The Epic Classroom with Trevor Muir

In this episode I share a winter lesson that almost got shut down after a single complaint and how my principal’s unexpected pivot changed the entire day. What happened next taught me one of the most important lessons about leadership, flexibility, and what modern students need from us. This episode is about staying open, adjusting when the moment calls for it, and why adaptability is one of the most valuable skills in today’s classrooms and workforce.

www.trevormuir.com 

In this episode, I talk about the importance of knowing how to ask for what you want and need, along with what I’ve learned about helping students develop the skill of making clear, respectful requests. Because asking is one of the most essential forms of communication in adulthood, and it’s something we can start teaching long before students enter the workforce. We’ll explore how teachers can guide students through this process, the power of classroom projects that involve making real asks, and a simple framework you can use right away to help your students advocate for themselves.

Get the Ask Framework free here: https://www.trevormuir.com/ask-framework

www.trevormuir.com

A story about the power of one-on-one teaching, why it matters, and how teachers can make space for it, even in a busy classroom. Email Trevor at [email protected] Collaboration Toolkit: https://www.trevormuir.com/collaboration-toolkit

In this episode we talk about strategies to spark student curiosity and excitement in the classroom. Learn how passion, relevance, and student choice can turn flat lessons into engaging learning experiences. Here's the research I mention: https://news.gallup.com/poll/648896/schools-struggle-engage-gen-students.aspx?utm Read my article here: https://www.trevormuir.com/blog/student-interest

With AI tools able to record, transcribe, and even generate polished notes in seconds, it is easy to wonder: do students still need to take notes at all? In this episode, Trevor explores why the answer is a resounding yes. You will hear the brain science behind note-taking, why it leads to deeper comprehension than passive listening, and how different strategies—from handwritten notes to sketch notes to collaborative docs—can turn information into lasting learning. Discover practical ways to help your students use note-taking not just to prepare for a test, but to build critical thinking, communication, and adaptability skills that matter long after class ends.

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.