Teach Wonder

The Center for Excellence in STEM Education
  • 4.8 (8)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

We know that powerful things are happening in education and that those powerful things often go unnoticed or are siloed (within a community). We’ve built a space to share those powerful things, where we aren’t constrained by distance and scheduling. We’ll combine our 35 years of K - 12 teaching experience with the unique perspectives of our guests to connect you to relevant ideas and experiences. Listen in to motivate your practice, challenge your current pedagogy, and expand your horizons with stories from educators near and far.

  1. Everything but the Book Study: How to Differentiate Without Splitting Students Up

    FEB 2

    Everything but the Book Study: How to Differentiate Without Splitting Students Up

    This week we discuss an Edutopia article on differentiating instruction without separating students. This article intersects several important aspects of teaching- good questioning strategies, making content accessible for students- and addresses the challenge of doing this when students are coming at a topic from a lot of different places.  Link to Article Intro Music: David Biedenbender Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    20 min
  2. Everything but the Book Study: In Defense of Dabbling

    JAN 19

    Everything but the Book Study: In Defense of Dabbling

    In this episode, Ashley shares her thoughts on the podcast episode, In Defense of Dabbling with Karen Walrond, which emphasizes the value of being an amateur and trying new things without a serious end goal. They bring up some specific examples from their childhoods, as well as talking about this decidedly non-education focused episode has so many important connections for educators and learners.  Intro Music: David Biedenbener Other Music:  Paul Krasnoshchok from Pixabay Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    29 min
  3. Everything but the Book Study: Looking at how schools in Finland brought forest ecology into the classroom

    JAN 12

    Everything but the Book Study: Looking at how schools in Finland brought forest ecology into the classroom

    Welcome to our new series in Teach Wonder, Everything but the Book Study, where one of us has read the article we are about to discuss, and one of us hasn't. In this episode, Julie brings an article from The Guardian about a Finnish preschool experiment where natural forest elements were imported into schoolyards, enhancing children's health.  Article Link: How a radical experiment to bring a forest into a preschool transformed children’s health Intro Music: David Biedenbender  Other Music: Paul Krasnoshchok from Pixabay Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    22 min
  4. The Assumptions We Make: Why Self-Reflection and Observation Require Different Things

    12/01/2025

    The Assumptions We Make: Why Self-Reflection and Observation Require Different Things

    In this episode, we discuss updates to our Educator Institute, a professional learning community focused on equitable teaching practices in STEM. We talk about the challenges we faced when testing our self-reflection tool as one for observation and how we shifted things. If you work with future teachers, or are trying to better your own practice, this episode is a one that talks about the intentional ways we have to self-reflection and pitfalls to avoid when observing others.  Intro Music by: David Biedenbender Music by Viacheslav Starostin  Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    29 min

  5. 10/17/2025

    Shared Language and Expectations: A Conversation about Self-Reflection in the Classroom.

    Ashley and Julie discuss the Educator Institute, a project aimed at bridging the gap between classroom teachers and future educators. They emphasize the importance of shared language and practices among educators. They talk about their experiences using the tool to both self-reflection and observe others.  Intro Music: David Biedenbender Other Music: by Clavier Clavier from Pixabay Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    37 min
  6. Curious Change: A Look at Carla Shalaby's Troublemakers

    09/30/2025

    Curious Change: A Look at Carla Shalaby's Troublemakers

    In this episode Ashley O'Neil and Julie Cunningham discuss the book Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby as it relates to curiosity and agency. This book was part of the summer work in the Educator Institute, discussed in Episodes 1 and 2. In this episode they've each brought specific examples from the book and explore how these examples challenged or reframed their thinking. Throughout the podcast, the  balance between classroom management and fostering authentic student engagement and self-expression is a central theme. They wrap up the episode by discussing some ways that teachers can sustain these types of practices in the classroom.  Read the book: Troublemakers Intro Music: David Biedenbender  Outro Music:  Leigh Robinson from Pixabay Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    41 min
  7. Risky Play: What We Can Learn from Early Childhood.

    09/17/2025

    Risky Play: What We Can Learn from Early Childhood.

    Ashley and Julie are hear talking about what Risky Play has to do with Curiosity in the classroom. They highlight the need for educators to shift from replication to genuine learning, valuing respectful relationships and deeper skills. Ashley reflects on her experience with a homeschool group, noting the challenge of balancing student agency with personal expectations. Link to Article on Risky Play Intro Music: David Biedenbender Outtro Music: Music by Christoph Scholl from Pixabay Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    34 min
  8. Impacting The Education Ecosystem

    08/27/2025

    Impacting The Education Ecosystem

    Ashley O'Neil and Julie Cunningham, hosts of the Teach Wonder podcast, discuss the Educator Institute, a new project at Central Michigan University's Center for Excellence in STEM education. The Educator Institute began this summer when a group of educators and Center staff created a professional learning community who then developed an educator observation tool. This tool is intended to scaffold reflection on equitable classroom practices in STEM education. The tool will be piloted by members of the learning community, Center staff and pre-service teachers who work with children in the maker space at the Center. You are invited to join us on our journey this fall as we make meaning out of our experiences with the tool in our learning community. Intro Music: David Biedenbender    Find us on social media: Instagram: cmichcese Facebook: cmich_cese

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

We know that powerful things are happening in education and that those powerful things often go unnoticed or are siloed (within a community). We’ve built a space to share those powerful things, where we aren’t constrained by distance and scheduling. We’ll combine our 35 years of K - 12 teaching experience with the unique perspectives of our guests to connect you to relevant ideas and experiences. Listen in to motivate your practice, challenge your current pedagogy, and expand your horizons with stories from educators near and far.

Information

  • Creator
    The Center for Excellence in STEM Education
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Teach Wonder
  • Show Website
    Teach Wonder