The Education Table with Katie Novak, EdD9 Kesä

Ep 36: The False Choice Between Fidelity and Flexibility

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak responds to a question many educators wrestle with: Can you make instructional adjustments to support learners without being seen as out of alignment with the curriculum? Drawing on research, classroom examples, and her own experiences supporting schools, she explores the common tension between implementing high-quality instructional materials with fidelity and responding to learner variability.

Dr. Novak challenges the misconception that alignment requires every teacher to deliver instruction in exactly the same way. Instead, she explains that true alignment is grounded in shared goals, rigor, and outcomes, not identical instructional methods. Using the Universal Design for Learning framework, she highlights practical ways educators can provide scaffolds, offer flexible pathways, and increase student agency while maintaining grade-level expectations and the integrity of the curriculum.

This episode offers actionable strategies for teachers and leaders navigating curriculum implementation, including how to focus on access, “explode the verbs” in learning tasks, and establish clear guardrails around what flexibility is encouraged. The result is a powerful reminder that flexibility is not misalignment; it is often what makes rigorous learning possible for more students.

Episode Transcript

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Ep 35: Great Teachers Have Coaches Too

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak centers the powerful role instructional coaches play in helping schools shift from teacher-centered to learner-centered practice. She is clear f...

26 Helmi 9min

Ep 34: Rethinking Faculty Meetings: From Announcements to Impact

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak focuses on how faculty meeting time is often used for logistics, announcements, and information that could be shared asynchronously, rather than...

5 Helmi 8min

Ep 33: When Tier 1 Isn’t Working, Pulling More Students Isn’t the Answer

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak reframes the commonly cited “80% rule” in MTSS. Rather than treating it as a hard benchmark or accountability threshold, she positions it as a t...

22 Tammi 11min

Ep 32: How do we know if we are actually implementing UDL?

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak speaks directly to school and district leaders and instructional coaches who want to better understand how Universal Design for Learning is show...

8 Tammi 11min

Ep 31: When Choosing the “Easy” Option Is Responsible

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak examines a common concern with choice: students gravitating toward what is perceived as the “easy” option. She explains that this often happens ...

12 Joulu 202511min

Ep30: UDL Isn’t Just for Classrooms: It’s for Small Groups, 1:1 Moments, and Everyday Life

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak explores how Universal Design for Learning extends far beyond whole-class teaching. She emphasizes that UDL is a mindset for every interaction, ...

20 Marras 20259min

Ep29: How Paraeducators Build Independence Through Universal Design for Learning

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak spotlights the essential role paraeducators play in supporting inclusive classrooms. She shares practical ways paras can support learners withou...

6 Marras 20257min