INSIGHTS & IDEAS

The Education Table Blog

Practical strategies, research, and perspectives from the Novak Education team to help educators strengthen instruction, leadership, and inclusive systems.

School improvement efforts require vision, efficacy, commitment, and coherence

Universal Design for Learning

Finding Your Flow: Creating Coherence in School Improvement

Schools and districts invest a tremendous amount of time, energy, and resources into improvement. Leadership teams analyze student achievement data, develop strategic plans, adopt ...

Katie Novak · October 29, 2026

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Assessments

Beyond Turn & Talk: How to Teach Academic Discourse and Collaboration

Katie Novak · October 20, 2026

Mathematics

Yes, Math Can be Made Accessible for All of Your Students

Katie Novak · October 14, 2026

Leadership

How UDL Professional Development Supports MTSS

Katie Novak · September 29, 2026

Professional Learning

Why UDL Professional Development Fails to Stick

We ask a lot from professional development.

Katie Novak · September 14, 2026

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Professional Learning

Million Dollar Question: What Does UDL Look Like?

I really struggle when someone asks me, “What does UDL look like?” It is not because I don’t know the answer. It’s because I don’t know exactly what it will look like for you and ...

Katie Novak · September 1, 2026

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Teachers May Understand UDL Better than You Think

Leadership

Do You Really Need More Teacher Professional Development?

Your Teachers May Understand UDL Better Than You Think Our team has the incredible privilege to provide professional development for teachers all over the world. Introducing UDL, ...

Katie Novak · August 5, 2026

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Designing Learning Walks That Create Lasting Change

Educators and leaders spend significant time observing classrooms, conducting walkthroughs, and facilitating learning walks, but too often there is little return on the ...

Katie Novak · May 28, 2026

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When Student Needs Exceed System Capacity: What Leaders Can Do

If you’ve worked with me before, you’ve probably heard me say, “You can’t intervention your way out of a weak Tier 1 foundation.” I feel like I need it printed on a T-shirt. I say ...

Katie Novak · May 14, 2026

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How to Improve your PLCs so they are effective

Leadership

If PLCs Aren’t Improving Learning, What Are They Doing?

I work with so many schools that have worked hard to carve out time for PLCs in their schedule to help with school improvement efforts. That’s a great first step. But the more ...

Katie Novak · May 7, 2026

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Online Learning

How to Address Barriers in Online Course Design

At Novak Education, we have had the opportunity to design and refine online learning experiences for educators across the globe, and one thing has become incredibly clear: when ...

Katie Novak · April 23, 2026

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UDL Resource

The UDL Flowchart: When Choice Isn’t Enough

One of my favorite parts of being a consultant is observing classrooms and having the opportunity to connect with students. While completing learning walks in an elementary ...

Katie Novak · March 31, 2026

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