Teaching & Pedagogy
Course · 13 lessons · 1h 42m
Differentiated Lesson Planning Without Burnout
Build flexible lesson plans and differentiated tasks without adding unsustainable workload.
By the end, you'll be able to
- Backward Chaining: Helping Stuck Students Finish Strong
- Cut Lines: The Planning Trick That Saves Your Lesson
- One Goal, Three Routes: Differentiation Without the Chaos
- Batch Planning to Beat Teacher Burnout
Curriculum
13 lessons- 01Backward Chaining: Helping Stuck Students Finish StrongThis episode explores backward chaining as a practical way to support students who freeze at the start of multi-step tasks, especially writing. The hosts connect Melanie Meehan’s classroom strategy to cognitive load theory, worked examples, and the importance of fading scaffolds so students can eventually complete the full task independently.8 min
- 02Cut Lines: The Planning Trick That Saves Your LessonLearn how to build a pre-planned cut line into your lesson so you can protect the core instruction when time runs short. The episode also connects Jennifer Gonzalez’s timing advice with Carol Ann Tomlinson’s ideas about ragged time and anchor activities, plus a quick look at how AI can help draft the cue.9 min
- 03One Goal, Three Routes: Differentiation Without the ChaosThis episode breaks down a practical approach to differentiation that keeps one shared learning goal while varying only the content, process, or product. The hosts unpack how teachers can create just two or three pathways, reduce planning overload, and make classroom choices feel manageable instead of overwhelming.10 min
- 04Batch Planning to Beat Teacher BurnoutThis episode breaks down why switching between subjects during planning drains energy and slows teachers down, and why batching one subject at a time can make the work feel clearer and more manageable. It also walks through a practical Sunday planning process, from counting real instructional weeks to mapping out a four-week unit that actually fits the school calendar.9 min
- 05Beyond Choice Menus: How to Tier Tasks Without More WorkDiscover why traditional choice menus often fail and how to transition to tiered tasks that maintain high expectations for every student. Explore practical strategies like the Equal Volume rule and learn how to use AI shortcuts to proactively differentiate instruction without the burnout.6 min
- 06Mastering the Cut Line: How to Save Your Lesson PacingLearn how to avoid the 1:47 PM panic by implementing the Cut Line method to pre-load pacing decisions during your Sunday planning. This episode explores tactical ways to use scissor emojis and AI audits to protect your essential learning objectives and your exit ticket.6 min
- 07Flex-Point Planning: Save Your Lesson From the 23-Minute TrapLearn how to build slack into lesson plans with plus, minus, and star markers so you can adapt in real time without losing instructional focus. The hosts break down pacing, engaged time, and how to protect your most important formative check even when the warm-up runs long.9 min
- 08Batch Lesson Plans to Beat Task-Switching FatigueThis episode explores the 40% productivity hit caused by constant task switching and why teachers lose so much mental energy bouncing between planning tasks. It then breaks down a practical batching strategy—plus how AI can help generate a strong first draft—so you can protect your focus and plan entire units in one uninterrupted block.7 min
- 09The Three-Choice Lesson: Simplified DifferentiationRenata Salas and Colin Whitfield break down a streamlined approach to differentiated instruction that keeps one learning goal intact while giving students structured choices in content, process, and product. They share practical examples from ELA and science, along with why clear options can support rigor without creating chaos.7 min
- 10The 3Ps Framework That Makes Lessons StickRenata Salas and Colin Whitfield break down Kris Leverton’s simple People, Places, Problems checklist for making lessons more authentic and engaging. They share quick ways to retrofit familiar assignments, plus an AI prompt to help teachers strengthen the weakest part of any lesson plan.6 min
- 11The Four-Phase Lesson Plan You Can Use TomorrowColin Whitfield and Renata Salas unpack the updated Gradual Release of Responsibility model into four flexible phases: focused, guided, collaborative, and independent learning. They also share a simple planning template, a 90-second switching routine, and an AI prompt to help teachers build the lesson fast.7 min
- 12Mild, Medium, Spicy: Choice That Builds ConfidenceRenata Salas and Colin Whitfield unpack a simple way to differentiate practice using three temporary entry points that let students choose the level of support they need. They explore how choice, scaffolding, and teacher nudging can reduce shame, build agency, and keep challenge within reach across subjects.10 min
- 13Batch Lesson Plans in 90 MinutesDiscover why task-switching drains teacher energy more than lesson writing itself, and how planning one subject at a time can reduce Sunday night dread. The hosts break down a five-week batching workflow, plus a quick AI prompt to generate a usable skeleton while staying flexible for reteaching and real classroom needs.8 min
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Teach Better Tomorrow
A daily 5-10 minute podcast for K-12 teachers. Each episode: one specific teaching method you can use tomorrow morning, why it works, and one AI prompt to help you pull it off. Powered by Jellypod.
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