All Posts

One of the most common assumptions I hear from parents is that if a student simply practices more, the concept will eventually click. On the surface, that belief makes sense. Practice is often associated with improvement, and in many situations, repetition does strengthen skill. However, that only holds true when the underlying understanding is already in place. When it is not, practice does not resolve the issue—it often reinforces it. I worked with an Algebra 1 student who

There’s a line in education that doesn’t get talked about enough. The line between helping a student…and teaching them they can’t do it without you. And right now, we’re crossing that line more than we realize. It doesn’t start that way. It starts with support. Helping them get through an assignment.Explaining a problem step by step.Making sure they don’t fall behind. All good intentions. But over time, something shifts. The student stops trying first. They start asking for h

Most parents notice math struggles faster than reading struggles. Math is more visible. A wrong answer is a wrong answer. A missed step stands out. A low score raises a flag. Reading doesn’t always work that way. A student can sound like they’re reading well and still not truly understand what they’re reading. They can get through the passage, say the words correctly, and still miss the meaning, the vocabulary, the deeper connections, and the confidence that strong reading ac

Why “more sessions” isn’t always the answer A situation from last year still sticks with me. I was working with a student who had been doing online tutoring for quite a while. Sessions were happening consistently, effort was there… but progress wasn’t. After a few weeks, it became clear we weren’t dealing with a simple content issue. There was a learning difference at play, and the format itself wasn’t the right fit. We had a conversation with the parent, and ultimately made

One of the earliest signs a student is struggling with learning gaps isn’t their grade. It’s their confidence. Before the missing assignments. Before the lower test scores. Before anything shows up on a report card… you’ll start to hear things like: “I don’t get this.” “This doesn’t make sense anymore.” “I just guessed.” Or you’ll see it in how they show up: Avoidance. Frustration. Shutting down faster than usual. This is where the shift begins. Not because the student sudden

Middle school is where I see this the most. Elementary schools in our area are moving toward standards-based grading, which is helpful in a lot of ways. But once students hit middle school, we shift back into traditional grading… And that’s where things start to get muddy. Grades are being built—not earned Students today have more opportunities than ever to “build” a grade: Reworks Retakes Late work Partial credit And on top of that? Technology. Whether we want to admit it or

Why students struggle isn’t usually where you think it is Recently, I was working through a problem with a student. We were in an upper-level math concept—adding and subtracting rational expressions. And it completely broke down. Not because the student wasn’t capable. But because underneath it, there was hesitation with fraction addition. Not a full gap. Just enough uncertainty to make the whole process feel overwhelming. This is something I see all the time Students don’t s

A real conversation I had last weekend… and one most parents don’t realize they need to be having Last Sunday, a parent asked me something that stopped me for a second—not because it was surprising, but because of how common it is. She said, “If she doesn’t finish Algebra 1… will they go back and cover what she missed before starting Geometry?” And I could hear it in her voice—she genuinely thought that might be how it works. I wish it did. But it doesn’t. School doesn’t loop

🟢 THE GOOD KTIV. (2026, February 26). Kingsley-Pierson community voices concerns over proposed 4-day school week. https://www.ktiv.com/2026/02/26/kingsley-pierson-community-voices-concerns-over-proposed-4-day-school-week/ 🟡 THE BAD MSN News. (2026). Doctors warn Senate that Gen Z cognitively underperformed previous generation; screen time could be to blame. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/doctors-warn-senate-that-gen-z-cognitively-underperformed-previous-generation-s

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