Read more about the article Many Students Lack Motivation to Learn. What Can We do?

Many Students Lack Motivation to Learn. What Can We do?

America’s students are struggling. Chronic absenteeism has doubled from pre-pandemic numbers. Districts are implementing grading floors to soften the sting of failure. Grade inflation is widespread. Many students seem to have lost the motivation to learn, and traditional systems of grading and ranking aren’t helping. What’s wrong with the A-F grading system? Should school just do away with grades entirely? What interventions work to get kids back in classrooms more consistently? In this podcast episode, a high school teacher shares how she changed grading in her classroom to better engage her students and an historian explains why grades are a “can’t live with ‘em can’t live without ‘em” conundrum. We also speak with a coach who works with students that struggle with motivation because they lack executive function skills and a leading expert on chronic absenteeism explains why so many kids are missing school these days and what we can do about it.

Continue ReadingMany Students Lack Motivation to Learn. What Can We do?
Read more about the article 1 Nephi 16–22

1 Nephi 16–22

In this episode we'll talk about 1 Nephi chapters sixteen through twenty-two. These chapters have some amazing stories about the journey of Lehi’s family across the desert and the ocean. There was a consistent theme throughout the chapters. Many times there was a challenge presented and then a solution provided. We’ll talk about how the Lord is eager to provide miracles for us to get through our challenges, but they almost always involve effort on our part. We’ll review how making those efforts is important in our personal development.  

Continue Reading1 Nephi 16–22
Read more about the article The Acts of James E. Talmage

The Acts of James E. Talmage

Bryan Summers was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He served a mission in Carlsbad, California, and earned a Master's Degree in Library Science at the University of Wales-Aberystwyth. He was a county librarian in Yuma, Arizona for 12 years, and is now a mortgage broker in Saint George, Utah. Bryan has served in the Church as a nursery leader, ward mission leader, elders quorum president, and bishop. He is currently a teachers quorum assistant. He and his wife have been married 24 years and are the parents of three boys and three girls. Bryan enjoys backpacking—especially the Timberline Trail on Mount Hood—and once spent three weeks wandering around the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq and Eastern Turkey. Links

Continue ReadingThe Acts of James E. Talmage
Read more about the article Behind Closed Doors: Married to a Man Suffering From Mental Illness

Behind Closed Doors: Married to a Man Suffering From Mental Illness

In this episode, Marliss Brockington shares her heart wrenching story of being married to a man suffering with mental illness, which led to a tumultuous relationship of abuse, and years of painful struggles. However, through it all, Marliss was able to hold on to her faith, and find glimmers of light and hope even in the darkest moments.

Continue ReadingBehind Closed Doors: Married to a Man Suffering From Mental Illness