Publications

2025

• Magnan, M. L. (2026, February 20). Designing instruction that accounts for student attention. Edutopia.

Designing Instruction That Accounts for Student Attention

Techniques such as interweaving direct instruction with active learning tasks help students practice sustained, intentional focus.

George Lucas Educational FoundationMaureen Magnan

• Magnan, M. L. (2025). Embracing Universal Design for Learning to Support Learner Variability in ACTFL‑Aligned Classrooms. NECTFL Review. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1486668.pdf
  https://eric.ed.gov/?q=source%3A%22NECTFL+Review%22
• Magnan, M. L. (2025, Nov 11). Fun Formative Assessment Activities Inspired by UDL. Edutopia.

Fun Formative Assessment Activities Inspired by UDL

Varying the format of comprehension checks guides students to demonstrate learning and provides teachers feedback on progress.

George Lucas Educational FoundationMaureen Magnan

• Magnan, M. L. (2025, June 2). 7 Retrieval Activities That Help Learning Stick. Edutopia.

7 Retrieval Activities That Help Learning Stick

These low-pressure, brain-based learning strategies help students retrieve what they know, building confidence and motivation.

George Lucas Educational FoundationMaureen Magnan

2024

• Magnan, M. L. (2024, Oct 1). Harnessing the Strength of Listening to Human Stories in Education: A Language Educator’s Experience at CFD. Center on Forced Displacement, Boston University.

Harnessing the Strength of Listening to Human Stories in Education: A Language Educator’s experience at CFD by Maureen Lothrop Magnan, Ph.D. | Center on Forced Displacement

Center on Forced Displacement

• Novak, K. & Magnan, M. (2024, Aug 7). Bringing Universal Design for Learning to the World Language Classroom. Edutopia.
  https://www.edutopia.org/article/implementing-udl-world-language-classes

Bringing Universal Design for Learning to the World Language Classroom

Shifting to student-led instruction through UDL can be challenging in these classes, but it can work with the right scaffolds.

George Lucas Educational FoundationKatie Novak

2020

• Magnan, M. L. (2020). Creating Cross-Cultural Understandings in the Language Classroom Through Ethnographic Interviews with Immigrants. Ph.D. Dissertation, Lesley University.
  Available from ProQuest.

2019

• Magnan, M. L. (2019). “Ella Me Apoyó”: A Latina Mother’s Journey Through the Special Education System. In Sauer, J. & Rossetti, Z. Affirming Disability: Strengths‑Based Portraits of Culturally Diverse Families. Teachers College Press.

Affirming Disability 9780807763292 | Teachers College Press

Teachers College Press

Teachers College Press