The Teaching Species

Can a baby's earliest days wire the brain for a lifetime? What is the role of nature vs. nurture? The director of Princeton's Baby Lab, Casey Lew-Williams shares research and wisdom for caregivers.

They can read the words. But how much do they understand? How do we support comprehension when the text is not structured like a story?

He taught with no books, no classroom, and no grades. In this episode, we break down the Socratic Method, and how to use it to make your classroom a place where students think, question, and wonder.

Writing voice cannot be taught in the way that grammar or structure can. But it can be nurtured through thoughtful instruction. Acclaimed children’s author Gita Varadarajan shares tips for inviting authenticity and playfulness into the writing classroom.

How do we move students from stiff, formulaic writing to work that feels alive? In this episode, we look at what “voice” really means in student writing and why it matters. We explore concrete strategies teachers can use to help students take risks, write with authenticity, and develop confidence on the page, while still meeting academic goals. Whether you teach essays, stories, or reflections, this episode is about turning reluctant writers into engaged ones.

Why do so many bright students lose faith in school and stop engaging? In this episode, we talk with veteran educator Kathy Collins about what happens when kids conclude the system isn’t worth believing in. We explore how high achievers can become disillusioned, why they sometimes withdraw or resist learning, and how teachers can rebuild trust so students see school as a place where thinking still matters.

Resources:

• Hal Gregorson question burst

Why do kindergarteners find it hard to blend sounds--and how can you support the process? Why is learning to read like a VIRUS taking over the brain? We reference the work of scientists Mark Seidenberg and Stanislas Dehaene and to understand the cognitive transformation necessary for cracking the alphabetic code.

Resources:

• Seidenberg, Language at the Speed of Sight

• Dehaene, How We Learn

• Video: How the Brain Learns to Read

• Seidenberg on blending

• Study on beatboxers and guitarists

Smart teaching can change the world. To teach is to be alive. Join master teacher Hareem Atif Khan as she wrestles with the world’s biggest education questions.