Transformative Principal · Jethro Jones

How to Get a Wealthy Brain Even If You’re Not with Michael Toth

November 16, 2025·58 min·5 clips
Michael Toth's research-based pedagogy closed achievement gaps across all reporting categories and made students come to school because they didn't want to let their teams down.
Education researcher Michael Toth explains how the pandemic revealed that school had become optional for students, and how device-centric development is causing brain matter loss and anxiety. He presents a research-based pedagogy using mixed-ability teams and productive struggle that closed achievement gaps, increased attendance, and made teaching joyful again.

As heard by us

A practical case for team-based learning that helps students keep moving.

It makes a clear case for better learning through structure: schools can organize teams, assign roles, and set tasks so students work with one another instead of beside one another. The strongest point is the push against ability grouping as the default.

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Why you'd press play

You want group work that actually changes how students learn, not just another classroom slogan.

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