The Reading Project

It's been an incredible journey hosting this podcast. We’ve produced 115 episodes and had nearly 20,000 downloads. The podcast has reached so many families and I’ll forever be grateful and proud of that. In this episode, we're saying goodbye. Tune in as a I recap some of our most impactful episodes and let you know how we can continue to work together to support literacy development. Resou...

Summer is just around the corner! Are you beginning to wonder what the break will mean for your child's literacy skills? In this episode, I cover the summer slide: What it is, and how you can avoid it. Tune in for my top five tips you can follow to help combat the summer slide! And, make sure to listen carefully - I'll be sharing a coupon code with you! Books & Resources Mentioned in T...

In this episode, I'm joined by Mindy VanZuiden, an educator and tutor who places the importance of rapport with students at the top, knowing if the relationship is in place everything else can then fall in line. Mindy is passionate about learning and encourages her students to not only learn to succeed in the academic world but she teaches them important life skills as well. Mindy knew that sh...

We often hear about the importance of reading for educational purposes, but reading for fun holds its own unique benefits. In this episode, I'm sharing all about the importance of reading for fun and how families, including busy caregivers, can find more time for it in their lives. Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links....

In this episode, I'm joined by Melquea Smith, a Black, Queer, multi-award-winning children’s book illustrator based in New York, for a discussion about filling your home library with black books! Melquea is an active member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a committee member of #BlackCreatorsHeadquarters. Certified kid at heart, she provides positive and joyful im...

In this episode, I'm joined by Jody Sperling for a conversation about helping our kiddos develop a life-long love of reading. Jody Sperling is the author of the Luke in Time mysteries and host of TRBM a podcast for authors who want to get their books into more readers' hands. He’s also hitchhiked across the country and lived out of his van. You can connect with Jody on ⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠ . Boo...

This is part two of a two-part series on literacy hacks for busy families. Catch part one, here . In this episode, I'm sharing practical and time-efficient tips for parents and caregivers who may have busy schedules but still want to foster a culture of literacy at home. I am going to share 10 different ideas, 5 in this episode and 5 in part one.   Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episo...

In this episode, I'm joined by Hailey Glynn for a conversation about how we can use children's books to help our kiddos process difficult situations and learn more about themselves.   Hailey, a former elementary teacher from Buffalo, NY, unexpectedly ventured into storytelling during the pandemic. Her debut, "When Virona the Corona Came to Town," became an instant hit, sparking H...

This is part one of a two-part series on literacy hacks for busy families. In this episode, I'm sharing practical and time-efficient tips for parents and caregivers who may have busy schedules but still want to foster a culture of literacy at home. I am going to share 10 different ideas, 5 in this episode and 5 in part two.   Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: This book and resou...

In this episode, I'm joined by Heather O’Donnell for a conversation about writing skills that will help your kids and students improve their comprehension.   Heather O’Donnell MS.Ed and Ed. M began her career as a classroom teacher. Working in both special and general education classroom settings, she left the classroom in 2018 to open New Paltz Multisensory, an online and in-person tutoring p...

In this special holiday episode, we're diving into the world of reading, writing, and online learning with a guide to thoughtful and educational Christmas gifts for kids! With the holiday season right around the corner, I've curated a list of gifts that will inspire young minds and foster a love for learning. Whether it's enhancing literacy skills or making online education more engagi...

In this episode, I'm joined by Ashley Gilbert. Ashley is a former elementary school teacher who took her favorite parts of the classroom and turned them into a successful and thriving tutoring business, Keep It Up Tutoring! She's on a mission to help K-5 students become better readers, spellers, and writers. Ashley has a Master's Degree in teaching and has been LETRS trained. When she&...

In this episode, I'm joined by executive function coach, Carrie Bonnett. Carrie is a veteran teacher and lifelong listmaker based in Bend, Oregon where she lives with her husband and two children. Carrie works with families all over the United States. Her no-shame approach and the strategies and tools that she teaches empower students to thrive in school and in life, help parents and teachers...

In this episode, I'm talking about the importance of vocabulary development in children and why your kids need to read more nonfiction! Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support! Epic! Chicks & Chickens b...

We're back with season 4! In this episode, I'm joined by Scotti Weintraub of Reframe Parenting. Scotti Weintraub is the mom of 2 teen boys. After supporting her own struggling children, she's using her hard-won experience to save other parents time and heartache with her business, Reframe Parenting. She loves nothing more than helping other parents find the knowledge & resources th...

This year, Banned Book Week is October 1-7. In this episode, I'm taking on a controversial topic... reading banned books with your children. Tune in for an explanation of why some books get banned and ten questions to consider before reading banned books with your kiddos. Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn...

In this episode, I'm joined by Aly Young. Aly's background in psychology and sociology led her to explore her passion for education and learning by teaching in various settings, from public, to private, to charter. In each school, Aly noticed that kids always struggled with the material, not because they weren't smart or trying, but because the approach was wrong. Aly noticed these str...

It's our season 3 finale! Wow, I can't beleive how incredible this season has been! Tune in as we take a stroll down memory lane, get a sneak peek at what's to come over the summer, and I'll offer my opinion on the debate over whether kids should take the summer off or keep tutoring. Stick around until the end for all of the details on my fun summer family reading challenge! Books...

In this episode, we're discussing how to avoid summer learning loss with your children. Summer break is a wonderful time for kids to relax, explore new activities, and enjoy some much-needed downtime. However, studies have shown that students can experience learning loss during this period, commonly known as the "summer slide." But don't worry! Tune in as I share some great strat...

In this episode, I'm breaking down reading levels and the different types of systems used for leveling. Tune in for a brief overview of five different methods/types of levels, how they work, and what they tell us! Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Reading A-Z Raz-Kids If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way,  you can do so here . Please know that any support you...

In this episode, I'm joined by Margie Figueroa. Margie is a wife, mom, and Founder and Lead Teacher of Funshine Educational Services, a small business that provides online learning opportunities including tutoring, homeschool help, and parent coaching. She has 13 years of classroom experience and 1 year of Instructional Coaching experience and she has a passion for educating children. She beli...

In this episode, I'm joined by return guest, Emily Gibbons! She is a mom of four and an educator who loves creating, sharing, and talking about all things literacy. As a certified Orton-Gillingham educator and dyslexia specialist, she strives to provide resources that assist teachers, families, and children with all aspects of structured literacy and dyslexia. In this episode, we're talkin...

April is National Poetry Month, so this week I am sharing my favorite types of poems for kids: Haikus and Limericks! I love using these types of poetry with children because they are short to read and write, so they aren’t overwhelming for our growing readers.  Tune in as I explain what haikus and limericks are, and share some examples that kids will enjoy. At the end of the episode, I'll shar...

In this episode, I'm happy to share a conversation with Lisa Parnello. Lisa is a dyslexia expert with over 15 years of experience including public schools, and private schools, with a primary focus on students with learning differences such as dyslexia, and dysgraphia. She started her career teaching general education students and discovered her heart was set on helping the children who strugg...

April is National Poetry Month! What are you planning to do this month to celebrate poetry in your home? If you've got nothing planned yet or you're looking for fun ideas, I've got you covered! In this episode, I'll let you know why I love poetry and why I think poetry is great for children. Tune in for five fun ways you can celebrate National Poetry Month at home! Books & Reso...