Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
🎧 Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane 🎧
Inspire curiosity. Spark creativity. Fuel a lifelong love of learning.
Are you an educator, librarian, parent, or STEM/STEAM enthusiast looking to make learning come alive for kids? Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane is your go-to podcast for hands-on, joyful learning that connects STEM/STEAM education, multicultural children's literature, and real-world exploration.
Join Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor, educator and explorer, as she travels the world (literally and virtually!) to bring you conversations with award-winning authors, illustrators, educators, scientists, and STEM leaders. Each episode delivers fresh ideas, engaging stories, and practical tips to inspire early childhood and elementary learners—in the classroom, the library, or at home. Wonder, curiosity, connection, and play -- we bring the world to you!
🌎 Featuring:
- Innovative STEM/STEAM experiences
- Diverse children's book recommendations
- Strategies for inquiry-based, joyful learning through play
- Voices from around the globe that inspire the WOW
🧠 Perfect for:
Early childhood & elementary educators | School librarians | Homeschoolers | Caregivers | STEM/STEAM champions
🔗 Explore featured books: bookshop.org/shop/drdianeadventures
📝 Read full show notes: drdianeadventures.com/blog
💌 Have an idea or guest suggestion? Email: diane@drdianeadventures.com
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review to support more Adventures in Learning!
Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
Rewriting the Myths: Identity, Empathy, and Belonging in Middle Grade Fantasy with Tracy Wolff
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What happens when young readers are invited to question the stories they’ve always been told?
In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes bestselling author Tracy Wolff to celebrate the launch of her middle grade fantasy debut, The Aftermyth. Together they explore how mythology, storytelling, empathy, and student identity come together in powerful ways, and why middle grade fiction plays a critical role in helping young readers discover who they are and where they belong.
From challenging patriarchal myth narratives to reimagining Aphrodite through compassion and friendship, this conversation highlights how fantasy literature can spark critical thinking, emotional growth, and a love of reading.
Perfect for educators, librarians, families, literacy advocates, and middle grade readers.
Episode Chapters
- 01:21 Building a New Mythological World at Anaximander’s Academy
- 03:12 Questioning History, Power, and Perspective in Stories
- 07:13 Empathy, Friendship, and the Reimagining of Aphrodite
- 10:12 Middle Grade Identity, Belonging, and Finding Your Voice
- 13:29 Read-Alouds, Choice, and Building Reading Motivation
- 18:32 Writing Middle Grade Fantasy and Keeping Kids Engaged
- 19:49 What Brings Hope: Raising Compassionate Readers
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why The Aftermyth challenges traditional Greek mythology narratives
- How middle grade fantasy supports identity development and belonging
- The importance of empathy and compassion in children’s literature
- Why read-alouds should continue beyond early elementary grades
- How student choice and format flexibility support reluctant readers
- How storytelling builds motivation and reading stamina
Featured Book
📚 The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff, available wherever books are sold.
Check out The Aftermyth Reading Guide.
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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.
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