The Epic Classroom with Trevor Muir
Episodes
The Problem-Solving Gap
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most employers today aren’t asking, “What do you know?” They’re asking, “What can you do?” Problem solving has become one of the most valu...
Why the Future of Work Is Project-Based
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From freelancers and engineers to designers, city planners, and researchers, millions of people earn a living by solving problems through project work...
Why Great Teachers Don’t Love Every Part of Teaching
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week we explore the 20% rule and why you don’t need to love every part of work. Learn how finding and protecting the parts you enjoy can help y...
Twin Cities Teachers Speak: What It’s Like to Teach During ICE Raids
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past month, schools in the Twin Cities have been operating in the shadow of ongoing ICE raids and heightened immigration enforcement. The imp...
Finding Good News in a Broken World
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In a world dominated by bad news, this episode explores why teaching students to notice and share real good news matters more than ever. Get The Good ...
The Secret Ingredient: An Authentic Audience
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most impactful projects I ever did with my students, and it all came down to one thing: their work mattered....
Why Students (and Adults) Need Boredom
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at how boredom fuels creativity for students and professionals, and simple classroom strategies to build quiet, low-stimulation moments that sp...
The Day My Lesson Got Shut Down and What It Taught Me
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I share a winter lesson that almost got shut down after a single complaint and how my principal’s unexpected pivot changed the entir...
Teach the Ask: Helping Students Communicate What They Need
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk about the importance of knowing how to ask for what you want and need, along with what I’ve learned about helping students d...
Making Space for One-on-One Teaching
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A story about the power of one-on-one teaching, why it matters, and how teachers can make space for it, even in a busy classroom. Email Trevor at trev...
The Secret to Getting Students Interested in What They're Learning
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about strategies to spark student curiosity and excitement in the classroom. Learn how passion, relevance, and student choice ...
Why Note-Taking Still Matters in the Age of AI
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With AI tools able to record, transcribe, and even generate polished notes in seconds, it is easy to wonder: do students still need to take notes at a...
The Myth of the Shrinking Attention Span
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your students seem distracted, this episode explains why it’s not a decline in attention span but a lack of purpose — and what you ca...
Teaching in the Wake of Tragedy
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the days after the shooting that killed Charlie Kirk and yet another school shooting, many teachers are wondering how to respond to students w...
Brains, Calculators, and the Purpose of School
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When calculators first appeared in classrooms, many schools banned them. Decades later, we’re asking the same kinds of questions about AI and other ...
Grading for Growth and Mastery
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we unpack why traditional grading often fails to reflect student growth—and how competency-based grading offers a more accurate, eq...
How to Trick Kids Into Loving Learning (Without Them Noticing)
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the key to student engagement isn’t about attention spans, but about giving kids a reason to care? In this episode, I sit down with Jerry Ko...
Do We Still Need Teachers?
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HLzzrwYSw If we have artificial intelligence, do we still need school? Will it replace traditional ...
Y is For Yet- Growth Mindset with Shannon Anderson
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with Shannon Anderson about growth mindset and helping students develop one. Shannon is an award-win...
The Long Game of Teaching
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The impact of teachers stretches far beyond the physical time with students in the classroom. But the extent of the long reach of teachers is hard to ...
The Power of Yet
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk about math class, slapping the word YET onto the end of certain sentences, a 99 year-old skydiver, and why teaching a growth mindset is ...
A Feast for Connection: Building Community in School
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share a tradition from my first school: hosting a Thanksgiving feast for the entire school. More than just a meal, it was a way to ...
Teaching Collaborative Problem Solving
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Creative struggle is difficult, but it's also important. In this technology age, students have become so used to instant gratification, accessing the ...
Teaching in This Charged Political Climate
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is a measurable uptick in mean and divisive behavior in schools right now, almost as if children are mirroring the current political climate. Le...
The AI Dilemma in Classrooms: Ban or Adapt?
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the growing concern among educators about the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT in the classroom. With only 6% of American...
The Power of Outdoor Learning
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From exposure to vitamin D and its positive effects on our well-being, to the cognitive benefits that come with fresh air, to the innate joy and freed...
The Impact of Teachers
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some of our most impact childhood memories happen in school. Teachers and other educators have a massive influence on their students' identities, memo...
Helping Students See the Bigger Picture
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all—educators and students— worker harder and smarter when we can identify the bigger picture of our work. That's what we dive into in this epi...
Holding High Expectations for Students
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk about the importance of holding high expectations for students and some strategies to do it well. Pre-order the New Teacher Mindset: https:...
Harnessing Parent Power
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why caregivers can be an invaluable resource to your classroom.
Starting Class With Good Things
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Good Things" is a calculated way for students to get the most out of every class period. Like many teaching approaches, while not always obvious...
Let Kids Move: Why kids need opportunities to move and play in school
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I live here in Michigan, And we've had a whole string of snow days lately. And for my kids it's been like an endless recess. sledding and snow forts a...
Becoming "Highly Effective" in the New Year
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When I was a new teacher, I cared so much about earning the label of "Highly Effective" following my teacher evaluation. I've since learned the joy of...
The Value of a Fun and Joyful Class
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the school week before the Holiday Break a big waste of time? Holiday parties, watching Christmas movies, not doing a lot of academic work—well, ...
Why Some Kids Hate Christmas
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many students, the holidays are a time of joy and anticipation. However, that often isn't the case for every student. The reality is, for some stu...
When a Student Hates Their Teacher
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there. You pour your heart and soul into your work, only to have a student declare dislike- maybe even hate- for you as their teac...
What GPA Really Means
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I graduated from college with a 2.75 GPA. Not great. Then I received a 4.0 in my masters program. Did I all of a sudden become smarter in those two ye...
What Epic Classroom Really Means
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You might see the word 'epic' and think BIG, EXCITING, or, FUN. But that's not what I mean when I use that word as it relates to the classroom. It mea...
Creating a Positive & Engaging Classroom Climate
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk about creating a classroom climate that helps make students feel safe, secure, and ready to engage in this year.
36: There Are No Perfect Teachers
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t have to be perfect to get to know your students and build relationships with them. Perfection isn't required to make your class memorable ...
35: The Community and Your Classroom
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the critical role of educators in building meaningful connections with parents and community members to support student le...
34: What's Fun Got to Do With It?
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kids like to have fun. Grown-ups like to have fun. We all like to have fun. And it turns out, we often learn better when we're having fun. In th...
33: The Hardest Part About Teaching
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I tried everything under the sun to connect with this student. I gave up my lunch hours to work with him on assignments. I let him come in before scho...
32: From Problems to Projects
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coming up with engaging project and unit ideas takes a little creativity, but it's worth it to give students authentic and purposeful learning experie...
31: Teaching How to Give and Receive Critical Feedback
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Giving critical feedback can be a very difficult task for anyone, especially students who are working with their peers. It is the job of the teacher t...
30: What's the Point of Grades?
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are grades meant to reflect how much a student has learned; a snapshot of their knowledge and skills at a specific moment in time? Or are they a measu...
29: Using Service Learning to Boost Student Engagement
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if the primary motivation for learning wasn't grades or pressure from parents or teachers? Research shows that when students are engaged in servi...
28: How to Get Your Students’ Attention (Without losing your cool)
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most teachers have been through this exact scenario: You try to start class with a line like, “Okay everyone, we’re going to get started.” And a...
27: Developing the Ideal Graduate
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we see young people struggling in the workforce, or data that shows that the top reason people are fired from their jobs is because they don’t ...
26: Why Artificial Technology Won't Cancel English Class
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Last week some Artificial Intelligence technology called ChatGPT was introduced, and it’s got a lot of people freaking out. The Atlantic had a headl...
25: Wisdom From a 50-Year Teacher
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This might be my favorite episode yet. I sat down with Dr. Sheri Steelman, a teacher of 50 years, published author, inspiring human, AND my ...
24: Teaching Students How to Ask Good Questions
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Asking questions is an essential skill. It's how we express our curiosity, solve problems, engage in public discourse, and gain deeper understanding o...
23: Ditching Teaching Practices That Don't Work
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Educators are so often given new ideas and strategies to get better at what we do, but we don’t have space for them. There’s got to be room to gro...
22: When Learning is Fun
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What might come across as chaos might actually be a carefully planned and executed project, one that is fun on purpose. When learning is fun...
21: Let's Talk About Boredom and Cell Phones in Classrooms
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our culture has a problem with boredom, and yet boredom is the birthplace of creativity. It's where the best ideas come from, solutions to problems, a...
20: Not Taking it Personal (When a student says they hate you)
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Has a student ever said something AWFUL to you and you took it personally?Me too.This is what we talk about in the latest episode of the podcast. ...
19: Teaching Students to Socialize Again
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Because of all the disruption caused during the pandemic, many teachers have seen students struggle to socialize and interact with one-another. In thi...
18: What's Actually Happening in Schools
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot of noise about "what's happening in schools" right now. So let's talk about what's really happening in classrooms across the country.
17: Teaching Outside the Comfort Zone
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No one likes being uncomfortable, yet brain science shows that the most growth happens outside of the comfort zone. When we are exposed to new scenari...
16: Reigniting Passion For Teaching After A Difficult Year
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For a lot of educators, this year has delivered a beating, and the passion for teaching is waning. Here are strategies to reignite your passion for te...
15: Teaching in 2022
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Remember at the beginning of the school year when there was this great hope that school would finally get back to normal? "Covid is over, things have ...
14: Are Desks in Rows a Bad Thing?
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are desks in rows a bad thing? Are rows outdated and therefore should have no place in the modern classroom? Good question. This is what explore...
13: Why We Need Veteran Teachers
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are many parts of teaching that can only be learned from experience, OR from those who are experienced. Here's why it is so crucial new and you...
12: Finishing Strong This School Year
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Summer Break may be close, but it also feels a long way off. You may be running on empty right now as you search for inspiration and energy to make it...
11: Getting Students to Participate in Class Discussion
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The bad news: As social media and cell phones become more prevalent, it seems strong discussion skills are become more scarce. The good news: People c...
10: Overcoming Spring Burnout
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Spring can be one of the most difficult times of the year to be a teacher. The energy and excitement from the beginning of the school year may be ...
9: No Schoolwork For a Month
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
True personalized learning is often unconventional. One-size-fits-all doesn't work for every student, and so teachers sometimes have to adapt their pr...
8: The Secret To Working With Helicopter Parents
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Of course I think parents can be overbearing sometimes. I’ve seen my fair share of helicopter and lawnmower parents, and have even seen an uptick in...
7: The Best Way to Build Student Confidence
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
According to a survey conducted by entrepreneur.com, lacking confidence is one of the key reasons young people get fired from their jobs. Not having t...
6: Don't Smile Until Christmas
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a common proverb that says a teacher "Should not smile until Christmas." Essentially, if a teacher is too friendly or fun with their students,...
5: Let's Talk About Scripted Curriculum & Trusting Teachers
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Scripted or boxed curriculum might be convenient and maybe even safer sometimes, but it can restrain teacher creativity and limit student engagem...
4: Why We Hate Group Projects
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ask anyone why they hate group projects and you'll likely hear the same response: either hogs or logs. Hogs are those group members who take over the ...
3: What Getting in Trouble with My Principal Taught Me About Setting Goals
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I once had a guest speaker share his success story with my class. A student afterwards asked where he went to college, and the speaker said he didn't ...
2: It’s Okay If Your Class Is Sometimes Boring
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A boring classroom does not inherently mean a disengaging one. When I was a young teacher, I did everything in my power to NOT let my class be boring....
1: Teaching is a Creative Profession
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a common misconception (mostly from outside of education) that teachers are merely 'deliverers of content,' and even worse, 'babysitters.' Thi...