Podcast
Vrain Waves: Teaching Conversations with Minds Shaping Education
Hosted by Suzy Evans, Shane Saeed · EN
Vrain Waves seeks to provide teachers powerful professional learning anywhere, and anytime. We feature interviews with educational giants, successful professionals, and sought-after consultants to help teachers feel more informed, inspired, and connected. Join us each week as we highlight educational theory, strategies, and tools that all teachers can put to use in the classroom.
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Smart Teaching, Stronger Learning!
3w ago00:46:40Tap to summarizeWe can't say enough about the collective efficacy that contributed to this incredible book, Smart Teaching Stronger Learning, but more importantly, the collective efficacy that is built when we incorporate science of learning practices. Our biggest takeaway: Don't be intimidated by these concepts! They are actually "bite-sized adjustments" you can make that will result in powerful shifts for your teaching and for your students' learning. Let's leverage what we're already doing in the classroom, intentionally name the practices, explain why they will build long-term memory, and implement these practices routinely! Stronger Learning, here we come! @SuzannahEvans2 @Drshanesaeed Pooja K. Agarwal Smart Teaching Stronger Learning STSL Media Kit Janell Blunt Shana Carpenter Roberta Ekuni Lisa Fazio Cynthia Nebel Steven Pan Michelle Rivers Lisa Son Kripa Sundar Veronica Yan Berklee College of Music: Dancing w The Stars
Transcribe →ETHOS behind the AI
Mar 2000:26:03Tap to summarizeWe are highlighting our incredible St. Vrain Valley AI team in this episode, and their work over the last three years has resulted in an Ethical, Transparent, Human-centered, Opportunity-focused, and Safe AI framework. Keeping people, not tools, at the center of this work is the priority, and let's ask ourselves, "Will AI help our students grow, or just get it done?" "Is it a value-add and elevation of the content, or just an unnecessary extra step?" Tune in for some thoughtful conversation around our AI work and how we keep grounded in the ever-changing world of education and technology! @Suzannahevans2 @drshanesaeed @matthewjmoulton @MissGroskin @mrkelsall ETHOS: A Responsible Approach for AI in Education Exploration AI: Beyond the Algorithm
Transcribe →AI: I can, but should I?
Feb 2000:44:23Tap to summarizeTune in for one of our most important episodes with educator, author, and speaker Matt Miller. Facing an ever-changing educational system requires putting on our "Tomorrow Glasses", along with a healthy dose of optimism and skepticism. While we can leverage AI and technology to create engagement and lighten some of our workload, it's sound, fundamental pedagogy that's still the foundation for how we serve our students best. So as we plan our lessons, let's ask ourselves, "I can use technology, but should I?Matt MillerSuzannah EvansShane Saeed
Transcribe →Scaffolding in the Classroom; rooted in empathy
Jan 3000:28:27Tap to summarizeTune into one of our favorite conversations ever with master teacher Wendy Schuller, who grounds her scaffolding principles in empathy for her students. What would I need as a 5th-grader in this moment?, How am I using my data to determine what my students need? and What is the endgame for pulling the scaffolding back? are her guiding questions on a daily basis. Observing, responding, and bridging for the win!@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeedThe Scaffolding Effect
Transcribe →The Scaffolding Effect: Hunting, not Fishing
Dec 1900:40:08Tap to summarizeBringing 2025 to a close with one of our most important conversations! Tune in as we chat with educator-authors, Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb, on why we need to be hunters in our classrooms, searching for student understanding, instead of hoping and fishing for mastery. The Scaffolding Effect is one of the best professional development books we've ever read; truly scaffolding and chunking material down for all of us to understand. Happy year-end to all of our listeners!Rachel BallAlex Fairlamb Suzannah EvansShane Saeed
Transcribe →AI in the Classroom: Enhancement, Inspiration, & Reflection
Nov 1400:41:02Tap to summarizeThe perfect follow-up to our episode last month with Dr. Catlin Tucker, three rockstar St. Vrain Valley educators give us a peek into how they're using AI as an enhancement tool, as inspiration and a thought-partner for students, a coach for themselves, and the ultimate brainstorming generator. Tune in to get inspired yourself and start to embrace our new AI reality!@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeed@Catlin_Tucker@AckermanSVVSDExploration AI: Conversations Beyond the Algorithm
Transcribe →Season 8 is here! Leverage and Lean into AI!
Oct 300:30:14Tap to summarizeWelcome back to Season 8! Dr. Catlin Tucker is back on the show, talking with us about how we can leverage AI to be a thought partner. How can we thoughtfully design learning pathways, lean into AI for the pieces that have traditionally taken up our time, and be more available for human connection? Tune in as we discuss UDL, sustainable practices, elevating our teaching, and always, always, ensuring our students leave the classroom with agency and motivation!@Catlin_Tucker@SuzannahEvans2@drshanesaeedElevating Educational Design with AIThe Shift to Student-LedCatlinTucker.com
Transcribe →Refine, Refresh, Relate!
May 9, 202500:43:44Tap to summarizeWe're wrapping up Season 7 with two master St. Vrain teachers, Joylynn Boardman and Brian Huey, who continue to refine their practice, create relevant learning experiences, and champion their students! No matter how long we've been in education, adapting, tweaking, and reflecting are the keys to sustaining student engagement. But the most crucial piece for ALL students is, of course, inspiring them to believe they CAN succeed. Tune in for one of our favorite conversations this year and have a great summer!@SuzannahEvans2@Drshanesaeed
Transcribe →Scaffolding, Mastery, and Self-Image
Apr 25, 202500:27:40Tap to summarizeTune in as we chat with Professor Dan Willingham about his flow chart for independence, mastery in education, and building up the self-image of our students. Check out his book, Outsmart Your Brain, for strategies to combat learned helplessness, understanding what it takes to achieve true mastery, and how crucial it is to help our students reframe their personal narrative about academics. Dan WillinghamFlow Chart for IndependenceOutsmart Your BrainSuzannah EvansShane Saeed
Transcribe →Teaching to the whole student
Feb 28, 202500:27:38Tap to summarizeIt's time to connect the Physical and the Education in the classroom. Nothing is in a silo in our world. We are teaching the whole student, so connecting mind and body in our instruction benefits everyone. Incorporating movement in our classrooms creates engagement and builds attention, which helps content stick. Tune in as we chat with two @SVVSD physical education teachers who also teach academic content and how they see these two important worlds complementing each other. @SuzannahEvans2@DrShaneSaeed
Transcribe →