The Edu20/20 Podcast

With high-quality instructional materials doing much of the heavy lifting, do teachers still need to lesson plan? Yes, but that doesn't mean spending hours creating detailed plans no one ever looks at. In this episode, Courtney and Shannon break down how teachers and school leaders can simplify lesson planning by focusing on the planning moves that actually impact instruction and create accountability without turning lesson plans into another compliance task. Timestamps 00:00 The lesson planning debate 01:48 Do teachers still need lesson plans with HQIM? 03:14 Why teachers still need to plan before teaching 05:36 Should leaders require lesson plans? 06:53 How to simplify lesson planning 07:40 The Big Four lesson planning moves 09:02 Leaders: Model your lesson planning expectations 10:42 How to monitor lesson plans without checking every one 13:05 Building a manageable lesson planning system 15:06 Explain the "why" behind your expectations 16:31 What nearly 400 classroom observations taught us #LessonPlanning #TeacherTips #SchoolLeadership #CurriculumImplementation #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

What happens when we ditch the education talk and just start asking each other questions? Things get weird pretty quickly. In this After Hours episode, Courtney and Shannon share their favorite books, concerts and TV shows, tell a few cult stories, introduce some very particular children and cats, and discuss their highly scientific methods for surviving stress. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back to After Hours 01:30 Our favorite books and series 04:33 Favorite concerts & our Swiftie confession 06:14 Concerts, cult life & cheating for the Lord 08:16 Our favorite TV shows 09:56 Kids, cats & extremely picky eaters 12:28 How we deal with stress #TeacherHumor #TeacherLife #EducatorPodcast #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Students can look like they're listening, complete every assignment, and still not actually learn the content. In this episode, Courtney and Shannon share three simple teaching strategies that help students retrieve, process, and practice what they're learning so teachers can check for real understanding, not just compliance. Timestamps 00:00 Are students listening or actually learning? 01:26 What is retrieval practice? 04:54 Strategy #1: Retrieval before review 07:49 Strategy #2: Chunk and check 13:03 Strategy #3: Practice with a product 14:29 Stop checking for completion instead of comprehension 16:01 Why copying notes doesn't guarantee learning #TeachingStrategies #StudentLearning #StudentEngagement #TeacherTips #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Every professional development session has the same cast of characters: the eager learner, the side talkers, the emergency phone-call person, the paper grader, and the one who always has something to add or question. In this After Hours episode, Courtney and Shannon confess their own bad PD behavior, share stories from leading teacher training, and somehow end up discussing Vaseline, gloves, and school bathroom emergencies. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back to After Hours 01:01 Bad teacher behaviors in professional development 03:22 When the room gives you absolutely nothing 05:03 The people you meet in every PD 09:20 Grading papers during staff meetings 11:00 The person who always knows more 13:03 The Vaseline and gloves story #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherLife #TeacherHumor #Education #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Classroom walkthroughs should help leaders make better decisions about coaching and teacher support. But when the purpose is unclear, the data goes unused, or teachers never receive feedback, walkthroughs can quickly damage trust. In this episode, Courtney and Shannon break down the biggest walkthrough mistakes and explain how leaders can make classroom observations more transparent and useful for everyone. Timestamps 00:00 Why classroom walkthroughs matter 02:25 Red flag: No clear purpose 04:05 What leaders should look for 05:53 Red flag: Walkthroughs become compliance 07:08 How walkthrough data should drive support 10:05 Red flag: Teachers receive no feedback 11:45 Why face-to-face feedback matters #ClassroomWalkthroughs #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherSupport #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

What happens when the leaders in the room are the ones making professional development harder? In this After Hours episode, Courtney and Shannon unpack the leadership behaviors that can derail even great PD, from sitting on the sidelines to mixed messages between leaders, and what the best leaders do differently. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back to After Hours 02:08 Bad leadership behaviors in professional development 04:22 Leaders sitting on the sidelines during PD 05:59 When a district leader won't stop talking 09:17 When leadership isn't on the same page 14:04 How mixed messages impact teachers 15:08 What great leaders do differently #ProfessionalDevelopment #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalCoaching #Education #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

The first weeks of school can set the tone for your entire year. In this episode, Courtney Dumas and Shannon Streett share three simple strategies to improve classroom management, streamline parent communication, and get into your content faster, without adding more to your plate. Chapters: 00:00 Why doing less leads to more 01:39 Teach these classroom routines first 05:35 The parent FAQ every teacher needs 10:23 Map your content before school starts 13:20 Free Classroom Parent FAQ Template 14:51 One final reminder before the school year begins 🎁 Free Resource: Classroom Parent FAQ Template: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ByFzU7SF6C2w3IJNitV0J8lEfWHTWMNx/view?usp=sharing] #BackToSchool #TeacherTips #ClassroomManagement #Edu2020 https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast… and yes, we’re ending the season with state testing. Because what better way to wrap things up than revisiting one of the most stressful and chaotic times of the school year? In this episode, we’re sharing real stories from state testing--the kind that sound made up until you’ve actually lived through it. We’re talking: • The rules, the pressure, and the “did I sign in blood?” meetings • What classrooms actually look like during testing week • The moments where everything goes sideways (and you can’t do anything about it) • And how teachers somehow survive it every single year If you’ve ever made it through testing season, you already know. And if you haven’t… buckle up. Source moments pulled straight from real classroom experiences. Chapters: 0:00 Why state testing deserves its own episode 2:22 The rules, the pressure, and the setup 4:20 What testing week actually feels like 6:38 When things go wrong (and you’re stuck) 9:32 The story we will never forget 12:01 How teachers survive testing days 14:00 The moments you can’t control 15:34 Ending the year (and season) with perspective https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… and yes, this is the season finale. We’re talking about that very specific time of year. Testing? Done. Kids? Done. Teachers? Definitely DONE. And somehow, you still have weeks left. This episode is all about what to do with that time-- keeping things meaningful without making it harder on yourself. We’re sharing what we’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t, and how to use this stretch of the year in a way that still feels worth it. There’s a mix of ideas in here: • Trying new strategies without the pressure • Giving students more ownership and voice • Creative ways to revisit content without it feeling repetitive • Projects, reflection, and actually building humans (not just finishing standards) Chapters: 0:00 Last episode energy (and why this time of year is weird) 2:23 What to do after testing ends 3:42 Using this time to try new strategies 5:42 Creative projects that still connect to content 7:30 Letting students give feedback (and actually listening) 10:34 Making review meaningful instead of busywork 13:46 Prioritizing what actually matters 15:07 Ending the year on a high note https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast… where we’re nearing the end of the season by going all the way back to the beginning. In this episode, we’re talking about who we were before education-- the random jobs, weird experiences, and moments that somehow shaped how we show up in classrooms today. From running errands for executives (yes, including private jets) to Walmart snack bars, call centers, and first-year teaching chaos, this one is a mix of “how did that happen?” and “okay wait, that actually tracks.” It’s not deep or structured, but it does explain a lot. Chapters: 0:00 Why we’re going back before teaching 1:24 Favorite teaching years (and why they mattered) 5:37 The jobs that came before the classroom 9:22 The most random job stories (private jets included) 12:46 First-year teaching chaos (and quick exits 😅) 16:44 Jobs we would never do again #TeacherLife #Education #TeacherOriginStories https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… where we take the things we’ve all done in classrooms and actually look at whether they’re working. This episode is all about study guides. We’ve all used them. We’ve all handed them out before a test. We’re talking through what’s actually happening when students “study” and why a lot of it doesn’t last. This conversation gets into: • What we’ve done (and seen) with study guides over time • Why some approaches feel helpful in the moment but don’t stick • What retrieval and repetition actually look like in real classrooms • Simple ways to build stronger memory without adding more to your plate Chapters: 0:00 Why we keep coming back to study guides 2:06 What we’ve seen (and done) in classrooms 4:32 What the research says about studying 6:29 A different way to approach review 9:27 Why students forget so quickly 11:25 Practical ways to build memory over time 13:12 What to watch for during review 15:31 A simple shift you can try https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast, where we’re not solving education today, we’re just trying to survive it. This episode is all about teacher life hacks. We’re talking about: • The tiny changes that save your sanity during the week • How to create routines that work for your brain • Why your people at work matter more than anything • Systems, boundaries, and protecting your time • And the things you do outside of school that keep you going Chapters: 0:00 Why we’re talking survival, not strategy 1:41 The small habits that set your week up right 3:13 Managing stress (without losing your mind) 5:25 Finding your people (your real support system) 10:03 Systems that actually save you time 13:24 Boundaries, routines, and protecting your energy 15:03 Why perspective (and getting out) matters https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast. This episode is all about success criteria and why it’s become one of the most misunderstood (and overcomplicated) things happening in classrooms right now. After hundreds of classroom observations, we’ve seen it all: • Success criteria turned into an agenda • Success criteria that literally gives away the answer • Success criteria used as a compliance checkbox • And about five different definitions in the same building So…what is it actually supposed to be? We break down what works, what doesn’t, and how to use success criteria in a way that actually helps students instead of overwhelming teachers. Chapters: 0:00 Why this topic is making us a little spicy 2:18 The biggest problem: no clear definition 5:08 Why success criteria can’t be one-size-fits-all 7:12 When it turns into compliance instead of support 10:02 What success criteria should actually be tied to 11:45 Using student work to build real clarity 14:20 What it looks like when it’s done well 15:44 The takeaway: don’t throw it out… fix it https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast. This is your official warning to not listen to this one with your kids in the car. In this episode, we’re sharing some of the wildest, most unhinged things we’ve heard in the classroom, from students, parents, and situations that no teacher prep program could ever prepare you for. We’re talking: • Parent notes that should’ve never been written • Classroom activities that took a turn real fast • Things students casually say that stop you in your tracks • Parent conference moments you cannot make up If you’re a teacher, you’ve got your own version of these stories. If you’re not, just know we’re out here experiencing things daily. Chapters: 0:00 Why this episode comes with a warning 1:05 The wild parent notes (yes… those notes) 3:56 Classroom activities gone wrong 6:20 The things students learn at home… and repeat 8:24 Kindergarten stories that should never exist 10:41 The note that got sent to the WRONG person 13:00 The parent conference that went completely off the rails 15:06 Why teachers have stories for days #edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #theedu2020podcast #teachingopportunities #education #onlineeducator https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 Podcast, where we take the things everyone says we “have to do” in education and talk about whether they actually make sense. This episode is all about goals and why they so often feel like a moving target. We break down why goals feel overwhelming (or unclear), what teachers actually need, and how simplifying your focus will lead to real results. Chapters: 0:00 Why goals feel like a moving target 4:14 The real problem with unclear goals 7:20 What happens when you actually focus 11:42 Goals during new curriculum implementation 15:25 What leaders should do differently #edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #theedu2020podcast #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #education #onlineeducator https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this After Hours episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, Shannon flips the script and puts Courtney in the hot seat. We talk about her journey into foster care and adoption--how she went from zero kids to two in 48 hours (and eventually three) while also running a company and teaching full-time. We get into: • What actually led to the decision to foster • What those first 48 hours were really like • The reality of trauma, transitions, and daily life • The moment they said yes to a newborn • What educators need to understand about foster/adopted students This one’s a little more personal, but also one every educator probably needs to hear. Chapters: 0:00 Why we’re putting Courtney in the hot seat 1:24 How the foster/adoption journey started 5:13 The call and becoming parents in 48 hours 7:39 The reality check (what no one tells you) 10:38 The call for a baby that changed everything 11:47 Bringing home a newborn with zero prep 15:29 What educators need to understand about foster kids 16:18 The timeline story that changed everything 19:08 Why this perspective matters https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast, we’re continuing the conversation on lesson planning and zooming in on one of the most overlooked (but critical) parts: checks for understanding. The reality is kids can be doing all the things and still not learning anything. We get into what it actually looks like to monitor learning in real time, how to check for comprehension (not just completion), and how to do it without spending your entire life grading papers. You'll hear us talk about lap logs, sticky notes, turn-and-talks, tech struggles, and how to make everything doable in an actual classroom with actual kids. Chapters: 0:00 Why we’re talking about lesson checks (and why it matters) 3:10 The problem with monitoring for completion instead of learning 5:28 Simple systems that actually save you time (lap logs + quick checks) 8:27 Feedback, trends, and why you don’t need to check everything 12:06 What this looks like in K–2 (yes, even without writing) 13:28 The reality of tech in the classroom (and where it falls short) 17:07 The biggest mistake we see in classrooms #Edu2020 #LessonPlanning #InstructionalCoaching #TeachingStrategies #Education https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast, AKA the version of us that probably shouldn’t be mic’d up, but here we are. This episode is fully dedicated to Shannon because she casually dropped one of the most unhinged life stories we’ve ever heard and then just moved on like it was normal. We’re talking about her first marriage inside a highly controlled religious organization, what that process actually looked like, and how she eventually got out. It’s wild, uncomfortable, and also weirdly funny at times because…Shannon. Chapters: 0:00 How this episode turned into “all things Shannon” 5:30 The “organized” marriage situation 10:04 What life actually looked like inside it 14:28 The escape (yes, an actual escape) 19:16 The moment everything started to click 21:00 Why this story still sticks There’s a lot more where this came from. And yes, we will absolutely be circling back to this. #Edu2020 #Edu2020AfterHours #TheEdu2020Podcast #EducatorPodcast #PersonalStory #WomenInEducation https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode, we’re breaking down a game-changing practice: lesson framing. If your students constantly ask: “Is this for a grade?” “Why I gotta do this?” …it might not be defiance. It might be that the lesson wasn’t framed clearly. We talk about: - What “lesson framing” actually means (beyond writing standards on the board for compliance) - How framing creates clarity, predictability, and smoother lessons - Why your third-period lesson always hits harder than first period (and how to fix that) - Quick ways to frame lessons without adding a ton of planning time - How leaders can use the same framing moves to improve PD and PLC buy-in - A real example of how clear learning targets helped students actually remember what they learned Want more on lesson framing? Check out Courtney's blog post on Lesson Framing: edutwentytwenty.com/setting-the-stage/ Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: What’s the #1 question your students ask that makes you question your life choices? #education #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #edu2020 #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #onlineeducator #educationjobs https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

In this episode of The Edu20/20 Podcast After Hours, Courtney Dumas and Shannon Street take you behind the scenes of life on the road as co-owners of Edu20/20. When you travel across states supporting teachers and leaders, you collect stories… and we’ve collected a lot. In this episode: - The infamous Office Depot bathroom injury (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like) - The gas station with the “Please don’t wipe your boogers on the wall” sign - A steak knife mysteriously embedded three floors up in a hotel wall - The unsettling third-floor window waver - Courtney's sole criterium for choosing a hotel (it's not stars) - The Airbnb snake incident (and attic extension cord situation 😳) Make sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss future After Hours episodes. You truly never know what we’re going to talk about next. Neither do we, honestly. #edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #teachercertification #education #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #teachereducation #onlineeducator https://www.edutwentytwenty.com