Teachable Moments – Episode 86
Posted on: May 23, 2012
Episode 86 features Emily Gurdian, who hails from New Orleans, LA. Emily is 23 years old and a teacher. She is presently in graduate school at the University of Portland (Oregon) where she is pursuing Educational Leadership.
Listen in as we discuss a range of topics. We talk about teasing, mocking and dumb comments. We discuss being stunned into silence sometimes by hurtful comments about stuttering, and how we deal with it.
Emily also shares about what it is like to be a substitute teacher and constantly having to adapt to new kids.
Emily plans to focus her Master’s research on how stuttering affects a child’s entire academic performance. She chose this topic because it met her professor’s criteria of being interesting and important. And because communication affects every aspect of a child’s learning experience.
Be sure to listen in to this great conversation with a young teacher who is insightful and confident. Feel free to leave feedback for either of us, or let Emily know what a great job she did.
Podcast safe music used in this episode is credited to ccMixter.
Make Room For The Stuttering 
May 23, 2012 at 11:11 AM
I really wanted to say something about the sign language issue you had. First of all, even if you knew sign language, you would have to assume that the person saying that knows and understands sign language. I would say don’t beat yourself …up about it, take it as a learning experience and you’ll know what to do next time. About Emily Gurdian, I think her speech is great. Look how far she has gone in life. NO fear, never letting anything hold her back. It seems to me that she has conditioned herself to not let the small things bother her. I can hear her passion for teaching in her voice. Is people like her that is there for the right reasons and the kids she teaches will remember her for that. They will remember her for a few things, first of all they will remember her strength and courage,second is motivation and perseverance. Good Job Emily Gurdian!!!!