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Michael Reynolds

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Academic Support Design

Designing Effective Parent–School Partnerships to Support Student Success

Reading Time: 4 minutesParent–school partnerships are often discussed as a matter of engagement or goodwill, yet their real impact on student success depends on how deliberately they are designed. In many education systems, family involvement is treated as an optional add-on rather than as an integral component of academic support infrastructure. This distinction matters. When partnerships are left […]

December 19, 2025 4 min read
Academic Support Design

Designing Academic Support Pathways for Underprepared Students

Reading Time: 4 minutesAcross higher education, institutions continue to invest significant resources into tutoring centers, supplemental instruction, advising services, and first-year programs. Yet many campuses still struggle with low retention and uneven student outcomes—especially among students labeled as “underprepared.” One reason is that academic support is often added reactively rather than designed intentionally. When support exists as a […]

December 19, 2025 4 min read
Micro-Skills for Academic Success

Simple Memory Tricks Every Student Should Know

Reading Time: 6 minutesHave you ever thought, “I studied this yesterday—so why can’t I remember it now?” You’re not alone. Most students don’t struggle because they have “bad memory.” They struggle because they rely on study habits that feel productive (like rereading and highlighting) but don’t build strong recall. The good news is that memory is trainable. With […]

December 19, 2025 6 min read
Micro-Skills for Academic Success

How to Finish Assignments Faster (Without Rushing)

Reading Time: 9 minutesThe Real Problem Isn’t Speed — It’s Workflow Working faster does not mean typing frantically or skipping steps. In fact, rushing usually leads to more time lost: you miss instructions, make avoidable mistakes, and end up rewriting entire sections at the last minute. What actually saves time is having a clear, repeatable workflow that turns […]

December 9, 2025 9 min read
Micro-Skills for Academic Success

How to Start Your Homework When You Don’t Feel Like It

Reading Time: 7 minutesThere are days when your homework is sitting right in front of you, the deadline is getting closer, and you still can’t make yourself start. You know you “should” do it. You might even feel guilty for not starting. But knowing and doing are two very different things. The good news is that you don’t […]

November 27, 2025 7 min read
Academic Support Design

Transforming Instruction with Technology for Developmental Students By Thomas Brothen

Reading Time: 14 minutesReprinted from the Journal of Developmental Education, Volume 21, Issue 3, Spring, 1998. Abstract: The results of a national study suggest how technology can improve education for developmental students. Currently, much of college teaching is dominated by an ancient paradigm typified by the lecture method. Similarly, much of today’s technology presents information to students and reinforces […]

October 27, 2025 14 min read
Formative Assessment and Feedback Strategies

How to Use Emojis or Symbols to Make Feedback Fun

Reading Time: 3 minutesFeedback doesn’t have to be dry or overly formal. By adding emojis and symbols to your comments, you can make feedback more engaging, expressive, and effective — whether you’re working with students, coworkers, or peers online. Why Use Emojis in Feedback? Visual reinforcement: Emojis help emphasize key points and highlight important feedback. A simple ✅ […]

October 14, 2025 3 min read
Micro-Skills for Academic Success

How to Get Ready for a Test Without Stress

Reading Time: 2 minutesPreparing for tests can often feel overwhelming. But with the right mindset, techniques, and routine, it is possible to approach exams with calm and confidence. This guide will show you how. Understanding the Nature of Stress Stress is a natural reaction, but it can either motivate or paralyze. Good stress pushes you to perform. Bad […]

October 14, 2025 2 min read
Formative Assessment and Feedback Strategies

Low-Stakes Assessment: How to Monitor Student Progress Without Grades

Reading Time: 2 minutesTraditional grades can sometimes hinder rather than help student learning. They often increase anxiety, discourage experimentation, and may not reflect a student’s true understanding. An effective alternative is low-stakes assessment — a powerful strategy for monitoring progress without the pressure of grades. 1. What Is Low-Stakes Assessment? Low-stakes assessments are tasks that carry little or […]

October 7, 2025 2 min read
Micro-Skills for Academic Success

How to Plan Your Week So You Don’t Miss Deadlines

Reading Time: 2 minutesIt’s Sunday night, and you suddenly remember a paper that’s due tomorrow. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. The truth is, staying on top of deadlines isn’t about being perfect — it’s about having a simple weekly plan that works. In this article, you’ll learn easy, realistic steps to plan your week so you can […]

October 6, 2025 2 min read
Formative Assessment and Feedback Strategies

Easy Ways to Check If Students Understand the Lesson

Reading Time: 2 minutesSometimes teachers finish a lesson thinking, “That went well!” — only to find out later that students didn’t really understand the key idea. Checking for understanding during or right after the lesson helps identify confusion early and makes learning more effective. In this post, we’ll explore simple, quick, and low-stress ways to see if your […]

October 6, 2025 2 min read
Formative Assessment and Feedback Strategies

Supplemental Instruction

Reading Time: 2 minutesAccording to the International Center for Supplemental Instruction, SI is “an academic assistance program that utilizes peer-assisted study sessions. SI sessions are regularly-scheduled, informal review sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and study skills in phd dissertation while working […]

September 15, 2025 2 min read
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