The Research to Practice Gap

Helen Flores
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  • Education

As a special educator, I struggled to find truly effective ways to support my students. I joined professional organizations, but didn’t have the time to sift through journals or navigate lengthy resource pages. I attended required professional development, yet it wasn’t always engaging—or useful.Welcome to The Research to Practice Gap, a podcast created to bridge exactly that divide. Each month, I sit down with a researcher in the field of education to translate research into practical, evidence-based strategies and activities you can use in your classroom right away.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Classroom Harm Isn’t Always Loud: Understanding Slow Violence

    What if the most harmful experiences students have at school aren't dramatic, but happen through everyday interactions? Dr. Helen Flores sits down with sociologist and Slow Violence author Dr. Ranita Ray to explore how subtle classroom practices, power dynamics, and everyday language shape students' sense of belonging. Together, they discuss how educators can reflect on their own practice, foster more humane classrooms, and recognize the small moments that can have a lasting impact on children. More from Dr. Ranita Ray Resources for Teachers Achievement Gaps Calling In and Calling Out guide Prejudiced thoughts run through all our minds — the key is what we do with them What is the School to Prison Pipeline? Research and Background Hidden Curriculum Instructing Animosity: How DEI Pedagogy Produces the Hostile Attribution Bias Slow Violence Benner, A. D., Alers-Rojas, F., López, B. A., & Chen, S. (2024). "Some people will tell jokes to you; some people be racist:" A mixed-method examination of racist jokes and adolescents' well-being. Child development, 95(5), 1572–1585. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14095 Hemez, P., Brent, J. J., & Mowen, T. J. (2020). Exploring the School-to-Prison Pipeline: How School Suspensions Influence Incarceration During Young Adulthood. Youth violence and juvenile justice, 18(3), 235–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541204019880945 Mascia, M. L., Langiu, G., Bonfiglio, N. S., Penna, M. P., & Cataudella, S. (2023). Challenges of Preadolescence in the School Context: A Systematic Review of Protective/Risk Factors and Intervention Programmes. Education Sciences, 13(2), 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020130 Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze   Send us Fan Mail

    Classroom Harm Isn’t Always Loud: Understanding Slow Violence

  2. Jul 7

    Building Student Agency: Teaching Self-Determination in the Classroom

    Self-determination doesn't begin at age 14—it starts in the earliest years of school. In this episode, Laurie Williams-George explains how teachers can build student agency through simple, research-based practices that help students make decisions, advocate for themselves, and believe that their actions can shape their futures. More from Laurie Williams George: Raising Joy #62: Navigating the Online World with Neurodiverse Children | Laurie Williams George Resources for Teachers: 6 Routines to Get Students Unstuck Building Self-Determination in Childhood Giving Students Meaningful Choices Is There an Autism Epidemic? Promoting Self-Determination in Early Childhood Services Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination for Students With Disabilities Who Are English Learners Strategies to Build Self-Determination Skills Research & Background: Adults with Autism and Employment Statistics Day, N., Paas, F., Kervin, L., & Howard, S. J. (2022). A systematic scoping review of pre-school self-regulation interventions from a self-determination theory perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 2454. Feuer, B., Toste, J. R., & Fry, E. (2025). Representation of students of color with disabilities in self-determination intervention research. Exceptionality, 1-21. Morán, M. L., Hagiwara, M., Raley, S. K., Alsaeed, A. H., Shogren, K. A., Qian, X., ... & Alcedo, M. Á. (2021). Self-determination of students with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Developmental and Physical D5isabilities, 33(6), 887-908. Stansberry Brusnahan, L. L., Harkins Monaco, E. A., Fuller, M., & Dixon, K. (2023). Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Teaching intersectional self-determination skills with a focus on disability, social identity, and culture. Teaching Exceptional Children, 55(5), 324-336.  Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    Building Student Agency: Teaching Self-Determination in the Classroom

  3. Jun 16

    All of Us Are Artists: Bringing Creativity Back to the Classroom

    In this episode of The Research to Practice Gap, Dr. Helen Flores sits down with Dr. Hank Samuels to explore the role of creativity, imagination, and arts integration in education. Together, they discuss why so many educators believe they are "not creative," how schools often separate art from learning, and practical ways teachers can incorporate creativity into everyday instruction. Dr. Samuels shares research-based insights and accessible strategies that help educators cultivate joy, deepen student engagement, and create more meaningful learning experiences across all grade levels and content areas. Resources for Teachers: 8 Ways to Use Music in the Language Arts Classroom Artist in Residence Arts Integration and Universal Design for Learning Arts Integration Versus Arts Enhancement The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM The Kennedy Center Teaching Students to Critique Art Why You Think You Aren’t an Artist Research and Background: Dr. Mary Weems Miller, J. A., & Bogatova, T. (2018). Arts in education: The impact of the arts integration program and lessons learned. Journal for Learning through the Arts, 14(1). Møller-Skau, M., & Lindstøl, F. (2022). Arts-based teaching and learning in teacher education:“Crystallising” student teachers' learning outcomes through a systematic literature review. Teaching and Teacher Education, 109, 103545. Samuels, J. H. (2025). “To Be a Teacher Is to Be an Artist”: An Ethnodramatic Look into Preservice Teacher Experiences with Arts Integration. In The Educational Forum (Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 312-324). Routledge. Samuels, J. H. (2026). Scratching beneath the surface. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 35(2), 275-295. The Science of Arts Integration and Student Success Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    All of Us Are Artists: Bringing Creativity Back to the Classroom

  4. Jun 2

    Start Over Every Day: How to Stay in Teaching

    In this episode of The Research to Practice Gap, Dr. Helen Flores sits down with educator and leadership coach Michael Fairbanks II to discuss one of education’s biggest challenges: teacher retention. Drawing from his experiences as a teacher, principal, and instructional leader, Michael shares practical strategies for sustaining intrinsic motivation, building mental flexibility, and creating systems that help educators stay in the profession longer. From knowing your community to rehearsing lessons and “starting over every day,” this conversation offers honest, actionable insights for both new and veteran teachers navigating the realities of today’s classrooms.  Michael Fairbanks II Resources for Teachers: 6 Intrinsic Motivators to Power Up Your Teaching (this was written for students but can be applied to us as well!) Educators: Make Every Day a Fresh Start Knowing the Community Leveraging Self-Reflection to Improve your Teaching The Power of Rehearsal: The Most Overlooked Step in Instructional Coaching Research & Background: Costs and Benefits of Teacher Retention Exploring Evidence-Based Practices in Teacher Recruitment and Retention Efforts Teacher Shortages Fact Sheet Billingsley, B., & Bettini, E. (2019). Special education teacher attrition and retention: A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 89(5), 697-744. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654319862495 Li, X., Pei, X., & Zhao, J. (2025). Intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy as pathways to innovative teaching: a mixed-methods study of faculty in Chinese higher education. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 859. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03177-y  Malone, H. L. S. (2026). Toward a community centric pedagogy: How teachers’ conceptions of the urban community they work in shapes bidirectional learning. Education and Urban Society, 58(4), 460-486. https://doi.org/10.1177/00131245251404012 Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    Start Over Every Day: How to Stay in Teaching

  5. May 19

    The Pressure to Perform: Teaching Calm in High-Stakes Systems

    In this episode of The Research to Practice Gap, Dr. Helen Flores speaks with Tabitha Lim about the impact of high-stakes testing on student learning, stress, and well-being. Drawing from neuroscience, embodied cognition, and her experiences in both Malaysia and the United States, Tabitha shares practical strategies educators can use to help students regulate stress, improve memory and retrieval, and create calmer learning environments during high-pressure academic periods. The conversation explores the connection between emotions, physiology, and learning—and why supporting student well-being is essential for meaningful academic success. Tabitha Lim TLS International School TNT Consultancy Resources for Teachers: Battling Test Anxiety Brain Targeted Teaching (by Dr. Mariale Hardiman) Embodied Learning: How To Bring Movement Into the Classroom, and Why It Matters Preparing Students for Assessments Teaching About Stress and the Brain (Elementary) Teaching About Stress and the Brain (Secondary) You Aren’t at the Mercy of Your Emotions: Your Brain Creates Them Research & Background: Education in Malaysia Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang The Psychological Toll of High Stakes Testing Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan) The Standardized Tests Debate Third Grade Retention Laws and Effects Heissel, J. A., Adam, E. K., Doleac, J. L., Figlio, D. N., & Meer, J. (2021). Testing, stress, and performance: How students respond physiologically to high-stakes testing. Macedonia, M. (2019). Embodied learning: Why at school the mind needs the body. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 2098. Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    The Pressure to Perform: Teaching Calm in High-Stakes Systems

  6. May 5

    Regulate, Relate, Reason: From Trauma Research to Classroom Practice

    In this episode, I sit down with Tara Tedrow to explore how trauma impacts learning, behavior, and brain development—and what teachers can do about it. We break down the “regulate, relate, reason” framework and share practical, trauma-informed strategies educators can start using right away. Resources for Teachers Culturally Responsive PracticesEmotion and Stress Regulation Tool BoxThe National Child Traumatic Stress Network (includes age related reactions to traumatic events and an educator toolkit, among other resources)The Neurosequential Model by Dr. Bruce PerryScreening Students for TraumaSelf-Care Strategies for TeachersSigns of Compassion FatigueStrengths Based EducationTrauma-Responsive MTSS ToolkitTrauma-Informed Care for Students with Developmental and Intellectual DisabilitiesTwo Word Check-InResearch & Background Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)Dr. Bessel van der KolkThe Council for Exceptional ChildrenLives in the Balance by Dr. Ross GreeneOur Brains Were Not Built for This Much AdversityQualified Teachers are Choosing Not to Teach in Our SchoolsRelational Mediated Discipline with Dr. Lori DesautelsScanlan Center for School Mental HealthTrauma-Informed Teaching and Learning with Dr. Mays ImadLawrence-Sidebottom, D., Huffman, L. G., Beam, A. B., Guerra, R., Parikh, A., Roots, M., & Huberty, J. (2024). Rates of Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress in a Pediatric Digital Mental Health Intervention: Retrospective Analysis of Associations With Anxiety and Depressive Symptom Improvement Over Time. JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 7, e55560. https://doi.org/10.2196/55560Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    Regulate, Relate, Reason: From Trauma Research to Classroom Practice

  7. Apr 21

    Less is More: Designing Classrooms That Support Attention and Executive Function

    This episode explores how classroom design impacts students’ attention, regulation, and learning. Dr. Laura Foster shares research-backed strategies for creating more intentional, less visually overwhelming spaces—and how small shifts in the environment can better support all learners. Resources for Teachers Heavily Decorated Classrooms Disrupt Attention and Learning In Young Children Building Design for Learning with Willam Browning and James Determan How to Use Mini Anchor Chart Flipbooks to Save Space and Time in Your Classroom Structured and Accessible Classrooms to Support Independence Biophilic Design in Schools Students Speak National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector Research Articles & Background Isolation of Difficulty An Introduction to the Theory of Embodied Cognition Evaluating the Effectiveness of Tennessee's Voluntary Pre-K Program Fisher, A. V., Godwin, K. E., & Seltman, H. (2014). Visual environment, attention allocation, and learning in young children: When too much of a good thing may be bad. Psychological science, 25(7), 1362-1370. Foster, L. K. (2025). Early Childhood Classroom Design: Integrating Montessori Principles with Neuroeducational Research. Journal of Montessori Research, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.17161/jomr.v11i2.24130 Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of environmental psychology, 15(3), 169-182. Price, J., & Romualdez, A. M. (2025). ‘It just feels unnatural being here’: Autistic secondary school students’ experiences of sensory sensitivities in the school environment. Autism, 29(9), 2228-2238. Valentine, C. (2023). Architectural allostatic overloading: exploring a connection between architectural form and allostatic overloading. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), 5637. Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    Less is More: Designing Classrooms That Support Attention and Executive Function

  8. Apr 7

    Beyond Behavior Management: Using SEL to Transform Your Classroom

    In this episode of The Research to Practice Gap, I sit down with Dr. Sharde Theodore to discuss how social emotional learning (SEL) can transform classroom culture and improve outcomes for students.  Articles by Dr. Theodore National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities Resources for Teachers: Daily Progress Reports Check In/Check Out (CICO) Classroom Job Ideas for K-12 Class Dojo Critter Coin (like Class Dojo but more appropriate for secondary students) GoNoodle Brain Breaks for Middle & High Schoolers Encouraging Students to Become Independent Learners Research Articles & Background: Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Multi-Tiered Systems of Support SEL Interventions Discussed: Strong Start Coping Power Social Skills Training Social Narratives Peer Mediated Instruction and Intervention Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    Beyond Behavior Management: Using SEL to Transform Your Classroom

  9. Mar 24

    Humanizing the Classroom: Restorative Practices & Student Voice

    In this episode of The Research to Practice Gap, Dr. D’Annette Mullen of Boston University talks about disrupting disproportionate discipline in schools through art, restorative practices, relationship-building, and student voice.  Join our newsletter community for practical insights, implementation tips, and resources!  Semicolon Books Works by Dr. Mullen: Racism by Another Name: Black Students, Overrepresentation, and the Carceral State of Special Education Chapter 4: It’s All About Relationships: (Re)Imagining Classroom Dynamics to Foster Student EngagementQuote mentioned in the episode: “When there's no name for a problem, you can't solve it” - Kimberlé Crenshaw Resources for Teachers Recommended restorative practices workbook: Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School CommunityUsing Restorative Practices ProactivelyArtful Integration: Restorative Practices, the Arts, and Evidence-Based ImpactRespect From Day OneResearch & Background Anti-Black state violence, classroom edition: The spirit murdering of Black children by: Bettina L. LoveThe U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents by Sasha RogelbergAnswer Sheet: Bill Gates Spent Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Improve Teaching. New Report Says It Was a Bust by Valerie StraussThe Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle? (Marano et al., 2025)Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze Send us Fan Mail

    Humanizing the Classroom: Restorative Practices & Student Voice

  10. Mar 10

    Who Gets to Be “Gifted”? Access, Bias, and Twice/Thrice Exceptional Learners

    In this episode, Dr. Alejandra A. Fernandez-Morgado shares research-based insights on special education, gifted education, and creating more equitable opportunities for diverse learners.  Join our newsletter community for practical insights, implementation tips, and resources!  Find all of Dr. Alejandra Fernandez Morgado’s work here Book and quote mentioned in the podcast: Quote by Paola Ramos: “Storytelling has always been a form of resistance for generations of Latinos. Some have used it to resist assimilation; others to resist change and preserve the past.” Defectors by Paola Ramos Resources for Teachers Supporting translanguaging in your classroomSchool-Wide Enrichment ModelThe Fairchild ChallengeTestimonioMore TestimonioCultural sustaining/relevant/responsive practicesReimagining homeworkEquity in School–Parent Partnerships: Cultivating Community and Family Trust in Culturally Diverse ClassroomsIncluding student voice in educational decisionsResearch & Background FLDOE Plan B for GiftedBushi, J., Aliaj, A., & Kristo, E. (2024). Homework and Academic Success: A Critical Appraisal of Research and Practices. Journal of Education and Human Development, 13(2), 57-69.Chávez-Moreno, L. C. (2024). Examining race in LatCrit: A systematic review of Latinx critical race theory in education. Review of Educational Research, 94(4), 501-538.DeNicolo, C. P., González, M., Morales, S., & Romaní, L. (2015). Teaching Through Testimonio: Accessing Community Cultural Wealth in School. Journal of Latinos and Education, 14(4), 228–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2014.1000541Floyd, E. F. (2024). Supporting thrice exceptional gifted students. Teaching for High Potential, 4-5.Haller-Gryc, I. (2022). When Teachers Are the Gatekeepers of Gifted and Talented Programs: Potential Factors for English Learners' Underrepresentation and Possible Solutions. Journal of English Learner Education. (14)1.Novak, A. M. (2022). Not white saviors, but critical scholars: The need for gifted critical race theory. In Creating equitable services for the gifted: Protocols for identification, implementation, and evaluation (pp. 246-262). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze   Send us Fan Mail

    Who Gets to Be “Gifted”? Access, Bias, and Twice/Thrice Exceptional Learners

  11. Feb 23

    Beyond Deficit Thinking: Culturally Responsive Teaching in Action

    In our first episode of The Research to Practice Gap, Dr. Helen Flores sits down with Dr. Buruuj Tunsill to explore how educators can better serve racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (RELD) students in special education — particularly in under-resourced and high-needs schools. This episode bridges research and lived classroom experience, offering concrete strategies educators can begin using immediately. Join our newsletter community for practical insights, implementation tips, and resources!  Dr. Tunsill's Book: How to Better Serve Racially, Ethnically, and Linguistically Diverse (RELD) Students in Special Education: A Guide for Under-resourced Educators and High-needs Schools Resources for Teachers Recognizing Bias by the National Education Association Tools to Avoid and Address Deficit Thinking — University of TennesseeTransforming Urban Education Through Hip Hop Pedagogy — Edmund AdjapongSparking Engagement with Hip Hop — EdutopiaCulturally Responsive Teaching Guide — University of San DiegoStrategies and Resources to Support Trauma-Informed Schools — SchoolSafety.govResearch Articles Referenced Cruz, R. A., & Rodl, J. E. (2018). An Integrative Synthesis of Literature on Disproportionality in Special Education. The Journal of Special Education, 52(1), 50–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466918758707 Katsiyannis, A., Zhang, D., Ettekal, I., et al. (2025). Minority Representation in Special Education: 5-Year Trends from 2016–2020. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 9, 23–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-023-00387-6 La Salle, T. P., Wang, C., Wu, C., & Rocha Neves, J. (2020). Racial Mismatch among Minoritized Students and White Teachers: Implications and Recommendations for Moving Forward. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 30(3), 314–343. https://doi.org/10.1080/10474412.2019.1673759 Rasheed, D. S., Brown, J. L., Doyle, S. L., & Jennings, P. A. (2020). The Effect of Teacher–Child Race/Ethnicity Matching and Classroom Diversity on Children's Socioemotional and Academic Skills. Child Development, 91(3), e597–e618. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13275 Bal, A., Kozleski, E. B., Schrader, E. M., Rodriguez, E. M., & Pelton, S. (2014). Systemic Transformation from the Ground–Up: Using Learning Lab to Design Culturally Responsive Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Supports. Remedial and Special Education, 35(6), 327–339. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932514536995 Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze. Send us Fan Mail

    Beyond Deficit Thinking: Culturally Responsive Teaching in Action

  12. Trailer

    Welcome to the Research to Practice Gap!

    As a special educator, I struggled to find truly effective ways to support my students. I joined professional organizations, but didn’t have the time to sift through journals or navigate lengthy resource pages. I attended required professional development, yet it wasn’t always engaging—or useful. Welcome to The Research to Practice Gap, a podcast created to bridge exactly that divide. Each month, I sit down with a researcher in the field of education to translate research into practical, evidence-based strategies and activities you can use in your classroom right away. Send us Fan Mail

Trailer

About

As a special educator, I struggled to find truly effective ways to support my students. I joined professional organizations, but didn’t have the time to sift through journals or navigate lengthy resource pages. I attended required professional development, yet it wasn’t always engaging—or useful.Welcome to The Research to Practice Gap, a podcast created to bridge exactly that divide. Each month, I sit down with a researcher in the field of education to translate research into practical, evidence-based strategies and activities you can use in your classroom right away.

Information

  • Creator
    Helen Flores
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Research to Practice Gap
  • Show Website
    The Research to Practice Gap