My guests today are Katie Novak and Ashley Marlow.

Katie, an internationally-renowned education consultant, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of numerous books, returns to The Authority for the third time. Ashley is an elementary math coach, consultant, and director of operations for All Learners Network.

They co-authored the new book Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction, K-5.

This fun and timely discussion covers:

• Well…there’s a lot about bumper stickers (stay tuned)
• “Supplement not supplant”
• Math is one of the areas with the biggest hurdles to access and inclusion
• Algebra as the gatekeeper to future success
• What to make of the latest NAEP results
• Creating a math learning environment that sends the message that we are all capable mathematicians
• The problems with traditional math instruction
• What would a universally designed math class look like? How is it different from a traditional classroom?
• Importance of numeracy and keys to teaching it
• Dolly Parton
• Read the Edutopia article Making Math Accessible for All Students.

Find Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction, K-5 from CAST Publishing or wherever you get your books.

About today’s guests

Katie Novak, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned education consultant, a graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, and the best-selling author of 14 books on inclusive practices, with over 250K books sold worldwide. Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), inclusive practices, and universally designed leadership. Connect on LinkedIn or her website.

Ashley Marlow, MSEd, is an elementary math coach, a consultant, and the director of operations for All Learners Network. She has 13 years of experience in teaching and coaching and is passionate about supporting teachers of experience in creating equitable learning opportunities in math. Ashley plans professional learning opportunities focusing on instructional routines in mathematics that support belonging, engagement, and access to rigorous grade-level content for all students. Connect on LinkedIn.

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

For our next "Best Of" episode, I'm excited to republish my conversation with Mitch Weathers, teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. We talked about his book Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments Grades 3-12, published by Corwin.

Hear our conversation about:

• Defining executive functions and their importance
• Signs of executive dysfunction
• Justin Baeder, The Principal Center, says the book “makes the case for universal classroom routines that free up students' mental bandwidth to focus on learning.”
• Practical steps to create predictable learning environments — and why you should do it
• Patrice Bain writes that this statement stopped her in her tracks: “As teachers, if we are aware that our students are partially organized, and we do nothing about it, then we are complicit in their failure.”
• Goal-setting and accountability
• Getting families involved

Find Executive Functions for Every Classroom from Corwin or at http://organizedbinder.com/book

Listen to previous episodes of The Authority referenced in this conversation:

• Mapping Professional Practice with Justin Baeder and Heather Bell-Williams: https://bit.ly/3TaQsUN
• A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain: https://bit.ly/47RKeOf

About today’s guest

Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. Together with the Organized Binder team, Mitch works with K-12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally to equip students with executive functioning skills. When he is not working with schools, you can find him running trails training for his next ultramarathon. He and his wife, Amber, live in Northern California with their two daughters, Vivienne and Olive. Connect with Mitch @organizedbinder

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt

Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator who reaches millions of people every week through his bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle,” and related social media content. Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund.

His first book, The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life, is already a New York Times bestseller. Today it’s a pleasure to have him join The Authority.

We discuss:

• What curiosity is and isn’t
• Unexpected things Sahil has learned and what he’s changed his mind about
• Making the case that being curious about new ideas is an objective good
• What’s impressive and disappointing when meeting a new person
• Five types of wealth: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, Financial
• Prioritizing when there’s a conflict
• What fatherhood has taught Sahil about time
• What 80 and 90 year olds say about their lives
• The most compelling thing Sahil learned about learning

Get The Five Types of Wealth at https://a.co/d/fBZjUvv

Visit https://bepodcast.network to learn about all our shows.

About today’s guest

Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his insights and bi-weekly newsletter, “The Curiosity Chronicle.” Sahil is a successful entrepreneur, owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Sahil graduated from Stanford University with an MA in public policy and a BA in economics and sociology. He was a four-year member on the Stanford Baseball Team. Connect with Sahil:

• www.sahilbloom.com
• https://x.com/sahilbloom
• https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt