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One of the more difficult patterns observed across grade levels is the number of students who quietly conclude that they are “bad at school,” despite demonstrating clear ability, curiosity, or problem-solving strengths. This belief rarely forms overnight. More often, it develops gradually through repeated experiences of confusion, pacing challenges, inconsistent performance , or comparison with peers. When understanding feels fragile or effort does not reliably produce expect

One of the most common and frustrating academic experiences for students and families occurs when a learner appears to understand material, yet struggles to demonstrate that understanding through assignments, tests, or classroom performance. This disconnect is more common than many realize. Understanding and performance are related, but they are not identical processes. A student may grasp a concept during instruction or while working through examples, yet encounter difficult

Why Academic Gaps Often Go Unnoticed Academic struggles are often misunderstood. Many students work hard, complete assignments, and appear engaged, yet continue to experience frustration, declining grades, or inconsistent test performance. These situations rarely reflect a lack of intelligence or effort. More often, learners are navigating academic gaps. Academic gaps occur when foundational concepts are not fully understood before new material is introduced. Because learnin

Confidence is the word we talk about the most in education — and understand the least. We tell students to be confident . We encourage them to believe in themselves . We expect them to show confidence  on demand. But we rarely stop to ask where confidence actually comes from. Here’s the truth: Confidence isn’t something students just have. It ’s something that grows. And it grows from success. Confidence Is Built Through Success — Not Pressure Confidence is not innate. It ’s

Consistency gives learning structure. But connection  is what makes it stick. Connection is where the magic actually happens — not the “engagement theater” kind with flashy activities and empty buzzwords, but real, meaningful understanding. Connection is when abstract concepts stop floating in a textbook and finally land somewhere real. In math, this is often easier to see. Real-world connections are everywhere. But connection goes deeper than word problems and cute examples.

Learning is like building a house. If the foundation isn’t right, everything above it ends up off — even if it looks fine at first glance. And that’s exactly what’s happening in education right now. Consistency is the foundation of successful learning. What We Get Wrong About Consistency Consistency in schools is often misunderstood. When people hear the word consistency , they immediately think about rules, policies, or punishment. And yes — those things matter. But that’s n

There are a LOT of words in education right now that people absolutely love to throw around. Project-based learning. Personalized learning. Data-driven… well, everything. Learner-centered. Standards-based anything. They sound impressive. They look good in presentations. They make it feel like progress is happening. But if we’re being honest, they often amount to a whole lot of nothing. Because here’s the thing — none of those matter if we don’t have consistency . And right no

Host:  Dr. Sherri Episode Type:  Weekly GBU Breakdown Published:  December 26, 2025 🎙️ Episode Overview This week’s episode of The Good, The Bad, The Ugly – Education Edition  examines teacher contract negotiations and labor tensions unfolding across the country — not as abstract policy debates, but as lived experiences inside school systems under strain. Through real conversations, current reporting, and on-the-ground perspective, Dr. Sherri explores what happens when commu

Episode Overview In this episode, Dr. Sherri breaks down three major developments shaping education right now — one inspiring, one concerning, and one that parents and educators must pay attention to. This episode explores: 🌟 The Good: Career and Technical Education programs are expanding nationwide. A 2025 report from Advance CTE shows 32 states  now tracking career-readiness indicators, signaling a shift toward hands-on, purpose-driven learning. ⚠️ The Bad: The teacher sho

Every year, I work with students who walk in carrying two things: a notebook and a whole lot of self-doubt. And every year, I’m reminded of the same truth — no two learners walk the same path . Some students take off the moment they see a new idea. Others need time, reassurance, or a different angle before it clicks. And none of that is a “problem.” It’s simply how human learning works. This is exactly why personalized learning services aren’t just helpful… they’re necessary

Welcome back to The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Education Edition! In today’s episode, we’re looking at three stories shaping classrooms across our region and the nation — the wins, the worries, and the wake-up calls educators and families need to know. Below you’ll find the full story list, verified sources, and the links mentioned in today’s show. 🟩 THE GOOD — Minnesota’s Attendance Improvement Efforts Across Minnesota, schools are working to rebuild attendance through rela

Dr. Sherri Rochel, Education That Matters™ November 13, 2025 Every week in my tutoring sessions, I hear students say things that stop me in my tracks—not because they’re dramatic or rebellious, but because they reveal how deeply kids misunderstand learning, success, and their own potential. Where do these beliefs come from? Often from us. From the system. From the pressure to perform. From well-meaning adults repeating things they once believed themselves. Over time, these id

Date Published:  November 3, 2025 Host:  Dr. Sherri Rochel (@DrSherriRochel) Podcast Platforms:   🎧 Spotify  | 📺 YouTube 🟩 The Good – When Systems Work Mississippi’s public schools continue to climb the national charts, proving that high expectations and teacher support can change the trajectory of student learning.According to the Associated Press , Mississippi’s 4th-grade reading scores rank 9th nationwide , and math scores rank 16th  on the National Assessment of Educat

Episode Title:   Spooky Statistics: Scary Tests, Creepy Scores & Student Surprises Air Date:  October 31, 2025 Hosted by:  Dr. Sherri Rochel (@DrSherriRochel) Listen on Spotify:   https://open.spotify.com/show/3dzCG9MMvodfaKaacFDKgO 🧭 Episode Overview This special Halloween episode of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Education Edition  dives into the spooky side of data — the numbers that haunt educators and the bright spots that bring hope. From Brookings’ ACT success story t

Success in school and college is more than just showing up. It’s about mastering skills, building confidence, and preparing smartly for exams. That’s where integrated learning assistance comes in. It combines personalized tutoring with focused test preparation to help students reach their full potential. Let’s explore how this approach can transform learning and boost results. Why Integrated Learning Assistance Matters Integrated learning assistance is a powerful way to suppo

Air Date:  October 23, 2025 Hosted by:  Dr. Sherri Rochel (@DrSherriRochel) Listen on Spotify:   https://open.spotify.com/show/3dzCG9MMvodfaKaacFDKgO 🧭 Episode Overview In this episode, Dr. Sherri Rochel explores four major stories shaping American classrooms — from new pathways to college to the hard truths about enrollment and integrity. We celebrate progress, confront challenges, and shine a light on the realities teachers face every day in America’s schools. Runtime:  ~9

Published:  October 18, 2025 Length:  ~9 minutes ✨ Summary From AI-powered innovation to widening learning gaps and behavior crises, Dr. Sherri Rochel explores the full spectrum of what’s working — and what’s not — in American education this week. ⏱️ Timestamps Intro Quick welcome and rundown of the day’s topics. The Good Big Tech backs AI training for teachers ( AP News ) NWEA launches a national dashboard to track student growth ( Morningstar ) Districts adopt integrated cu

Published:  October 17, 2025 Length:  ~9 minutes ✨ Summary Dr. Sherri breaks down the week’s education headlines — from student success stories to leadership changes — painting a full picture of what’s really happening inside America’s schools. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro Welcome to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Education Edition ! 0:45 – The Good Mitchell, SD students earn blue ribbons at the 2025 State Fair ( Mitchell Now ) California test scores show measurable gains i

Series:   The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Education Edition Release Date:  October 16, 2025 Host:  Dr. Sherri Rochel, Education That Matters™ 🎙️ Why This Podcast Exists If you’re anything like me, you’re tired of scrolling through endless articles just to find one piece of real education news that matters. That’s why I created The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Education Edition  — your daily, no-spin, heart-centered look at what’s happening in schools today. In this firs

Remedial college courses are rising fast - but the real story is inside the brain. Earlier this week, I read an EdWeek article that hit...