It’s been my experience that as students get older they seem to feel a stigma when it’s time to come to reading intervention. They aren’t excited like the kindergartners and they don’t particularly want to come with me to work on something they know is challenging for them. This year, we had a handful of […]

A young man started attending our school in fifth grade.  When beginning Yuma Lutheran School, he knew limited English, was struggling with academics, and had a hard time fitting in with friends.  Due to his frustrations, he also had meltdowns in class.  His teachers also noticed that he had a hard time focusing in class. […]

Episode 43: featuring Dr. Tanya Calendo and Angie Schiller LSEM’s Dr. Tracie Salgado and Richard Schumacher are joined by Dr. Tanya Calendo, Principal at Christ Greenfield Lutheran School in Gilbert, AZ and Angie Schiller, Principal at Yuma Lutheran School in Yuma, AZ. In their conversation they talk about how each principal made their respective schools […]

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now […]

St. Paul’s Livonia has been busy this year.  With our new principal Josh Roth, I have found that our services and growing our program is quickly becoming reality including our very first Disability Awareness Day for students and evening session for parents. We had a fantastic turn out with 17 families and many with more […]

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 […]