Teaching Today

Have you ever said or heard), I'm just not a math person? You're not alone — and according to our guests, that belief didn't happen by accident. In this episode, Dr. Gregory Benoit and Dr. Erin Barno join us to explore what it really means to teach mathematics ambitiously and equitably — moving beyond procedures and correct answers toward classrooms where meaning-making, multiple approaches, and every student's thinking are at the center. If you've ever wondered how to disrupt traditional math instruction without losing the room, this conversation is for you.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Math scores are lagging. Teachers are overwhelmed. And somewhere along the way, too many students stopped believing they're "math people." This episode is about changing that. Join us for a conversation with Dr. LaToya Byrd and Dr. April Mouton of Illustrative Mathematics — on problem-based learning, what effective professional development looks like, and why access to high-quality math instruction belongs to every student, teacher, and community member.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Seventy-one years after Brown v. Board of Education, our schools are still grappling with segregation — not by law, but by the weight of history, housing, and systems that were never built with equity in mind. In this episode, host Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang sits down with Dr. Maria Luisa Underwood, CPET's lead professional development advisor, to talk about what it takes to prepare early career teachers for the racially diverse classrooms they step into every day. Drawing from her doctoral research on anti-racist pedagogy and K–5 teachers in New York City, Dr. Underwood shares what her study revealed — including what surprised her most — and offers a framework that any educator can use to reflect, grow, and take action.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

For many teachers, parent-teacher conferences rank among the most nerve-wracking moments of the school year. But what if they didn't have to be? In this episode, host Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang sits down with New Teacher Network leaders Courtney Brown and Pam McGowen to talk about what makes family engagement so challenging — and rewarding. From that first anxious phone call home to navigating multilingual families and emotionally charged conversations, they share real stories, hard-won lessons, and practical strategies that work. Whether you're heading into your first round of conferences or looking to strengthen the family relationships you've already built, this conversation will leave you feeling more prepared, more empathetic, and maybe even a little excited to pull up a chair.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

What if your most disengaged students—the ones with heads on desks and hoodies over their eyes—actually want to do their best work? Research shows they do. In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang and Dr. Cristina Compton sit down with Dr. Kyra M. Caldwell Templeton, Program Director of Student Engagement at Atlanta Public Schools, to explore what happens when schools move beyond asking students about spirit week themes and actually bring them to the table for curriculum design, policy decisions, and strategic planning. As Dr. Caldwell Templeton reminds us: "You can simply ask a student and they'll tell you." The question is—are we ready to truly listen?

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang sits down with Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley and Dr. Jen Gowers to discuss Literacy Unbound, an initiative designed to transform the way students engage with complex, "hard to read" texts. The conversation explores how to move away from rigid, traditional literary analysis toward a model of collaborative artistry and creative remixing. Through multiple entry points and "taming" intimidating texts, stories that seem far away become personally relevant and accessible to all learners.

Participate in this year’s institute: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/literacy-unbound-2026.html

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Join Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang, Dr. Cristina Compton, and G. Faith Little for a conversation that challenges us to look honestly at our classroom practices. In this episode, you'll hear a refreshing reframe of Project-Based Learning that moves beyond surface-level activities to authentic, real-world application where students and teachers discover answers together. The conversation deepens as we explore the Touchstone Texts for Equity course, where educators engage in shared reading and inquiry to uncover their own implicit biases and create meaningful action plans for their schools. This isn't about guilt or judgment—it's about growth, self-awareness, and recognizing that we can't separate our identities from our teaching.

Whether you're looking to make one small evidence-based shift in your practice or ready to fundamentally rethink who your students' work is for, this conversation offers practical wisdom and honest reflection.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang talks with CPET instructional designers about two essential online courses for today's teachers. Courtney Brown discusses "Centering CRSE," a course that helps educators build culturally responsive practices into their daily practice. Learn how to use "mirrors, windows, and sliding doors" to create learning experiences where students see themselves, explore other cultures, and step into new perspectives.

Dr. Jacqui Stolzer shares insights from "Keys to Co-Teaching." Co-teaching is now standard practice, but making it work takes intentional effort. This course offers practical tools for building shared ownership, establishing communication protocols, and transforming two teachers in a room into an effective team.

Both courses are available on-demand or in cohorts. Both bridge theory and practice. Both meet teachers exactly where they are.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

We all know students need "21st century skills"—but what does that actually look like on a Tuesday morning in your classroom? In this conversation, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang and Dr. Kelsey Hammond go beyond buzzwords to explore why discussion isn't as intuitive as we think, how our classrooms haven't kept pace with how the world actually works, and most importantly, what we can do about it. While the gap between what students are learning and what they need is widening, you don't need 3D printers or fancy AI tools to close it—just clarity on what 21st century skills really are and how to weave them into the curriculum you already have. Let's figure it out together.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Welcome to our annual wrap-up episode of Teaching Today! We're excited to bring you a special compilation featuring our three most-listened-to conversations from the past year plus a special thanks for our international listeners. Thank you again for these discussions: Colleen Keating-Crawford, Izzy Fitzgerald, Sydney Tweedley, Courtney Brown, Elizabeth Clay Roy.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html