Episode 42: featuring Travis Grulke A frequent contributor to the podcast, Travis Grulke, Superintendent of Schools for the Michigan District, is also a frequent conference speaker where he provides education and training on a variety of topics including the difference between balance and harmony in our lives, what it means to be a Lutheran educator, […]

I have a few students who are select mutes due to extreme anxiety.  These children have real fears of speaking in front of others, especially in a classroom environment.  This fear hinders their ability to participate in the normal, everyday class activities and requirements.    One specific student has not made a whole lot of […]

This story comes from a while ago, during my second or third year of teaching. I was hired to teach in a self-contained program for students with mild cognitive impairments. At that time, it was called an “EMI Program.” The program served students who were Educable Mentally Impaired. I taught Math, English Language Arts and […]

Our very own Erin Baller, LSEM Teacher at St John Lutheran School in Rochester, MI, and Special Education Director Dr. Tracie Salgado wrote this impactful article for the Lutheran Education Association’s (LEA’s) April Shaping the Future. In this issue of Shaping the Future, we will dig into the science of reading in upper grades and […]

I have a student who started St. John as a fourth grader. She was struggling with not only basic academic skills but also lacking the stamina and motivation to make it through a school day. She has had experience in school but the year previous to starting St. John she was homeschooled. As the year […]

Episode 40: featuring Kyle Chuhran Kyle Chuhran is the Elementary Education Coordinator at Concordia University Ann Arbor and Act Money Coaching. In this podcast we talk finances and help our teachers better use their God-given resources. He loves teaching and helps students become teachers and ultimately get placed in their student teaching positions. Seeing his […]

-An unconfident beginning for a couple of Middle School students- As we all know from either our years in Middle School or teaching middle school, staying organized with a locker, books, and papers can be a challenge. Students with ADHD can have an especially difficult time with this many times. As we began the school […]

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16 Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States died on December 26, 2006. A little over 20 months later, journalist Thomas DeFrank published a book about […]

As an LSEM teacher, I have really enjoyed working one-on-one with students to help them experience the joy of learning in school.  It warms my heart when students ask when it will be their turn to work or read with me.  I even have a kindergarten friend this year that has been drawing pictures for […]

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 Ever see a movie, television show, […]