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November is a time to reflect on what we’re thankful for—relationships, nature, and knowledge. As an educator for life, I’m especially grateful for the endless opportunities to learn and make connections that reveal patterns in the world around us. This month, I want to focus on gratitude for the gifts we have, and more importantly, for understanding those gifts.

One of the gifts I cherish most is the ability to learn, and much of that is thanks to my dad’s first educational book. In it, he explored how people learn, process, and retrieve information. I’m incredibly thankful for the insights he shared, as they helped me understand how to learn more effectively.

When I was in sixth grade, I began struggling with my grades. No matter how much time I spent studying, I kept failing my tests. My dad, Michael, ever the devoted and insightful father, noticed this and started analyzing what might be going wrong. After careful observation, he realized that I was studying in an auditory way, while the tests were designed to assess visual recall.

Together, we developed a strategy that helped me transform the way I studied. Instead of just listening to the material, I learned how to visualize it—storing the information in my mind as vivid images. This shift allowed me to access the information more effectively during tests, and my grades improved dramatically.

We hope that this newsletter, along with the tools we’ve shared, will help you understand how you learn best and allow you to tap into your own unique way of processing and retaining information.

As we move through this month of gratitude, I encourage you to reflect on the gifts of learning and growth in your own life.

Thank you for all that you do. 

Be well, Krista