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. 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.

  2. 3d ago

    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.

  3. 5d ago

    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.

  4. 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.

  5. Sep 2

    What Words and Phrases Could You Cut As a Writer? (Writing Wednesday)

    Five words/phrases are quietly cluttering your writing: our, your, that, I think, I believe. This Writing Wednesday breaks down why these words sneak into student writing and adult writing, and what happens when you cut them. The tip comes from a real classroom. A teacher noticed her student kept writing "I think" and "I believe" before every idea. Her response: you're the one writing it. We already know it's your thinking. This kind of small shift is what effective teaching and instructional strategies are built on. Families reviewing homework can use the same edit at home. Chapters: 0:00 The 5 words/phrases to watch for in your writing 0:15 The classroom story behind this tip 0:40 Applying it to your own writing 🌿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 #WritingTips #TeacherTips #TeachingTips #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #NewTeachers #MentorTeachers #EffectiveTeaching #InstructionalStrategies #LessonPlanning #StudentEngagement #StudentWriting #EducationStrategies #TeacherImpact #EmpoweredEducators #EducationCoaches #InstructionalLeaders #WritingWednesday #ClassroomTips When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  6. Aug 31

    Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World

    In this powerful conversation with former Colorado Commissioner of Education Dr. Katy Anthes, we explore her groundbreaking "Forward Framework" for navigating polarization and finding productive middle ground in education and beyond.  Dr. Anthes shares research-backed strategies to move from destructive conflict to productive disagreement, explaining why curiosity and humanity are essential for progress. Learn practical skills to address divisive topics in your classroom, school, or community, and discover why 87% of Americans are tired of division and ready for a better way forward.  Whether you're an educator dealing with polarizing issues or anyone seeking to have more meaningful conversations across differences, this episode offers hope and practical tools to create positive change. Episode Mentions: Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC)Colorado Council of the International Reading Association (CCIRA)Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict & Getting to Yes with Yourself: How to Get What You Truly Want by William UryJim Collins High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda RipleyMore in Common Undivide UsBelonging without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World by john a. powell and Stephen MenendianCheck out Katy’s writing and work with PEBC:  A Reminder to America: We Still Agree on More Than We Don’t The work ahead of educators to nurture a healthier kind of politics (November 11, 2024) Forward Initiative → From Polarization to Progress Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Katy Anthes & Forward Initiative  5:00 - Research on Conflict: William Ury's "Possible"  9:00 - Destructive vs. Productive Conflict  13:00 - Finding Humanity and Common Ground  17:00 - Examples of Polarization in Education  21:00 - Hope in Numbers: 87% Want Less Division  25:00 - The FORWARD Framework Part 1: Preparation & Listening  32:00 - The FORWARD Framework Part 2: Connecting & Complicating  37:00 - The FORWARD Framework Part 3: Rethinking & Creating Space  41:00 - Closing Thoughts: Progress Through Humanity 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 #FORWARDFramework #PolarizationToProgress #PEBC #PublicEducationBusinessCoalition #ConflictResolution #EducationLeadership #NavigatingDifferences #ProductiveDisagreement #EducatorTools #BridgingDivides #CuriosityMatters #schoolleadership  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

    Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World

  7. Aug 28

    The 3 Types of Student Engagement Every Teacher Needs to Know

    This S1E1 Schoolutions conversation with Cris Tovani and Sam Bennett covers the importance of student engagement, building relationships, time management, and planning for disengaged students. Cris shares ideas for identifying and supporting disengaged students through long-term planning and building relationships.  Sam paints a picture of the circles of engagement (emotional, behavioral, and cognitive) and explains why a workshop structure enables students to connect with their teachers, other students, the curriculum, and themselves. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to Schoolutions with Olivia Wahl  1:35 - Educational Inspirations with Cris Tovani and Sam Bennett  4:26 - Understanding the "Masks" Students Wear  7:28 - The Three Types of Engagement: Behavioral, Emotional, and Cognitive  12:02 - Making Content Worthy and Relevant  13:43 - Long-term Planning with the Six Ts Framework  17:33 - Workshop Structure in Secondary Education  20:44 - Closing Thoughts Some of Cris Tovani's books: Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?: Content Comprehension, Grades 6-12 (2003)So, What Do They Really Know? : Assessment That Informs Teaching and Learning (2010)Why Do I Have to Read This?: Literacy Strategies to Engage Our Most Reluctant Students (2020)Some of Sam Bennett's Books: That Workshop Book: New Systems and Structures for Classrooms That Read, Write and Think (2007)Comprehension Going Forward (2011)  &  Imagine It Better: Visions of What School Might Be (2014)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  When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, schools change. Students get engaged, get support, and get the chance to thrive.

  8. Aug 26

    Don't Let Fear Stop Your Progress (Writing Wednesday)

    I've been writing and getting close to turning in my book manuscript. My editor Kassia let me know it's time to reach out to people for endorsements. I'd had a list in my head for months. Sending it terrified me. I asked anyway. The response floored me. People I admire said yes, fast and warm, with no hesitation. One person said no. That's fine. Everyone's stretched thin right now. If you're building something, a book, a program, a workshop series, ask for help when you need it. Chapters: 0:00 Be brave 0:18 Asking for endorsements 0:45 The response 1:05 What to do with your own scary ask 🌿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 #WritingWednesday #EmpoweredEducators #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherMentors #InstructionalLeaders #EducationTransformation #TeacherImpact #NewTeachers #InspiredTeaching #WritingWednesday #EducatorsOfYoutube 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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