Mrs. Marianne Rule Empowers Student Voices; Publishes in Edutopia

Edutopia, a trusted source that shines a spotlight on what works in education, has published an article by Merion Mercy Academy Theology teacher and department chair, Mrs. Marianne Rule. Mrs. Rule’s post, “Using Weekly Routines to Build Speaking Skills,” provides fellow teachers with six strategies to guide students to build confidence in their speaking skills through low-stakes, highly engaging discussions.

Mrs. Rule writes, “By fostering respectful listening and encouraging student self-expression, my daily, monthly, and unit routines help create an environment where every voice matters.” Working Merion Mercy’s Critical Concerns into the conversation, she encourages students to explore new perspectives with empathy, active listening, and understanding. “These dialogue skills are distinct from debate and discussion—they invite students to suspend judgment and appreciate others’ lived experiences…That way, when challenging topics arise, conversations don’t feel like outliers; instead, we can rely on the relationships we’ve built and the skills we’ve practiced.”

Mrs. Rule is an active contributor in educational circles. Her integration of AI into the student writing process was featured at ISTELive24, and she is a member of the 2026 International Coalition of Girls Schools Global Action Research Collaborative cohort for “The AI Frontier in Girls’ Schools.”