The Edu20/20 Podcast

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… where we take the things we’ve all done in classrooms and actually look at whether they’re working. This episode is all about study guides. We’ve all used them. We’ve all handed them out before a test. We’re talking through what’s actually happening when students “study” and why a lot of it doesn’t last. This conversation gets into: • What we’ve done (and seen) with study guides over time • Why some approaches feel helpful in the moment but don’t stick ...

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast. This episode is all about success criteria and why it’s become one of the most misunderstood (and overcomplicated) things happening in classrooms right now. After hundreds of classroom observations, we’ve seen it all: • Success criteria turned into an agenda • Success criteria that literally gives away the answer • Success criteria used as a compliance checkbox • And about five different definitions in the same building So…what is it actually supposed t...

Welcome to the Edu20/20 Podcast, where we take the things everyone says we “have to do” in education and talk about whether they actually make sense. This episode is all about goals and why they so often feel like a moving target. We break down why goals feel overwhelming (or unclear), what teachers actually need, and how simplifying your focus will lead to real results. Chapters: 0:00 Why goals feel like a moving target 4:14 The real problem with unclear goals 7:20 What happens when you ac...

In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, we’re continuing the conversation on lesson planning and zooming in on one of the most overlooked (but critical) parts: checks for understanding. The reality is kids can be doing all the things and still not learning anything. We get into what it actually looks like to monitor learning in real time, how to check for comprehension (not just completion), and how to do it without spending your entire life grading papers. You'll hear us talk about lap l...

In this episode, we’re breaking down a game-changing practice: lesson framing. If your students constantly ask: “Is this for a grade?” “Why I gotta do this?” …it might not be defiance. It might be that the lesson wasn’t framed clearly. We talk about: - What “lesson framing” actually means (beyond writing standards on the board for compliance) - How framing creates clarity, predictability, and smoother lessons - Why your third-period lesson always hits harder than first period (and how to fi...

In this episode, we’re breaking down a game-changing practice: lesson framing. If your students constantly ask: “Is this for a grade?” “Why I gotta do this?” …it might not be defiance. It might be that the lesson wasn’t framed clearly. We talk about: - What “lesson framing” actually means (beyond writing standards on the board for compliance) - How framing creates clarity, predictability, and smoother lessons - Why your third-period lesson always hits harder than first period (and how to fi...

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast! Courtney Dumas and Shannon Street are back (with a new studio setup, look at us movin' on up in the world 👀). This episode tackles moving toward instructional goals and why so many goals don’t go anywhere: because we don’t break them into the knowledge and skills teachers (and students) actually need. You’ll hear: - Why “busy” isn’t the same as progress - How to reverse-engineer a goal into clear action steps - The 3 pathways that must align to move goa...

“Just make it more engaging” is among the most common feedback teachers get...and the least helpful. You're basically asking the instructional equivalent of “have you tried being better?”😅 In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, Courtney and Shannon unpack what “engagement” actually means, break down the 3 levels of student engagement, and explain why fun doesn’t always equal learning. You’ll hear the real story behind Shannon’s student engagement trauma (including a full-on grammar triage...

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast. In this episode, we dig into one of our favorite Priority Skills: classroom management. We talk through the routines and systems that make classrooms run smoothly, from how students enter to how they get materials, transition, partner, and exit. If kids touch it or use it, it probably needs a routine. Good management takes the cognitive load off students so they can actually learn. It also makes teaching easier and makes engagement moves possible. We sha...

Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, your go-to space for simple, effective teaching and coaching strategies. Today, we’re unpacking a big question in education: What actually makes teaching “good”? Courtney and Shannon break down the five Priority Skills every effective teacher and instructional coach should know: Classroom Management, Student Engagement, Behavior Management, Lesson Planning, and Lesson Delivery. These high-leverage teaching skills are clear, visible, ...