Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.

Olivia Wahl
  • 4.7 (46)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Do you need innovative strategies to strengthen your school culture and spark student growth? This podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, teachers, administrators, and families seeking to create dynamic and engaging learning environments. In each episode, you'll discover how to unite educators and caregivers to support students, tackle common classroom challenges, and cultivate an atmosphere where every learner can thrive. With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach, host Olivia Wahl curates episodes with insights from more than 150 expert interviews, offering practical tips that bridge the gap between school and home. Tune in every Monday and Friday for actionable strategies and inspirational stories that can transform your approach and make a real impact on learning.Start with a fan-favorite episode today (S5E1: Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers with John Hattie) and take the first step towards transforming your educational environment!

  1. 14h ago ·  Bonus

    How Can You Build Your Influence As a Leader?

    In this clip from my conversation with Jenn David-Lang of  @themainideaeducation , she breaks down a shift that changes how new leaders solve problems. In her mastermind groups for aspiring leaders, someone always brings the same complaint early in the year: a teacher won't do what's being asked, and the instinct is to have the principal force it.  Jenn pushes back on that instinct. Real influence starts long before the issue comes up, built through credibility and trust with the people you lead. Then she names the one question that changes the whole conversation. Is this a skill problem, or is this a will problem? Too often, we jump straight to solutions before we understand what's actually driving the behavior.  Watch part one of our Schoolutions conversation for more on peer-driven leadership, teacher support, and what it actually takes to build trust as an instructional leader here. Chapters: 0:00 A common problem in aspiring leader groups 0:08 The gut reaction: just tell the principal 0:16 Why influence starts long before the issue 0:24 The real question: skill or will 0:31 Why we jump to solutions too fast 💫Check out the linked episode mentions and other resources here.   ⭐To learn more about Jenn's Masterminds: https://www.themainidea.net/school-leadership-mastermind/ ⭐To learn about Jenn's subscription with book summaries: https://www.themainidea.net/ ⭐To listen to Jenn's podcast: https://www.themainidea.net/podcasts/ ⭐To develop the habit of professional reading, see Jenn's latest published article: https://www.ascd.org/blogs/yes-principals-can-make-time-to-read Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and caregivers who are ready to grow alongside their children. Each episode delivers research-backed strategies rooted in the five practices of expert teachers from my upcoming book: Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, so every student finds their spark and receives the support they need to thrive.  I hope to have the book in your hands by June of 2027.  If this conversation has you thinking about how to build a peer-driven culture in your own school or district, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #TeacherCoaching #MentorTeachers #NewTeachers #ProfessionalDevelopment #SchoolCulture #PrincipalStrategies #BuildingTrust #EducationLeadership #SchoolImprovement #TeacherSupport When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  2. 1d ago

    Try it Tuesday Teacher Move: Keep Your Lesson Relevant

    It's Tuesday, and I'm starting a new weekly series called Try It Tuesday. Each week, I'll give you one teacher move that has a real, measurable impact on student success and student engagement. This week's tip comes from a moment with Cris Tovani, and it's about relevance. We were standing in a high school classroom together, and the teacher couldn't quite explain why the content mattered to her students. Cris said one thing: Google it. So we did. We searched why kids still need to learn this specific topic, and Google gave us real, usable answers. If you try this and the search comes up empty, that's your signal to reframe the lesson before you teach it. Relevance alone isn't enough, though. Expert teachers go one step further and connect the learning to meaning because students engage more deeply when they understand why a lesson matters to them personally. This is a fast, practical instructional strategy you can use in lesson planning this week, whether you're a new teacher building your toolkit or a veteran teacher refreshing your approach. Kids show up differently when the work feels relevant. New tip every Tuesday. If this conversation has you thinking about how to make learning more relevant and meaningful for your students, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. Chapters: 0:00 Introducing Try It Tuesday 0:08 This week's tip: relevance 0:15 The Cris Tovani story: just Google it 0:33 What to do if the search doesn't help 0:44 Relevance versus meaning 0:54 See you next Tuesday #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #TeacherTips #TeachingTips #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherCoaching  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  3. 2d ago

    What Does Peer-Driven Leadership Look and Feel Like in Schools?

    Jenn David-Lang has spent over 20 years supporting school leaders, first through @themainideaeducation, her monthly education and leadership book summary service, and now through the peer-led Mastermind groups she facilitates for principals and aspiring leaders. In part one of this S6E1 Schoolutions conversation, Jenn and I break down what school leadership actually looks like when instructional leadership comes from the people already in the building instead of an outside consultant. Jenn explains why school improvement rarely comes from a single professional learning session and why school culture change depends on habitual, weekly learning: PLCs, instructional coaching, mentor teachers, and leaders who ask the same reflective questions after every walkthrough. She walks through her Mastermind model step by step: a live read, a structured discussion protocol. This is teacher coaching and school leadership support built as peer coaching, not top-down mandates. The conversation addresses two issues that come up constantly in schools: How to get staff to commit to things they're reluctant to do and managing interpersonal issues with grace. Jenn's answer starts with a question every instructional coach should ask before jumping to solutions: Is this a skill problem or a will problem? That distinction reshapes how principal strategies, teacher support, and difficult conversations get handled, and it applies just as directly to classroom behavior and student engagement, since the same skill-versus-will question shows up when a student seems to have low engagement or has checked out of active learning. Part two of this conversation with Jenn David-Lang (releasing on Friday) covers her think tank model in more depth and what it takes for leaders to practice instructional leadership in real time. Check out these resources from Jenn: ⭐To learn more about Jenn's Masterminds: https://www.themainidea.net/school-leadership-mastermind/ ⭐To learn about Jenn's subscription with book summaries: https://www.themainidea.net/ ⭐To listen to Jenn's podcast: https://www.themainidea.net/podcasts/ ⭐To develop the habit of professional reading, see Jenn's latest published article: https://www.ascd.org/blogs/yes-principals-can-make-time-to-read Chapters: 0:00 — Cold open: the smartest person in the building 1:00 — Meet Jenn David-Lang and the Schoolutions intro 2:00 — Jenn's path from teaching to leadership 3:00 — Why Jenn launched The Main Idea in 2007 5:00 — Why expertise has to come from within a school 7:00 — John Hattie, coaching, and being a "second set of eyes" 8:00 — What a mastermind group actually is 9:00 — Inside the hour: live reads, protocols, and think tank time 12:00 — Two problems that come up in every school 13:00 — How Jenn stays sharp as a facilitator 14:00 — Skill or will: solving the real problem, not the symptom 16:00 — The leadership skill Jenn is still working on 17:00 — The feedback move that builds trust fast 19:00 — Closing thoughts and where to find Jenn's work 20:00 — Olivia's takeaway and what's coming in Part 2 Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and caregivers who are ready to grow alongside their children. Each episode delivers research-backed strategies rooted in the five practices of expert teachers from my upcoming book: Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, so every student finds their spark and receives the support they need to thrive.  I hope to have the book in your hands by June of 2027. If this conversation has you thinking about how to build a peer-driven culture in your own school or district, let's get in touch. You can find me on my website. Click on the Coaching & Consulting tab to begin our thought partnership. #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting  #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalLearning #SchoolCulture #EducationPodcast #TeacherCoaching #PrincipalLife #InstructionalLeadership #StudentEngagement #EffectiveTeaching #NewTeachers #MentorTeachers #EducationLeadership #WholeChildEducation #EquityInEducation #ParentInvolvement #JennDavidLang #TheMainIdea When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  4. 3d ago

    How to Build a Stronger School Community this September

    This September on Schoolutions, I'm bringing you three conversations that will change how you see leadership inside school buildings. 💫You'll hear from Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea about a peer-led leadership model where instructional leaders troubleshoot problems together and partner with each other from all over the world. It's a model built on instructional coaching, coaching strategies, and professional learning instead of top-down answers. 💫You'll hear from 17 teachers who attended the Civics for Colorado Summer Institute about what it's like to teach during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the challenges they're facing and the hopes they're holding onto in their classrooms right now. 💫And you'll learn about the power of teacher mentoring from Jennifer Orr and her book, Letters to a New Teacher.  Jennifer explains why the best teaching happens in relationship and not in isolation, and what new teachers bring the moment they enter a learning community. 🎙️Part one drops Monday. 🎙️Part two drops Friday. 🎙️A 60-second highlight from each guest lands every Wednesday. Join the conversations this September and 🔔 subscribe so you don't miss a single episode. 🔗 Chapters: 0:00 September on Schoolutions: three conversations ahead 0:08 Peer-led leadership and global instructional coaching 0:22 17 teachers on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence 0:38 Teacher mentoring and what new teachers bring to the room 0:50 Release schedule: Monday, Friday, and Wednesday highlights 🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise:  #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies   #InstructionalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #TeacherMentoring #NewTeachers #InstructionalCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationLeadership #TeacherSupport #EmpoweredEducators #EffectiveTeaching #TeachingTips #StudentEngagement #StudentMotivation #SchoolCulture #SchoolImprovement #EducationPodcast #TeacherImpact #InspiredTeaching #MentorTeachers When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  5. Season 6 Trailer

    Forever Getting Better: Season 6 of Schoolutions

    Season 6 of the Schoolutions Podcast is here. This season leads up to the release of my book with Stenhouse Publishers, Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, which I hope will be in your hands by June of 2027. This season follows teachers, coaches, and school leaders as they use the five essential practices from my book in real classrooms. Guests discuss learning in action, share ways to inspire students, and walk through methods to boost student participation and attention in class. Two episodes drop each week.  Part 1 drops Monday. Part 2 drops Friday. A quick-tip highlight reel from that week's guest drops every Wednesday. Follow Schoolutions Podcast for strategies you can use in class tomorrow. Chapters 0:00 Season 6 starts 0:18 The book behind this season: Forever Getting Better 0:38 What guests bring to each episode 0:50 Weekly release schedule 1:00 Who this season is built for #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  6. Sep 9

    Behind the Scenes: Revising my Book Chapter by Chapter (Writing Wednesday)

    This is my last Writing Wednesday post for a while. Season six of Schoolutions starts next week, and Wednesdays are switching over to expert tips from that week's guest. Right now I'm in the final stretch of revising and editing my book, Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise. Going slow here is what lets me move fast later. I'm going chapter by chapter, checking that the language holds together and the structure stays consistent so the text feels accessible for every reader. This is the work behind education transformation before a single page reaches you. I'm aiming for the book to be in your hands by May or June next year. Thank you for following this writing journey with me all summer. Chapters: 0:00 — Last Writing Wednesday for a while 0:07 — Why: Season six starts next week, Wednesdays shift to guest tips 0:14 — The importance of going slow in final revisions 0:22 — Chapter by chapter check for language and structure 0:32 — Book release target: May or June next year 0:40 — Thank you for following the summer writing journey 🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise. #OliviaWahlCoachingConsulting #Schoolutions #SchoolutionsPodcast #ForeverGettingBetter #5PracticesOfExpertTeachers #CuriosityDriven #EvidenceBasedClassroomReadyStrategies #WritingWednesday #BookWritingJourney #AuthorLife #EducationPodcast #WritingProcess #BehindTheBook #TeacherAuthor #EducationTransformation #SeasonSixLaunch  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  7. Sep 7

    Reading Wars: The $1 BILLION Industry That's Failing Students

    Are reading wars destroying our children's education? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. P.L. Thomas, a former high school English teacher with 18 years of classroom experience, exposes how education strategies, effective teaching, and instructional strategies are being replaced by one-size-fits-all programs that ignore what we know about student engagement, student motivation, and inclusive teaching.  What You'll Learn: ✅ Why the reading wars keep repeating every decade (it's not what you think!) ✅ The REAL reasons Mississippi's reading scores improved (hint: it's not just phonics) ✅ How teacher autonomy is being destroyed by scripted programs ✅ Why balanced literacy isn't the enemy educators claim it is ✅ The hidden costs of over-labeling students with reading difficulties Perfect for: - Teachers struggling with mandated reading programs - School administrators seeking evidence-based solutions - Parents questioning their child's reading instruction - Education coaches supporting teacher development - Instructional leaders wanting to understand the research Key Topics Covered: - Teacher coaching and professional development alternatives - Culturally responsive teaching vs. scripted curricula   - Equity in education and inclusive classrooms - Student success through empowered educators - Education transformation and teacher impact - School change that prioritizes thriving students This conversation challenges the narrative that phonics-only instruction is the solution to literacy challenges, instead advocating for inspired teaching that meets individual student needs through innovative teaching practices and teacher support. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Introduction: Meet Dr. P.L. Thomas 2:15 - The Inspiring Teacher That Changed Everything   5:30 - Teacher Autonomy: Then vs Now 8:45 - The Reading Wars: Core Problems Explained 15:20 - Historical Context: 1940s to Today's Third Reading War 22:30 - Mississippi's Reading Gains: The Real Story 28:10 - England's Phonics Mandate: What Really Happened 32:45 - Defining Reading in the 21st Century 38:20 - Workshop Teaching vs Scripted Programs 45:15 - The Role of Standards and Assessment 50:30 - What Counts as "Scientific" Research? 57:40 - Media Influence and Market Forces 64:25 - Supporting Students with Reading Difficulties 70:10 - Building Community and Resistance 75:30 - Hope and Action Steps for Educators 78:45 - Final Thoughts: Putting Students First Paul’s Recent Publications & Essays in Edited VolumesIndividuals Paul Mentions During This EpisodeSold a Story PodcastNo Child Left Behind (NCLB)National Education Policy Center (NEPC) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)National Reading Panel (NRP)Decoding Dyslexia Orton-Gillingham📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com  🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and school leaders, families and homeschoolers, and the coaches, counselors, and mentors who believe every student deserves to thrive. Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child. 🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise. 🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl Don't forget to🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!  #schoolutions #schoolutionspodcast #forevergettingbetter #curiositydriven #evidencebasedstrategies #classroomreadystrategies #ReadingWars #ScienceOfReading #TeacherAutonomy #EducationReform #BalancedLiteracy #PhonicsInstruction #LiteracyEducation #EducationalPolicy #TeacherSupport #StudentFirst #EquityInEducation #InclusiveTeaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #SchoolLeadership #EducationTransformation #TeacherCoaching #InstructionalStrategies #StudentEngagement #WholChildEducation #EmpoweredEducators When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  8. Sep 4

    Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers

    S5E1 of Schoolutions begins with Professor John Hattie, renowned for his groundbreaking Visible Learning work. After analyzing 2,500+ studies with 200 million students, Professor John Hattie discovered something shocking: there's virtually no correlation between teaching experience and effectiveness after 5 years. So what separates expert teachers from the rest? In this eye-opening conversation, Hattie reveals that expert teachers are "nosy" - obsessed with understanding not just IF students got the right answer, but HOW they're thinking. They constantly ask three essential questions (watch to learn more) that transform their impact on student learning. Discover why one expert coach reduced feedback by 80% while making it 80% MORE effective, and learn the specific mindframes that turn good teachers into exceptional ones. This isn't about adding more to your plate - it's about recognizing the expertise that's already within you and learning how to access it. Key Takeaways: ✅The shocking truth about teaching experience vs. expertise ✅Why "nosy" teachers get better results ✅The 3 questions every expert teacher asks daily ✅How to make feedback 80% more effective with less effort ✅The mindframes that separate expert teachers from the rest Episode Mentions:   Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on LearningWhy are so many of our teachers and schools so successful? (video)John Hattie on Visible Learning and Feedback in the Classroom (video)National Board for Professional Teaching StandardsHattie’s 10 MindframesProfessor Graham Nuthall's LegacyAntonia Cameron - Joyful Learner RoutinesDaniel Willingham Kenneth R. KoedingerJim Knight - The Instructional PlaybookChapter Timestamps 0:00 Introduction: The "Magic" of Expert Teachers  3:00 Meet Professor John Hattie  5:00 What Makes a Teacher an Expert?  11:00 Experience vs. Expertise: The Shocking Truth  15:00 The Power of Being "Nosy" in Teaching  22:00 The Three Essential Impact Questions  25:00 Rethinking Feedback: Quality Over Quantity  32:00 The Student's Perspective on Feedback  35:00 Reducing Feedback by 80%, Increasing Effectiveness by 80%  38:00 The Danger of Praise in Learning  40:00 Supporting High-Achieving Students  42:00 Call to Action: Celebrating Teacher Expertise 📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com  🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl Schoolutions is the podcast for educators and school leaders, families and homeschoolers, and the coaches, counselors, and mentors who believe every student deserves to thrive. Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child. 🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise. 🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl Don't forget to🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!  #schoolutions #schoolutionspodcast #forevergettingbetter #curiositydriven #evidencebasedstrategies #classroomreadystrategies #TeachingExpertise #JohnHattie #VisibleLearning #EducationResearch #TeacherDevelopment #StudentLearning #ClassroomStrategies #EducationalLeadership #TeachingTips #ProfessionalLearning #LearningScience #TeacherTraining #EducationReform #ExpertTeaching When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

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Do you need innovative strategies to strengthen your school culture and spark student growth? This podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, teachers, administrators, and families seeking to create dynamic and engaging learning environments. In each episode, you'll discover how to unite educators and caregivers to support students, tackle common classroom challenges, and cultivate an atmosphere where every learner can thrive. With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach, host Olivia Wahl curates episodes with insights from more than 150 expert interviews, offering practical tips that bridge the gap between school and home. Tune in every Monday and Friday for actionable strategies and inspirational stories that can transform your approach and make a real impact on learning.Start with a fan-favorite episode today (S5E1: Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers with John Hattie) and take the first step towards transforming your educational environment!

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