Raising Readers

This special episode celebrates Mr. Manning and the incredible impact he’s had on Voyager students, staff, and families before his retirement. Fittingly, this podcast exists because of his encouragement to create a literacy resource that connects school and home—something he’s been doing for years through reading challenges, classroom visits, and a love for helping kids become readers. To celebrat...

You’re doing the reading…but is your child actually understanding what they read? In this episode of Raising Readers , I'm sharing the simple shift that turns reading time into real learning. You’ll walk away with one easy strategy you can use tonight: Read. Pause. Talk. Plus, hear a real student example that shows how a quick conversation can unlock deeper thinking in seconds. Because whether...

In this episode of Raising Readers, you’ll learn how oral language—the way children talk, think, and make sense of ideas is one of the strongest predictors of reading success, and why the conversations you’re having every day are building the foundation for comprehension, vocabulary, and writing.

Ever heard a child talk their way out of being eaten by a tiger? In this episode, we’re sharing a simple (and seriously fun) way to build your child’s language and storytelling skills—by creating a story together , one idea at a time. No prep. No pressure. Just one sentence… and see where it goes. Because when kids learn to build stories out loud, they’re building the exact skills they need to bec...

In this episode of Raising Readers , we’re adding another simple tool to your family conversation toolkit: “Tell me more.” This small phrase encourages children to expand their ideas, add details, and explain their thinking — all skills that support strong reading comprehension. Give it a try and see where the story goes.

Have you ever listened to your child tell a story and realized you have no idea what’s happening? Kids often jump right into the middle of a story without explaining who was there, where they were, or what was going on. In this episode of Raising Readers, Heather shares a simple phrase her family uses to help kids tell clearer stories. Learn how this small prompt encourages children to describe th...

Before children understand stories in books, they learn stories through life. In this episode of Raising Readers, Heather explains how family stories build language, comprehension, and the connections strong readers make in the classroom.

If you’ve ever asked, “How was school?” and gotten the classic “fine”… this episode is for you. In this episode of Raising Readers, we explore how the types of questions we ask can shape our child’s thinking, language, and reading development. Small shifts in how we ask questions can lead to richer conversations and stronger comprehension. Plus, this episode features a special student guest , givi...

What if one small change in conversation could grow your child’s vocabulary and language skills? In this episode of Raising Readers , we explore Repeat and Expand — a simple, research-based strategy that helps children build stronger language through everyday conversations. You’ll also hear from a special student guest who helps demonstrate what this strategy sounds like in real life.

In this episode of Raising Readers , we introduce the WAIT strategy — Why Am I Talking? — and how pausing after asking a question gives your child time to think, build language, and strengthen comprehension. Learn how one simple shift in conversation can support your child’s confidence and reading success. Plus… you’ll hear from a special student guest who shows us exactly what thinking time sound...

Conversation is one of the most powerful tools for building strong readers. In this episode, learn how the “Strive for 5” method helps grow your child’s vocabulary and comprehension through simple, everyday conversations. These small moments can make a big difference in your child’s reading development.