EPISODE 217: ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ with Trevor Muir

January 29, 2025

Trevor Muir, an inspiring keynote speaker who celebrated the power of storytelling in education and an avid Harry Potter fan, sits down with host Kevin Stoller and co-host Carla Cummins to dive into the real-world connections between education and the beloved book series.

Overview:

They explore the different teaching styles depicted in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the importance of building strong relationships with students, and how elements of the wizarding world can inform and inspire today’s learning environments.

At last year’s LearningSCAPES conference, we had the pleasure of connecting with Trevor Muir, an inspiring keynote speaker who celebrated the power of storytelling in education. His keynote emphasized how authentic engagement empowers students, even through challenging times, by integrating real-world projects. From screening interviews with WWII veterans to creating helpful guides for recent immigrants, his approach demonstrated the impact of learning beyond the classroom. Now, we just need to provide agile spaces to support this type of transformative learning.

Tune in to this magical conversation as we explore how the world of Harry Potter can inspire real-world educational practices.

Meet Our Guest:

About Trevor Muir:
Trevor is a teacher, author, creator, and co-founder of the New Teacher Academy. His books The Epic Classroom, The Collaborative Classroom, and New Teacher Mindset have helped teachers worldwide to create purposeful and dynamic learning experiences. Trevor has taught in middle, high school, and college classrooms, as well as pre-service teachers at Grand Valley State University. He was a national faculty member for the Buck Institute for Education and his work has been featured in the Huffington Post, Edutopia, EdWeek, and WeAreTeachers. Trevor’s inspiring and informative videos have been viewed over 30 million times. At the heart of Trevor’s work is the conviction that every student has the potential for greatness, and that every teacher can be equipped to unlock that potential.

Connect with Trevor Muir:
Website: https://www.trevormuir.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theepicclassroom
Twitter: https://x.com/TrevorMuir
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicclassroom/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrevorMuir

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/iaypgn4ySEI

Takeaways:

  • Everyone has their own superpowers
  • It’s important to be intentional when sorting students
  • Caring for your students is one of the most impactful things you can do

The Host:

Host, Kevin Stoller:
Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Connect with Kevin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

Connect with co-host, Carla Cummins:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-cummins-01449659/

Our Partners:

For more information on our partners:
Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) – https://www.a4le.org/
Education Leaders’ Organization – https://www.ed-leaders.org/
Second Class Foundation – https://secondclassfoundation.org/
EDmarket – https://www.edmarket.org/
Catapult @ Penn GSE – https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

Be a Guest on the Better Learning Podcast!

Do you have a favorite school-related movie that left a lasting impact? Join us as a guest on the Better Learning Podcast, where we dive into iconic films, break down memorable moments, and hand out fun awards—all while connecting them to real-world education.

From standout teachers to unforgettable one-liners, we’ll explore how these movies reflect (or totally exaggerate!) school life. Plus, you’ll get to share your own insights and experiences in education.

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About the podcast

The Better Learning Podcast combines education and entertainment in a fresh, engaging format where guests share their favorite school-related movies. Host Kevin Stoller leads dynamic conversations, exploring memorable scenes, iconic characters, and timeless lessons through award-style categories like “The John Keating Award” for standout teachers and “Realistic or Ridiculous?” to dissect school life portrayals.

With humor, analysis, and reflection, each episode celebrates the fun, flaws, and impact of these films while sparking nostalgia and insights. Whether you’re an educator, student, or movie buff, join us to relive the movies that shaped how we see school life, and share your favorites.