the pacing guide and starts teaching the students in front of them?

In this episode, we hear from Emily Reese, Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program Fellow, former high school English Language Arts teacher, and current University of Mississippi School of Education graduate student, who, working with a remedial class, chose to step away from prescribed standards and focus on helping students become stronger readers and writers. The result: deeper engagement, growing confidence, and students who began to thrive.

This is a conversation about trust, responsiveness, and the courage it takes to do what students actually need.

Links from the episode

Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program

Practice Driven PD - Super Wrong, Kinda Right (see https://amidonplanet.com/episode135/)

What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker

More from Amidon Planet - Good Talk. Real Learning. Better Teaching.

Traveling the road to better education leadership with Cassandra Poulin, University of Mississippi Principal Corps administrative intern and former middle school mathematics teacher. Listen as Cassandra shares lessons from an innovative professional development experience that shaped her as an educator.

Links from the episode

Principal Corps

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler

Keeping the Wonder by Jenna Copper, Ashley Bible, Abby Gross, and Staci Lamb

Center for Mathematics and Science Education Mathematical Concept Progression Guide

Traveling the road to better teaching with Virge Cornelius, mathematics teacher at Lafayette High School (MS), as she shares insights from her decades of experience in the classroom and beyond, from serving as an AP Calculus Reader to creating the popular Calculus Circuits. Virge offers thoughtful advice for teaching mathematics and makes a compelling case for why doing all the problems matters.

Links from the episode:

Virge's website: Math, Teaching, and Teaching Math

Become an Advanced Placement Reader

Virge Cornelius Calculus Circuit Training TPT site

Mathematical Mindset by Jo Boaler

Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics Liping Ma

Math Medic EFFL Post

Everyday Mathematics

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Mathematics Education Trust Grants

Traveling the road to better teaching with Dr. Brandi De La Cruz, Mathematics Teacher at Collierville High School and graduate of the University of Mississippi, Department of Teacher Education, PhD program, as we discuss her journey from managing a Finish Line in Arkansas to being the 2025-2026 Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

Links from the episode

PhD program in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Mississippi

Rita Pierson - Every kid needs a chamption (TED Talk)

Virge Cornelius' Mathematical Circuit Training

Amidon Planet E118: Answering Big Questions about Teaching Math with Ayanna Perry and Fred Dillon

Amidon Planet Podcast E043: Joyful Learning with Dr. Alice Udvari-Solner

Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Mathematics, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching by Jo Boaler

Good Tasks for Good Math

Traveling the road to better teaching with Kelsey Dodson, Graduate Student in the University of Mississippi Principal Corps, as we discuss her experience taking on the role of an educational leader, given her experience as a teacher and a counselor.

Links from the episode

Mississippi Principal Corps

Traveling the road to better teaching with Dr. Joseph Sweeney, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Mississippi Teacher Corps at the ⁠⁠University of Mississippi School of Education⁠⁠, as we discuss his experience teaching conversational English in Japan to students aged 3 to 75.

Links from the episode

Mississippi Teacher Corps

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Online Program

Wikipedia article on the Letter People, and more information.

A link to the Tenjin Festival.

A good entry-level article on restorative practices.

Rosenberg, M. B., & Chopra, D. (2015). Nonviolent communication: A language of life: Life-changing tools for healthy relationships. PuddleDancer Press.

Hart, S., & Hodson, V. K. (2004). The compassionate classroom: Relationship based teaching and learning. PuddleDancer Press.

Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures

Cultivating Mathematical Hearts: Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching in Elementary Classrooms By: Maria del Rosario Zavala,  Julia Maria Aguirre

Love and Logic

Amidon Planet Podcast E032: Not Light, But Fire with Shimikqua Ellis

Designing Groupwork: Strategies for the Heterogeneous Classroom

Traveling the road to better teaching with Lauren Biando, elementary education M.Ed graduate student at the ⁠University of Mississippi School of Education⁠, as we discuss an experience from her teaching 1st grade.

Links in the episode

Amidon Planet Podcast E043: Joyful Learning with Dr. Alice Udvari-Solner

Teaching Vocabulary: 50 Creative Strategies, Grades K-12 by Gail E. Tompkins (Editor), Cathy L. Blanchfield (Editor)

Duolingo - Language Learning

For more on portfolio development (for documenting moments of professional growth) at the University of Mississippi School of Education, check out ⁠Portfolio School⁠.

The Road to Better Teaching is an ⁠Amidon Planet⁠ production.

⁠Have an event or opportunity to share with Dr. Joel Amidon? Fill out the Request a Call form at Amidon Planet.

Traveling the road to better teaching with Madelyne Pruitt, elementary education teacher candidate at the University of Mississippi School of Education, as we discuss her experience teaching a 1st grade science lesson.

For more on portfolio development (for documenting moments of professional growth) at the University of Mississippi School of Education, check out Portfolio School.

Reinhart, S. C. (2000). Never say anything a kid can say!. Mathematics teaching in the middle school, 5(8), 478-483.

The Road to Better Teaching is an Amidon Planet production.

Have an event or opportunity to share with Dr. Joel Amidon? Fill out the Request a Call form at Amidon Planet.