If your students seem distracted, this episode explains why it’s not a decline in attention span but a lack of purpose — and what you can do to fix it.

Collaboration Toolkit (FREE): https://www.trevormuir.com/collaboration-toolkit

Read the article: https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/attention-span

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/pltYo40JzPg

In the days after the shooting that killed Charlie Kirk and yet another school shooting, many teachers are wondering how to respond to students who are processing fear, grief, and confusion. In this episode, Trevor shares personal stories of how teachers’ reactions shaped him during past tragedies like Columbine, 9/11, and Sandy Hook. He unpacks the psychology of emotional contagion, showing how students often mirror the emotions of the adults they trust, and offers practical guidance for approaching difficult conversations with wisdom, calm, and compassion.

Ground Rules for Class Discussion Posters: https://www.trevormuir.com/discussion-ground-rules

When calculators first appeared in classrooms, many schools banned them. Decades later, we’re asking the same kinds of questions about AI and other innovations. What do we hold onto, and what do we change? In this episode, Trevor explores the history of calculators in schools, the neuroscience of learning, the enduring value of art and music, and a simple litmus test for deciding what belongs in education today. At the heart of it all is one big question: How do we help students grow into their full potential?

In this episode, we unpack why traditional grading often fails to reflect student growth—and how competency-based grading offers a more accurate, equitable alternative. We explore what it looks like to grade for mastery, not averages, and share simple ways teachers can start making the shift.

Read the article: https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/competency-based-grading

Check out the LHRIC Tech Expo: https://it.lhric.org/tech_expo

What if the key to student engagement isn’t about attention spans, but about giving kids a reason to care? In this episode, I sit down with Jerry Kolber—executive producer of Brain Games and Who's Smarted?—to talk about the science of engagement, the power of relevance, and why a simple “because” can transform the way students learn. We’ll explore how great teaching isn’t about forcing information but about sparking curiosity—sometimes by making learning feel like anything but school.

Check out Who Smarted here. 

Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HLzzrwYSw If we have artificial intelligence, do we still need school? Will it replace traditional classrooms? Is AI better at teaching reading and writing and math? Can school take place from a computer? Does learning always have to be plugged in? If we have chatbots with limitless knowledge and information, the entire world, at our fingertips, Do we still need teachers?

In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with Shannon Anderson about growth mindset and helping students develop one. Shannon is an award-winning children's book author, teacher, and national speaker. She served as the regional advisor for the Indiana Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and was named one of the Top 10 Teachers who inspired the Today Show in 2019. Her works include "Penelope Perfect," "Mindset Power," and "Y Is for Yet," which focus on themes like perfectionism, growth mindset, and resilience.

You can find Shannon's work at https://www.shannonisteaching.com/

Pre-order her new book here.

The impact of teachers stretches far beyond the physical time with students in the classroom. But the extent of the long reach of teachers is hard to remember in the midst of all of the challenges. Here's a little story of a teacher from my past and a near-miraculous meeting 30 years later.

Today we talk about math class, slapping the word YET onto the end of certain sentences, a 99 year-old skydiver, and why teaching a growth mindset is one of the most important tasks of every educator.

Free YET posters: https://www.trevormuir.com/yet-posters

In this episode, I share a tradition from my first school: hosting a Thanksgiving feast for the entire school. More than just a meal, it was a way to build a sense of community, foster connections, and help students feel a deeper bond with their school. We’ll explore how creating a culture of belonging can impact student engagement and learning—and how small, intentional efforts can make a big difference in your classroom or school.