Falling for Learning Podcast

TD Flenaugh
  • 5.0 (4)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

This podcast supports educators, parents, and caregivers in gaining the tools and information needed to keep the next generation on track for learning and on track for success! New episodes released Saturdays at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Follow us:      Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fallingforlearning/.    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fallingforlearning/.   

  1. 3d ago

    How to Build a Successful Artist’s Life

    Falling for Learning Podcast interviews Marguerite, Amoz, and Malachi Wright on how family, education, faith, and creativity shaped their lives. As they build a mural in Harvey, Illinois, they pause to give in-depth insight on how they turned childhood art into careers and used creativity to bring hope and healing to their community. Show Highlights02:40 — Learning as a family value 06:02 — Malachi’s early artistic influences 11:16 — How Amoz turned childhood drawings into a business 15:15 — Why each of them chose college while building an art career 19:31 — The mural’s purpose, design, and hopes for Harvey 26:55 — The future plans and art projects

  2. Oct 3

    Using UFLI Lessons & Decodables to Teach Reading

    How to Use UFLI Lessons & Decodable Text for Reading PracticeIn this episode, T.D. Flenaugh demonstrates how parents and teachers can use UFLI Foundations Lessons and the decodable passage to build early readers’ decoding, fluency, and comprehension.The episode highlights how repeated oral reading, focused practice with tricky words, as well as how drawing and labeling activities can help students grow into more confident readers. Episode HighlightsUsing repeated reads with the UFLI Lesson 33 “What Is a Vet?” passageUsing choral reading and immediate correction to support accurate readingTeaching irregular, or “tricky,” words explicitly before rereadingConnecting reading comprehension with drawing and labeling words from the passageExtending practice with UFLI word work chains and roll-and-read gamesResourcesExplore the UFLI Literacy Institute Toolbox.Purchase your own UFLI Foundations Teacher Manual.Visit T.D. Flenaugh’s Falling in Love with Learning resources page to purchase The R.E.W.R.I.T.E. Method & Workbook.Action itemsRead the decodable passage aloud with students several times.Ensure students sound out/read words rather than only highlight them.Teach 2-5 tricky (irregular) words in the passage.Invite students to draw a scene from the text and label it with 5 words from the passage.Extend practice with word work chains or roll-and-read games.Keep practice patient, repetitive, and encouraging.

  3. Sep 27

    Solving Writing Difficulties

    How to Help Struggling Writers Without Shutting Them DownIn this solo episode, T.D. Flenaugh shares a practical approach to supporting students who struggle with writing—especially those who freeze at a blank page or shut down after receiving feedback. She connects classroom experiences with national writing data and introduces a framework for building students’ writing habits without overwhelming them.Using an unfinished student argument draft as an example, Flenaugh demonstrates how to start feedback with strengths and then offer one focused next step. She also explains the difference between pre-writing, drafting, revision, and editing, and makes the case for authentic audiences, intentional practice, and more room for creativity in writing instruction. Episode Highlights 01:05 — What this episode will help teachers do 03:10 — NAEP writing scores and the national decline 04:38 — Classroom and college signs of a deeper writing crisis 06:43 — Where to find R.E.W.R.I.T.E. Method resources 08:59 — Reading a writing sample 13:03 — Root causes and recognizing students’ talents 15:22 — Effective feedback starts with strengths 25:59 — Writing process, from pre-writing to editing 30:49 — Real audiences improve motivation 32:14 — Intentional writing goals 33:47 — Treasures of writing and language of the discipline 34:46 — Encouraging creativity in writing instruction The R.E.W.R.I.T.E. Method https://fallinginlovewithlearning.com/resources/ols/products/free-ebook-falling-in-love-with-writing Root causesRecognizing talentsEffective feedbackReal-world purposes and audiencesIntentional practiceTreasures: writing qualitiesEncouraging creativity

  4. Sep 20

    Food, Family, and Nutrition: Teaching Kids to Eat Smarter

    Food, Family, and Nutrition: Teaching Kids to Eat SmarterThis episode focuses on how parents and educators can help kids make healthier food choices in a world full of recalls, processed foods, and mixed messages about nutrition. T.D. Flenaugh and Lauren Moseley discuss practical ways to teach children about food safety, food labels, and the connection between food and how the body works.They also explore how cooking, gardening, and eating together can build healthier habits, stronger family connections, and a more informed approach to food. Episode Highlights00:43 - Lauren’s perfume-making detour and a segue into food safety 03:23 - Education as a tool for health and empowerment 06:11 - Connecting nutrition lessons to real-world reading and writing 10:20 - Using research and documentaries to study what’s in food 13:50 - Black bean sprouting as a simple at-home science lesson 16:14 - Food festivals, family recipes, and cultural connections 21:20 - Modeling healthy choices when family and school influences differ 23:32 - Avoiding shame, reward, and punishment around food 27:36 - Taste buds, food habits, and trying new things over time 30:51 - How sight, smell, and taste work together in food choices 33:14 - Final encouragement to help kids become informed eaters

  5. Sep 12

    These Kids Can't Write

    Season 4, episode 11 Replay Show Notes These 12th Graders Can't Read or WriteA Texas teacher’s viral reaction to finding 12th graders unable to complete a simple sentence frame sparks a larger conversation about literacy, expectations, and what schools can do when students are far behind. T.D. Flenaugh and Lauren Moseley unpack why the frustration is real, but also why giving up or over-scaffolding is not the answer.In this episode, they focus on how to assess students honestly at the start of the year, how to use scaffolds without keeping them forever, and how creativity, choice, and consistent practice can help older students close literacy gaps. Episode Highlights00:19 - Why a Texas 12th grade literacy meltdown went viral 03:23 - What scaffolding means in practice 08:24 - Why beginning-of-year assessment matters more than immediate scaffolding 14:33 - Telling students where they need to be without shaming them 16:32 - Grade-level standards and asking students to articulate them 19:28 - How a five-page narrative helped eleventh graders succeed 22:44 - Why choice helped get 100 percent work completion in some tasks 26:12 - Setting a 10-minute writing goal and increasing expectations over time 32:22 - Pulling back sentence frames as students improve 40:33 - Why the conversation will continue with reading as well as writing 41:02 - Closing advice: release scaffolds, raise expectations, and keep practice fun

  6. Sep 5

    Teaching Civic Engagement: How to Think, Vote, and Lead

    Teaching Civic Engagement: How to Think, Vote, and LeadThis episode of Falling for Learning Podcast focuses on civic engagement and why it matters to start early with students. T.D. Flenaugh and Lauren Moseley talk about helping kids think critically, understand rules and laws, and practice participation through voting, writing letters, and solving community problems. In this conversation, they connect classroom routines to bigger democratic habits and share practical ways teachers and parents can help children use their voice without telling them what to think. Timestamps00:00 — Introducing civic engagement and helping students think critically 06:30 — Writing letters and giving children a voice in public concerns 13:13 — Student advocacy and how schools can respond to children’s needs 19:40 — Teaching respectful disagreement, nuance, and civil discourse 26:05 — Community responsibility through animal care and local action 34:39 — Closing encouragement for educators and parents

  7. Aug 29

    Kids Don’t Know How to Read: Why Phonics Matters

    T.D. Flenaugh unpacks the reading crisis through the lens of a veteran educator, reading specialist, and National Board Certified Teacher. The episode explains why many kids struggle to read, how the science of reading differs from whole language instruction, and what parents and teachers can do right now to help children catch up. In this episode, T.D. Flenaugh shares how her own experience teaching reading began in childhood, why phonics shaped her approach, and why she believes consistent support at school and at home is essential. She also discusses dyslexia, the reading wars, and the importance of making reading practice regular, supportive, and shame-free.Episode Highlights02:16 - How she learned reading through phonics  04:54 - What whole language and three cueing try to do  08:02 - Who gets left behind without explicit instruction  09:28 - What dyslexia means for reading development  11:21 - Why structured literacy builds reading skill  13:16 - The reading wars and how publishing shaped them  18:12 - Reading support as a village effort  19:38 - The summer slide and why kids lose progress  21:00 - Simple things parents can do at home  23:22 - Why 10 minutes a day beats one long weekly session  24:43 - Moving forward with science based reading support  Action itemsReview the alphabet and high frequency words with your child regularly.Use short, daily reading sessions instead of occasional long sessions.Reinforce school learning at home, especially during breaks.Seek help from teachers, reading interventionists, tutors, or library programs if needed.Stay patient and consistent, even if your child is behind.

  8. Aug 23

    Paula Banks - A Literacy Expert Empowers Young Writers

    In this episode of Falling for Learning, T.D. Flenaugh sits down with Paula Banks, a creative confidence educator, children’s author, and founder of Lit Kids Create. Paula shares how curiosity, reading, and storytelling shaped her path as an educator and how she now helps children discover that their voices matter before they worry about writing perfectly. Key Topics Paula’s educational journey How Lit Kids Create helps children express ideas and build confidenceThe “Books by Me” program and how students become published authorsWhy “confidence before correction” matters for young writersHow a negative early writing experience can affect a child for yearsThe importance of being your child’s “first hype crew”HighlightsPaula explains that children often shut down when adults lead with criticism instead of encouragement. She shares her belief that kids need confidence before correction, and that adults should notice what’s working before pointing out what needs revision.She also describes how her program gives students ownership over their stories, characters, and plot ideas while guiding them through the publishing process. For Paula, the goal is not just writing—it’s helping children feel safe, heard, and valued. ResourcesLit Kids Create: https://litkidscreate.comInstagram: @litkidscreateFacebook: Paula BanksAnthology: I Got a Story to Tell, Volume One

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This podcast supports educators, parents, and caregivers in gaining the tools and information needed to keep the next generation on track for learning and on track for success! New episodes released Saturdays at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Follow us:      Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fallingforlearning/.    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fallingforlearning/.   

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