The Epic Classroom with Trevor Muir

What if a dog could change the feel of a school? After the pandemic, Laura Schuler saw students struggling in ways she hadn’t before. Instead of waiting for a perfect solution, she helped bring school support dogs into her district. In this episode, we break down how the program works, what it costs, and why it’s making a difference. Read the how-to guide on starting a support dog program.

From freelancers and engineers to designers, city planners, and researchers, millions of people earn a living by solving problems through project work. Yet in many classrooms, projects still show up as add-ons instead of the main way students learn. In this episode, Trevor unpacks why students need to learn how to do projects, not just complete them. You’ll hear why “dessert projects” fall short, what main-course project-based learning actually looks like, and how authenticity and relevance drive deeper engagement. If we want students to be ready for life after graduation, we have to start designing learning that mirrors the way the world actually works. Want hands-on support designing main-course projects for your classroom? Join Trevor for a full-day Project-Based Learning workshop focused on building authentic, standards-aligned projects that drive engagement and deeper learning. https://www.trevormuir.com/pbl-workshop Take the Epic Project-Based Learning Master Class, Trevor’s online PBL Course that walks you step-by-step through designing, launching, and managing powerful project-based learning units. https://www.trevormuir.com/pbl-course

Over the past month, schools in the Twin Cities have been operating in the shadow of ongoing ICE raids and heightened immigration enforcement. The impact has been felt far beyond the headlines, inside classrooms, hallways, and school communities. In this episode, I speak with three educators who are teaching in Minneapolis and St. Paul right now. They share what they are seeing in their schools, how students are being affected, and what it’s like to try to create a sense of safety, normalcy, and care during a time of fear and uncertainty. This is not a political conversation. It is a human one. It’s about students, classrooms, and the educators who continue to show up for kids when things are heavy. If you’ve ever wondered what teaching looks like during a community crisis, or what students need most from the adults in their lives during moments like this, this conversation offers an honest window into that reality.

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most impactful projects I ever did with my students, and it all came down to one thing: their work mattered. My class was studying tolerance, conflict, and what it looks like for people to live together throughout history. Instead of teaching it the traditional way, we partnered with a local college and gave students a real challenge: master the content, turn it into lesson plans, and teach it to future teachers. Even though a big part of the project was writing a research paper, students consistently called it their favorite unit of the year. The difference wasn’t the assignment, it was the purpose behind it. We’ll dig into why authentic audiences raise student effort, how relevance fuels motivation, and why project-based learning leads to deeper learning, not less. Check out the Epic PBL Workshop here: https://www.trevormuir.com/pbl-workshop www.epicpbl.com

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 

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 trevor@trevormuir.com Collaboration Toolkit: https://www.trevormuir.com/collaboration-toolkit

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.

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  

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

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?

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.

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.