Ep. 115 - Why Your Child Says Reading Is Boring (And What to Do About It) // Janel Nansenn

Your child reads beautifully out loud — but ask them what just happened in the story, and you get a blank stare. That's the gap most homeschool moms don't catch until it's too late.In Episode 115, homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with educational therapist Janel Nansenn — founder of Read-A-Rific and a 25-year private practice veteran who has helped over 3,000 students — to break down the reading comprehension gap most families don't catch until fourth grade, when the doors really start closing.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).In this episode, you'll learn:What the Matthew effect is — and why it's the silent reason struggling readers fall further behind every yearThe critical difference between reading fluency and reading comprehension (and why fluent readers can still have huge gaps)The single skill underneath strong reading comprehension — concept visualization — and why most curricula skip it entirelyThe real reason kids say "reading is boring" (it's not laziness)The red flags that signal a comprehension problem before it tanks your child's confidenceComprehension-rich activities every homeschool mom should be doing — even if your child is already a strong readerHow to evaluate whether a reading curriculum actually teaches comprehension or just tests itWhy visualization is the bridge to math word problems, writing, vocabulary, and every other subjectSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 PurchaseLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:Free symptoms checklist for weak visualization skills: readarific.comThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thriveAbout our guest:Janel Nansenn is an educational therapist with a master's degree in speech-language pathology and audiology, and the founder of Read-A-Rific. With nearly 25 years in private practice, she has helped over 3,000 students of all ages become independent, confident learners by addressing the root cause of reading comprehension struggles: weak concept visualization.👉 readarific.comConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschoolTikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - The Matthew effect — why reading comprehension is the quiet worry (02:00) - Meet Janelle Nansen, founder of Read-A-Rific (03:28) - Janelle's story: how she discovered concept visualization (08:03) - Why she narrowed her practice to reading comprehension (08:46) - Reading fluency vs. reading comprehension (15:29) - Why kids think reading is "boring" (18:52) - The shame spiral: comprehension struggles and self-esteem (20:44) - Comprehension-rich activities every homeschool mom should do (23:29) - Red flags: symptoms of weak visualization skills (26:23) - Why visualization matters across math, writing & vocabulary (29:35) - How to evaluate a reading comprehension curriculum (34:26) - Charlotte Mason, narration & the long history of these methods (46:27) - The takeaway: find the root cause (47:49) - Where to find Janelle