Learning & Teaching

Engaging learners who have not felt successful in school has become one of my “superpowers”. Experience helped some, but more than that was applying my passion to learn all I can about executive functions, language processing, and learning strategies.

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My first big “aha” moments were when I started Orton-Gillingham training. I had a major in English, am a prolific reader and have been since age 5, and almost completed a reading minor. Still, one of my biggest challenges and letdowns during my  first year of teaching was feeling inadequate at teaching reading to my struggling readers (which was over 70% of that particular class). Not long after I started my first O-G training, I started immediately wishing I could go back and do that first year of teaching again!

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For years, I dove into the science of reading (before that was a documented term). The other “aha moments” came through my masters work.  I dove even further into the science of reading and discovered cognitive theories, socio-cultural theories, and executive functions…. behavior, language development, social/emotional development, and executive functioning are all intertwined. Strategies used for learners who struggle provide significant value for all learners. I found my niche and have enjoyed growing into a complete “teacher-nerd”, though I have appreciated the moniker Queen of Cognition a little more 😊.  

 

I almost always have learning and cognition on my mind; they are my primary mind matters and some of the things that bring me the most joy, and, for over twenty years, I have worked to foster some of that joy in my students and teachers.

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 I started Cognitively Yours in 2020, with items previously published on my original blogs Barto's World, Becoming Web Wise, and The Math Laboratory. I want to support educators who are also passionate about or interested in learning more about learning and cognition, language processing, executive functioning, differentiation, data, and/or diverse learners.