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.

Assessments

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

I spend a lot of time in classrooms, and one of the things I love seeing is how many educators are creating opportunities for students to learn with and from one another. Teachers are ...

Katie Novak · October 20, 2026

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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

Katie Novak · September 14, 2026

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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Building an adult learning culture helps you make change in classrooms

Leaders, The Best Seat in the School Isn't Your Office

Recently, I was facilitating a leadership workshop when I asked a simple question: 'How many classrooms were you in yesterday?' The room got quiet. Finally, someone answered, ...

Chris Bronke · July 23, 2026

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Building Motivation for Students with ADHD

I like to exercise, and I love playing sports, but working out or running are almost a form of torture on their own. I could play soccer for 2 hours, and my heart will be racing ...

Jeff Horwitz · July 14, 2026

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Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices: Using Circles for End-of-the-Year Reflection

Twenty-one days left… only fifteen more days… eight days to go… In every school across the country, there are students and staff who are counting down the days, or perhaps even ...

Pamela Chu-Sheriff · June 11, 2026

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UDL in Physical Education: Making Every Student Feel Included

Listen to the MAHPERD Voices in the Field Podcast with Jake Bersin and Katie Novak. Quality physical education classes do more than teach sports skills—they create spaces where ...

Jake Bersin · June 4, 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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Rethinking Opening Day: Modeling the Learning We Want to See

I remember an opening day early in my teaching career that looked great on paper but felt very different in practice. We were in the auditorium by 8:00, and the district had ...

Chris Bronke · May 21, 2026

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