Backwards and Forwards

What I Have Learned From Classes I Didn’t Enjoy

In this episode of Backwards and Forwards, Josephine reflects on classes she did not enjoy and what those experiences taught her about how she learns. Rather than focusing on frustration or outcomes, she explores how teaching style, structure, and engagement shape the learning experience. This episode considers the difference between a class being difficult and a class being unengaging, and how moments of disengagement can still lead to insight and growth over time.

What Helps Me Stay Engaged in Class

In this episode of Backwards and Forwards, Josephine reflects on what helped her stay engaged in class. Rather than focusing on study tips or productivity strategies, she explores the environments, teaching styles, and small classroom details that made it easier to stay present and involved. Drawing from personal experience, this episode considers how engagement is shaped by structure, pacing, and clarity, and why feeling engaged is often less about effort and more about fit.

Children's Book for Early Dyslexic Readers

In our episode of Backwards and Forwards, Josephine reflects on a small selection of children’s books that make reading feel more accessible for early dyslexic readers. Rather than reviewing or ranking titles, the episode focuses on how these books create space, build confidence, and help readers stay connected to the story when reading feels challenging.

Navigating a 504 Plan in High School

In our ninth episode of Backwards and Forwards, Josephine reflects on the experience of navigating a 504 plan in high school. She talks through what a 504 plan is designed to do, who qualifies, and the types of accommodations it can include. Speaking from personal experience, she shares how these supports have helped her learning and how she has learned to advocate for herself. This episode is a personal reflection on what it means to access support and create systems that help learning feel more manageable.

Organization as a Thinking Tool

In our eighth episode of Backwards and Forwards, Josephine reflects on how she organizes her own learning, notes, and ideas to support thinking and memory. Speaking solo, she shares the systems, strategies, and small habits that have worked for her, from organizing for retrieval rather than storage, to noticing what messiness can reveal, to building flexible routines that adapt to changing needs. This episode is a personal reflection on how an organization can be a tool for thinking, not just a task to complete.