VCU T/TAC

01/29/2026

When schools design structures that help students “look out for each other on purpose,” learning deepens and school becomes a place that runs better and feels better for everyone.

Encouraging students to ‘look out for each other on purpose’ has a powerful impact. These classroom and schoolwide strategies can help you get started.

01/29/2026

Experience a full day of high-impact programming at the FREE AIM Research to Practice Symposium, featuring expert research talks, live practitioner panels, and actionable classroom strategies designed to move evidence straight into instruction. This global livestream brings together leading literacy researchers and educators for practical, research-grounded learning you can use right away, hosted by AIM Institute for Learning & Research.

2026 Symposium - AIM Institute for Learning & Research

01/29/2026

VCU's Ruth Harris team is offering virtual workshops:
WORKSHOP 1: Cognitive Load Theory in Instructional Design with Dr. Jamey Peavler, Mount St. Joseph University on Wednesday, February 4 at 7 PM EST via Zoom

Understanding the limitations of working memory helps us make sense of students’ challenges as they move from acquisition to fluency, from fluency to generalization, and from generalization to adaptation. This lens is essential for educators and instructional designers as they develop strategies and materials that truly support learning.

REGISTER NOW:

When: February 4, 2026 at 7:00-8:15 pm ET via Zoom Modality: Online Session via Zoom Cognitive Load Theory in Instructional Design Description: Working memory is not a passive observer in the learning process — it is the gatekeeper, the active participant, that determines the extent and quality of...

01/29/2026

Check out "Dyslexia Defined: Unpacking the 2025 IDA Definition" to explore how the updated definition reflects decades of science and what it means for classroom identification and instruction. Learn from Tim Odegard, a member of the IDA definition committee, as he connects research, instructional persistence, and real-world teaching practice in this timely webinar sponsored by Learning Ally.

This session offers the reassurance that as our scientific understanding of dyslexia evolves, our shared commitment to helping every student thrive remains the heart of our work.

01/23/2026

The National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL) has a fun way for parents and guardians to help their children (ages 3-6) work on their letter identification skills.

Using a comic book developed by the NCIL, The Andre Chronicles, children play games around the house to help them build their letter knowledge. When family members visit this link, https://tinyurl.com/9x59kj2x, they will find the comic book and four letter identification activities to do at home.

Check out the website and share the link with your parents and guardians.

Our original comic book is a fun way for children ages 3-6 to learn about how to work on their letter identification skills by playing games around the house.

01/22/2026

Responding to Persistent Challenging Behaviors in Preschool - Special Rebroadcast: available on-demand

Join this webinar to learn how to transform persistent challenging behaviors into opportunities for growth by understanding them as typical milestones in a preschooler’s emotional and social development. The session explores how these behaviors can impact a child's learning and relationships, offering insights into the necessity of proactive intervention. Participants will explore practical strategies for providing individualized positive behavior support and creating healthy, inclusive learning environments where every child can thrive.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

01/21/2026

Helping Young Brains Build the Foundations to Flourish: Executive function and school readiness in the early years. 1/22/2026 @ 2:00 PM.

Join this webinar to explore how executive function skills serve as the brain's "control center" for focus and memory, forming the essential building blocks for a child's learning and emotional health. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the underlying neuroscience and how these neural pathways develop during the critical early years to ensure long-term school readiness, coupled with practical, evidence-based strategies that educators can use to create supportive, developmentally appropriate environments where every child can flourish.

Here's the link:

Free, expert-led early childhood education webinars offering practical strategies and inspiring insights. Serving over 3 million early education professionals, join to learn and receive certificates.

01/16/2026

The adolescent brain is still under construction—and when educators understand how it develops, everything about engagement and learning shifts.

Adolescent Brain Rules gives secondary educators practical, research‑informed strategies to build classrooms where students feel safe, connected, and ready to learn. Explore three core ideas: supporting the brain under construction, putting connection before content, and designing learning with authenticity, fairness, and purpose. CharacterStrong provides a quick, powerful guide to understanding how teens think—and how to teach them better available free through their website.

https://www.characterstrong.com/adolescent-brain-rules?utm_campaign=Problem-Solving%20Blueprint%20for%20Chronic%20Absenteeism&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9fxz5ByJHnEuKwZetoyk0hR8nh7ThBzcnZbC3PgNPuUaPkM_U-aJl3KpeN-Xby3H_ezS7SFgiEAD5y_qTYDkqm1vq8lg&_hsmi=397943127&utm_content=397943127&utm_source=hs_email

01/15/2026

This article is a powerful reminder that a calm adult is a student’s strongest regulation tool. When teachers stay grounded and present, students shift out of fight‑or‑flight and back into learning. Dr. Roseann highlights simple, evidence‑backed strategies—like co‑regulation, calm corners, and modeling emotional steadiness—that help kids re‑engage and build real self‑regulation skills over time. A must‑read for anyone supporting overwhelmed learners.

Discover how co-regulation in the classroom helps dysregulated kids feel safe, supported, and emotionally settled, with simple, science-backed tools parents and educators can use today.

01/14/2026

By embedding data collection into everyday coaching routines, coaches can show growth in instruction and student learning without adding more paperwork or eroding trust.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/group-instructional-coaching-models

01/14/2026

This article is a powerful reminder that connection and co‑regulation lay the foundation for real self‑management. When adults stay grounded and emotionally present, students feel safe enough to learn, regulate, and thrive. A great mid‑year reset for any educator looking to strengthen relationships, reduce behavior challenges, and support whole‑child development.

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/dysregulated-students-need-regulated-adults?utm_source=copilot.com

01/13/2026

If you need a mid‑year boost, this article hits home. It highlights how adult regulation and strong relationships create the conditions for student self‑regulation, learning, and positive behavior. A simple, science‑backed reminder that connection comes first—and everything else follows.

https://youthtoday.org/2025/05/connection-co-regulation-precede-self-management-common-sense-approach-learning-development-discipline/?utm_source=copilot.com