Strong Starts in Upper Elementary with Terrell McCullers: What Works in Virtual Classrooms (Grades 3–5)

Grades three through five are a critical turning point for students. This is when academic expectations increase, independence begins to take shape, and learning habits start to solidify. In a virtual environment, getting this stage right matters.In this episode of GCA Unmuted, we’re joined by Terrell McCullers, an Elementary Grades Band teacher at Georgia Cyber Academy. Terrell shares what strong instruction looks like in upper elementary virtual classrooms and how routines, relationships, and consistency help students build confidence and momentum.The conversation explores how teachers support students who are still developing independence, how engagement is maintained as content becomes more demanding, and how families and teachers work together during these formative years. Along the way, Terrell reflects on lessons that apply beyond virtual education and speaks directly to common doubts about whether online learning can work for younger students.This episode is part of GCA Unmuted’s ongoing documentation of how virtual schools operate in practice, with insights that are useful for educators in any setting.Thanks for listening to GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, a podcast documenting how virtual school works in practice at Georgia Cyber Academy.Each episode features educators, staff, and leaders sharing real stories and systems that support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.Learn more about the podcast and explore past episodes at: https://www.georgiacyber.org/about/unmutedYou can also watch full episodes and highlights on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GCAchampions