Faculty Focus

AUGUST 3, 2025

After some 21 years teaching online in the University system, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no absolute one thing that has more emphasis for student success than others, except life. I’ve tried course corrections (Navy); revisions to materials ad infinitum (at Vol. 74); communications efforts that has the FCC asking for advice; Soft Skills efforts that has made the Work Force smile; and, writing skills tactics that would make Edgar Allen Poe begin ‘raven’ over these efforts!

Instructors

Cult of Pedagogy

AUGUST 3, 2025

Listen to the interview with Julie Lause: Sponsored by Alpaca and EVERFI If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably seen the annual school supply debate online. Flipping through your phone on any social media platform, you’re bound to see: The tearful story of a 7 year old who had his Spiderman folder, pencils, and erasers summarily collected by the teacher on the first day of school and thrown in the communal bin.

Grades

Runde's Room

AUGUST 3, 2025

Let’s be honest — teaching morphology can feel… dry. I’ve tried a lot of approaches over the years: word lists, anchor charts, workbook pages, even sorting activities that took way longer to prep than the payoff was worth. Sometimes it felt like students could memorize a prefix, but had no idea how to actually use it in context. And don’t even get me started on trying to keep students engaged after back-to-back reading and writing blocks.

Teaching

Imagination Soup

AUGUST 3, 2025

Why do we need good children's books with characters who have physical disabilities? Because the representation of physical disabilities and physical differences in children's books IS SO IMPORTANT! Kids need to see themselves as heroes of stories --> mirrors. And other kids need to step into the lives of someone else to build empathy and understanding --> doors and windows.

Disabilities

Jodi Durgin

AUGUST 3, 2025

Teaching writing to elementary students is more than just building sentences and paragraphs. It’s about nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and a love for storytelling. Writing activities help students express their ideas, improve communication skills, and build confidence in their abilities. From imaginative prompts to following a structured framework for writing paragraphs, these activities can make writing exciting and accessible for every learner.

Writing

Imagination Soup

AUGUST 3, 2025

Want to know another very underrepresented group in children's books? People with learning disabilities and learning differences. For children who are challenged with learning disabilities, seeing yourself in a story is affirming. In fact, Rick Riordan said that's why he wrote Percy Jackson for his son, who, like Percy, has ADHD and dyslexia. And for children without a learning difference, they'll be able to glimpse into the life of a person who does.

Learning Disabilities