Sheilamary Koch

Sheilamary Koch is an education reporter with over 15 years experience teaching and learning in traditional and alternative settings. Along with covering education initiatives, edtech and research, she enjoys collaborating with educators and youth on new programs, books or creative projects. She’s especially interested in student-centered learning, STEM for under-represented youth and initiatives that encourage artistic expression, community building and self-knowledge. Currently she’s starting a new project to help level the playing field for girls in Mexico by helping them develop woodworking skills. Connect with her on LinkedIn or Twitter @sheilamary67.

Articles by Sheilamary Koch

• More pieces to the STEM diversity puzzle

  Months back, the University of California, Berkeley's College of Engineering posted a newly created assistant…

  Monday, May 24, 2021

• Outdoor learning improves engagement and mental health

  Under tall mango trees between a dry riverbed and two large warehouses, kids ranging between three and…

  Tuesday, March 30, 2021

• Balancing edtech and digital equity during COVID-19 recovery

  Last year’s epic move to online learning gave educators tangible evidence of how technology can enhance…

  Monday, February 22, 2021

• Tackling the nation’s math education deficit

  Ask students whether they like math. Now ask the same question about money. Usually their reactions are…

  Wednesday, February 03, 2021

• Supporting social-emotional learning in today’s classroom

  Before students can really focus on math, science or any academic subject, they need to have their basic…

  Tuesday, December 15, 2020

• How educators can best focus on the social-emotional needs of boys

  Creating safe spaces for youth, in particular boys and young men, to express what they’re going through…

  Thursday, December 10, 2020

• Study: Number of adults seeking additional education surges

  Interest in pursuing additional education is greater now than prior to the pandemic, according to results…

  Wednesday, December 02, 2020

• Designing for celebrities: How career and technical education teachers motivate students

  Teaching any subject is tough these days. But imagine the effect of remote and hybrid learning on woodworking…

  Tuesday, November 24, 2020

• Stay on track with your content marketing

  Your content shouldn't give readers a déja vu feeling. Nor should they feel like they've stepped onto…

  Monday, September 28, 2020

• Building social justice apps builds STEM skills, self-worth for students

  From paper waste to police brutality, 145 children and teens took a deep dive into the social issues…

  Monday, September 14, 2020

• Pandemic pod craze touches public education

  The micro-schooling, homeschool or pandemic pod craze in education has exploded. At least six New York…

  Wednesday, September 09, 2020

• How pharmacists can help stem insomnia — a growing public health issue

  Sleeping well not only boosts one’s mood and ability to pay attention, it supports the body's immune…

  Thursday, September 03, 2020

• What is social capital, and how can educators help students build it?

  Before summer break ended, my 15-year-old daughter wrote up eight burning questions, donned a mask and…

  Friday, August 28, 2020

• Marketing and sales alternatives as the COVID-19 crisis continues

  Recently, a couple of business owners contacted me with the issue of how to sell when they can't connect…

  Tuesday, August 04, 2020

• Offset trauma for students by promoting positive experiences

  When Christina Bethell was little, she lived in a low-income housing complex where her neighbor, a quiet…

  Monday, July 27, 2020

• Leading with equity to support our most vulnerable students

  Harm to our nation's most vulnerable children is likely to extend far beyond missed learning. New evidence…

  Monday, July 20, 2020

• Outdoor classrooms could improve student mental health

  As the nation’s school districts plan strategies to keep students safe when schools reopen for the…

  Thursday, July 09, 2020

• How hip-hop culture can power up student self-worth, engagement

  Hip Hop for Change has empowered and educated students remotely these past few months as school administrators…

  Monday, June 29, 2020

• How educators can begin to dismantle racism in the classroom

  People in all 50 states continue to take to the streets to support Black Lives Matter and demand an end…

  Friday, June 19, 2020

• Should your brand be on TikTok?

  In 2019, only 9% of American internet users said they'd used TikTok, but that jumped to 49% for teens.…

  Thursday, June 11, 2020

• Museum educators fill a critical need for students

  To say museums have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic would be an understatement. The…

  Tuesday, June 02, 2020

• Get personal with your brand marketing

  Uncut, vulnerable and camaraderie were words that Ann Handley, Wall Street Journal bestselling author…

  Tuesday, May 26, 2020

• Many educators want to reboot the US school system

  Today's colossal interruption in class as usual has inspired teachers around the country to boldly speak…

  Wednesday, May 13, 2020

• Preventing back injuries in children who participate in flexibility-related sports

  Instagram is full of kids and teens showing off their super flexibility — and my daughters seem to…

  Monday, May 04, 2020

• Will kids affected by the digital divide be ready for next school year?

  A poll of California parents conducted from March 26 to April 1 showed that a majority fear major educational…

  Monday, April 27, 2020

• Reenvisioning our lives and world, post-COVID-19

  As days of social distancing turn into weeks, it's not a bad thing if overdoses of the news, scrolling…

  Thursday, April 16, 2020

• Grieving little heartbreaks is OK, even during a pandemic

  In a recent article in The Verge, writer Monica Chin skillfully addresses what many of us are secretly…

  Wednesday, April 01, 2020

• Supporting student success through industry outreach

  "I learned early in my career that I alone did not bring enough to the table to ensure the success of…

  Tuesday, March 24, 2020

• Mentoring, a beacon in the dark for young leaders

  Recently, my 15-year-old daughter, an emerging environmental activist, told me of her first mentoring…

  Tuesday, March 10, 2020

• Breaking down barriers to make career and technical pathways accessible for everyone

  Livestreaming industry experts into classrooms is an efficient way for high school career and technical…

  Thursday, February 27, 2020

• Millions of high school students set for success: Celebrating Career and Technical Education Month

  "I learned the formula for success," says Ian Solano, reflecting on what he gained from his high school…

  Friday, February 14, 2020

• Do you have recurring knee pain? Examine how you’re standing

  Avoiding movements that tax your knee like high-impact sports won’t be enough if misalignment in your…

  Thursday, January 23, 2020

• Medical professionals weigh in on minors’ right to consent to immunizations

  As outbreaks of preventable diseases, namely measles, have become relatively commonplace in recent years,…

  Tuesday, December 17, 2019

• Easy ways to discover what interests your target audience

  Learning about your audience can be incredibly easy. According to a study by content marketing strategist…

  Tuesday, November 26, 2019

• To fight crime, engage kids in quality after-school programs

  When kids have access to after-school programs, crime and incarceration go down, shows a new report by…

  Tuesday, November 05, 2019

• Mindfulness: A potential lifeboat for middle school students?

  Daniel was feeling anxious before an exam at school, but he paused and used the three breaths technique…

  Thursday, October 31, 2019

• Innovative programs help pharmacists prepare for cold and flu season

  As temperatures cool, days shorten and store aisles fill with holiday displays, pharmacists in the Northern…

  Wednesday, October 23, 2019

• Surveys: High school graduates need more life skills, less test prep

  Real-world skills warrant more emphasis in high school claim students, employers, parents and other adults…

  Monday, October 14, 2019

• Research-backed tips for getting your content noticed on LinkedIn

  The potential for leveraging relationships on LinkedIn is still on the upswing — with a 145% increase…

  Monday, October 07, 2019

• 5 tips for a greener school year

  On Sept. 20, around 4 million people took to the streets worldwide as part of the largest youth-led climate…

  Wednesday, September 25, 2019

• Why doctors prescribe more opioids at the end of the day

  More opioid prescriptions were written for patients seeing their primary care provider toward the end…

  Thursday, September 12, 2019

• Building the right audience for your LinkedIn content

  Decision-makers look for high-quality content on LinkedIn. Recent data analysis by LinkedIn demonstrates…

  Tuesday, September 03, 2019

• Study: For teens and depression, not all screens are created equal

  Depression is a serious concern for adolescents and those who live and interact with them. A Canadian…

  Thursday, August 08, 2019

• Avoid these 5 mistakes with your LinkedIn profile

  Any professional can benefit from having a profile on LinkedIn. Beyond being the place to be for job…

  Wednesday, July 31, 2019

• Yoga tips to help fitness clients, athletes achieve better posture

  Most people hiring a fitness coach aren’t thinking about improving their posture. Maybe they should…

  Wednesday, July 17, 2019

• Study: Cannabis use may help consumers avoid opioids

  Cannabis use for symptom relief among recreational users may help diminish opioid consumption, promise…

  Wednesday, July 10, 2019

• Emphasizing creativity, living role models boost girls’ interest in STEM

  For the first time, the number of female college graduates in the labor force has surpassed that of their…

  Tuesday, July 09, 2019

• Simple tips to refresh, refocus your mind before returning to school

  Whether summer break for you includes travel or just a change in routine, you can increase your enjoyment…

  Wednesday, July 03, 2019

• Overcoming obstacles to teaching about climate change

  A radio program, entitled "Teaching Climate Change: Push and Pull," aired on April 23 on Washington,…

  Monday, June 24, 2019

• Pharmacists’ role in promoting patient safety through deprescribing

  Pharmacists are obviously key players in prescribing medications. Now, as medication-related harm impacts…

  Wednesday, June 12, 2019

• Noise: An invisible danger in sports and recreation

  While most people wouldn’t think twice about wearing hearing protection at a noisy workplace, it’s…

  Monday, June 10, 2019

• Circus arts: Building more than a spectacular show

  Dramatic music and theatrical lighting set the mood as three silvery, besparkled, nymph-like creatures…

  Monday, June 03, 2019

• Teens and noise-induced hearing loss: Educating to a growing problem

  Young people love loud music, and they’re not alone. As adults, how many of us take the edge off a…

  Thursday, May 16, 2019

• Is hearing well in one ear enough? A look at unilateral hearing loss

  Not being able to hear so well in one ear shouldn’t significantly affect school performance nor social…

  Tuesday, May 07, 2019

• Audiologists address the gaps in newborn hearing loss screenings

  A child’s ability to hear and distinguish sounds is a critical component in his or her early language…

  Tuesday, April 23, 2019

• Pediatricians key for critical early intervention in speech, language impairments

  School and social successes hinge more on language ability than any other factor for the vast majority…

  Thursday, April 11, 2019

• The baffling nature of auditory processing disorders

  Unlike many deficits that fall under the umbrella of audiology, auditory processing disorders are not…

  Thursday, March 14, 2019

• When someone you know stutters: Invaluable advice from a specialist

  While young children may not even notice that they stutter, as they get older, living with this speech…

  Wednesday, February 27, 2019

• 4 keys to successful intervention for children with speech, language and hearing difficulties

  Many deficits in the area of speech, language and hearing are progressive. This is why Amy Sindelar,…

  Tuesday, February 19, 2019

• Weaving MLK’s teachings throughout a class curriculum

  Teacher Austin Crowder does not wait until MLK Day in January to present the work of Rev. Dr. Martin…

  Friday, February 01, 2019

• Project transforms the perception of religion in classrooms around the nation

  From reading Martin Luther King’s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" to analyzing artwork at the Art Institute…

  Thursday, January 03, 2019

• A look inside 2 distinct high school religion classes

  The two teachers interviewed for this article both mentioned wisdom as a quality they envisioned or witnessed…

  Wednesday, December 12, 2018

• Collegiate athletes encounter new career possibilities

  While over 480,000 students in the United States participate in college sports per NCAA estimates, the…

  Tuesday, December 04, 2018

• Pharmacists well-positioned to support individuals living with dementia

  Each year 7.7 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed worldwide. In the United States alone, age-related…

  Tuesday, November 27, 2018

• Confronting religious bias with education

  Hate-spurred tragedies like the recent Pittsburgh synagogue massacre make religion-related aggression…

  Friday, November 16, 2018

• Umbrella skills for expressive language

  Can you say "Kwuggerbug?" Not knowing how to rhyme and change first sounds of words would put Dr. Seuss…

  Tuesday, October 23, 2018

• Social communication from a speech-language perspective

  The ability to adapt language to a specific situation or audience is an important social communication…

  Tuesday, October 16, 2018

• Morphology and syntax: Key to successful reading

  Simple sentences are great for social media — but when elementary school children use them exclusively,…

  Tuesday, October 09, 2018

• Insights from a speech-language pathologist: Semantics

  Imagine a boy in a classroom who regularly raises his hand to respond to questions, yet when called on…

  Tuesday, October 02, 2018

• Keep production up by avoiding common management mistakes

  Seasonal warehouse work, by nature, draws quite a wide demographic — individuals in transition, college…

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018

• Research documents surprising benefits of prenatal supplements

  Recently published findings from two international follow-up studies show that offspring development…

  Tuesday, August 28, 2018

• Fun with task-based language learning

  If you’ve studied a new language, you probably remember the moment you learned certain words. For me,…

  Monday, August 13, 2018

• Is fitness the right weapon to combat childhood obesity?

  ​Increasing sedentariness among children around the world makes fighting the problem of childhood obesity…

  Friday, July 27, 2018

• Are brighter futures through edtech within reach?

  Possibilities for using technology in schools are endless — but the conditions that nurture successful…

  Tuesday, July 24, 2018

• A balanced approach to technology in the classroom

  The powerful influence of technology on our lives is not to be taken lightly — and it’s no surprise…

  Tuesday, July 17, 2018

• Swimming against the educational tech tide

  "Make learning awesome!" and "Fully capture the attention of all your students!" urge marketing copy…

  Wednesday, July 11, 2018

• Pharmacists forge an expanded role in patient-centered care

  Complex patients see their pharmacist an average of 35 times each year — that’s 10 times more than…

  Tuesday, June 26, 2018

• Why I started reading storybooks to my older students

  ​When I was a preschool teacher, reading to my students daily was a requirement for the school’s…

  Tuesday, June 19, 2018

• Teachers share games that keep students moving — and learning

  When I recently surveyed ESL and ELL teachers on their favorite games to play with students in class,…

  Monday, June 11, 2018

• Can creativity be taught — and untaught?

  Recently, my husband and I held a toy-making workshop with recycled materials in a primary school. While…

  Tuesday, June 05, 2018

• New campaigns challenge early sports specialization

  Four national sports organizations in Canada recently joined forces with the Canadian Olympic Committee…

  Wednesday, May 30, 2018

• Can educators make trade school an easier choice for students?

  In response to soaring higher education costs and widespread shortages of skilled workers to fill jobs,…

  Wednesday, May 23, 2018

• Classical music builds bridges for Gifford, Florida, youth orchestra members

  "More Violins — Brighter Futures." This motto has become a reality for nearly 200 children who have…

  Tuesday, May 08, 2018

• Research explores arm injuries in young pitchers

  Pitchers accounted for 58.59 percent, or $420 million, of the salary on the MLB disabled list in 2015,…

  Tuesday, May 01, 2018

• Games are memorable teaching tools for ESL learners

  ​Children love playing games, particularly during school hours. Yet there's no need for alarm — playing…

  Wednesday, April 04, 2018

• A new kind of ballet student: Athletes

  ​For most people, the term "ballet student" is likely to conjure up images of thin young girls with…

  Tuesday, March 06, 2018

• Effectively using news in ESL classrooms

  ​The number of sites featuring news in levels and news for kids attest to its growing popularity as…

  Wednesday, February 21, 2018

• Identifying life purpose helps teens in career path exploration

  ​By the time most children reach their teenage years, they've heard the question, "What do you want…

  Thursday, February 08, 2018

• Mindfulness helps exercisers keep their commitment

  It's mid-January. How are doing with your New Year's resolutions? Perhaps like many people you resolved…

  Thursday, January 18, 2018

• Puzzle reading to engage language learners

  Puzzle or jigsaw reading fuels students' hunger for solving puzzles while developing and reinforcing…

  Wednesday, January 10, 2018

• What educators need to know about cluttering

  Valerie Savana suffered low self-esteem throughout her school career largely because classmates and even…

  Monday, December 11, 2017

• Discussion brings literature to life

  Like complementary colors across from each other on the artist's color wheel, reading and speaking complement…

  Wednesday, December 06, 2017

• Warming up and cooling down: What does new research tell us?

  ​What keeps athletes and weekend warriors in the game has a great deal to do with what happens before…

  Tuesday, November 28, 2017

• Education plays only a small part in economic success

  ​Most of us were brought up to believe that education is the key that opens the door to a better future.…

  Tuesday, November 14, 2017

• Incorporating drama in the language classroom

  ​Imagine a practically foolproof way to captivate your English language students while giving them…

  Wednesday, November 08, 2017

• Do education spending cuts spell trouble for the country?

  ​President Donald Trump's proposed ​$9.3 billion cut to the federal education budget in May has angered…

  Thursday, November 02, 2017

• Our brains are wired to forget — How does that affect language learning?

  ​Recent research shows our brains are wired to forget information. This may not sound like great news…

  Wednesday, October 25, 2017

• How equine therapy can help in schools

  ​In the aftermath of devastating floods in Newcastle, Australia, many children in the area showed signs…

  Tuesday, October 03, 2017

• Comic strips and language learners

  One of the joys of Sunday mornings when I was young was ruffling through the hefty Sunday newspaper to…

  Wednesday, September 27, 2017

• Food and lifestyle choices affect knee pain

  Keeping your knees pain-free may have as much to do with what you eat as what you do. Ever since my running…

  Thursday, September 14, 2017

• Can exercise help ESL students learn English?

  ​Too busy to learn a new language? Try taking your language lessons to the gym! No, this isn’t the…

  Wednesday, August 30, 2017

• Finding the proper place for the arts in education: Media arts

  ​So far in this article series, we have looked at art disciplines that have existed in one form or…

  Monday, August 21, 2017

• Finding the proper place for the arts in education: Music

  ​Music's positive effect on brain development has been researched and documented more than any other…

  Thursday, August 10, 2017

• Can watching movies be a legitimate language lesson?

  ​I can't count the times I've walked into my high school language class to hear students ask, "Can…

  Wednesday, August 09, 2017

• The shoulder dilemma: So versatile, yet so prone to injury

  The shoulder is the body's most mobile joint area. It allows humans to do amazing things like move their…

  Friday, August 04, 2017

• Finding the proper place for the arts in education: Drama

  Like the rest of the arts, participating in drama serves as a weapon against ignorance and gives young…

  Thursday, August 03, 2017

• Finding the proper place for the arts in education: Dance

  Dance, defined as movements of the body that are expressive rather than purely functional, has existed…

  Thursday, July 27, 2017

• Finding the proper place for the arts in education: Visual arts

  Works of art — whether abstract or literal depictions of reality — expand the mind. Nonverbal by…

  Thursday, July 20, 2017

• Finding the proper place for the arts in education: Intro

  President Donald Trump's proposal to ax the National Endowment for the Arts from the U.S. national budget…

  Tuesday, July 11, 2017

• Becoming a better teacher by being a student again

  ​In my free time, I’m taking a sewing class at a government-run trade prep school here in Mexico.…

  Thursday, June 22, 2017

• Virtual reality: A hit for fans, players alike

  America’s favorite pastime has suddenly become easier to experience virtually with the launch of two…

  Wednesday, June 21, 2017

• How music and songs boost language learning

  If you've ever studied a new language, you know how overwhelming it can be to absorb all that new vocabulary,…

  Wednesday, June 14, 2017

• Despite challenges, songs add value to the high school ESL classroom

  ​In a recent discussion with my high school ESL students about music, I asked them to relate experiences…

  Wednesday, May 31, 2017

• Don’t let wrist pain sideline your game

  ​If you've ever injured or experienced soreness in your wrist, you know how debilitating it is. Simple…

  Thursday, May 18, 2017

• Don’t forget to exercise your face

  ​These muscles work hard but don't carry, lift or move the body. Learning to exercise and relax these…

  Tuesday, April 25, 2017

• 10 years later: How are we doing with bullying?

  ​In 2007, a group of students distributed pink shirts in solidarity with a boy who was bullied for…

  Monday, April 17, 2017

• The case for space: An inspiration for learning in the stars

  The excitement surrounding the discovery of the Trappist-1 solar system announced by NASA on Feb. 22…

  Thursday, March 16, 2017

• Students and fake news: Educators breathe hope into bleak diagnosis

  It’s easy for parents and teachers to be wowed by the tech savvy of today’s "neo-digital" natives.…

  Friday, March 10, 2017

• A surprising new use of virtual reality — Teaching empathy

  "It is exciting to consider what could be accomplished if the power of virtual reality were harnessed…

  Thursday, March 02, 2017

• Preparing students for critical thinking: Incorporating metacognition

  Hand-in-hand with critical thinking, incorporating metacognition consciously in the classroom has been…

  Thursday, February 23, 2017

• Preparing students for critical thinking: Challenges and strategies

  "Critical thinking is not a set of skills that can be deployed at any time, in any context. It is a type…

  Thursday, February 16, 2017

• Preparing students for critical thinking: Foundational skills

  There is a great deal of discussion among teachers on how to get students to reason and think critically…

  Tuesday, February 07, 2017

• Should English as lingua franca influence language teaching?

  Today, the vast majority of the English spoken around the world is not between native speakers — in…

  Wednesday, January 11, 2017

• Mathematical modeling: Coming soon to a school near you

  ​In a May Multibriefs Exclusive article, former math teacher Brian Stack wrote about the urgent need…

  Thursday, December 08, 2016

• Optimizing student success with differentiated instruction

  Many teachers recognize that students are motivated when working on assignments they find sufficiently…

  Monday, November 28, 2016

• Focus on the 4 basic language skills: Productive

  Considering all four basic language skills, the majority of students and teachers I surveyed claimed…

  Wednesday, November 02, 2016

• Focus on the 4 basic language skills: Receptive

  Why do some English learners struggle with reading and listening? How can we support them in navigating…

  Wednesday, October 26, 2016

• The play debate: Primary and beyond

  ​Ask primary students what their favorite school subject is and most will say, "Recess!" As adults…

  Friday, October 14, 2016

• The play debate: Shouldn’t preschoolers work more at school?

  ​Play embodies a plethora of activities that activate the child's growth on multiple levels — physical,…

  Friday, September 30, 2016

• The play debate: Do preschoolers need more free time?

  Growing concern about preschool and kindergarten students being ready for the academic rigors they'll…

  Friday, September 16, 2016

• Mingles and circles: Dynamic activities to launch the school year

  Take advantage of your new students' eagerness to socialize by setting up fun, interactive exercises…

  Monday, August 15, 2016

• The hidden benefits of a balanced life

  "Back to school" symbolizes new beginnings for most educators to a degree unmatched by Jan. 1. If, in…

  Friday, August 12, 2016

• For children to be independent thinkers, we must teach autonomy

  When I asked junior high students to look back on their school career and describe the assignment that…

  Thursday, July 14, 2016