From Confusion to Confidence. Navigating Dyslexia & Empowering Parents with Michelle Henderson

Katie Megrian hosts Michelle Henderson, a literacy and dyslexia specialist and creator of the Parent Blueprint, to discuss how reading develops and how parents can advocate for struggling readers. Michelle shares that her son’s reading struggles led her to study the science of reading and focus on equipping parents, noting many children fall through cracks due to gaps in training, not lack of care. They explain why “just read more at home” is insufficient, contrasting structured literacy (explicit, systematic, evidence-based) with balanced literacy, and connect NAEP results to the need for better instruction. Michelle outlines early dyslexia signs, stresses early action, and describes her $47 Parent Blueprint course and free parent-teacher conference guide at michellehendersonliteracy.com. They address older students whose grades mask deficits, the value of OG-style individualized intervention, graphic novels and movies for access and motivation, continuing read-alouds, and supporting children’s self-esteem and self-advocacy.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:30 Meet Michelle Henderson01:15 Why Advocacy Matters03:13 Reading Symphony Analogy04:43 Read Aloud Is Not Enough07:46 Basics of Reading Skills08:52 Structured Literacy Training10:09 Balanced Literacy Debate14:08 Why Dyslexia Name Matters19:19 Kindergarten Wake Up Call24:34 Early Signs of Dyslexia27:17 Parent Blueprint Course29:20 Tools Modules And PDFs32:16 Pricing Giveaway And Free Guide33:40 Teen Dyslexia Hidden Struggles37:43 Orton Gillingham For Older Readers43:20 Movies Graphic Novels And Joy46:51 Read Alouds And Audio Access49:55 Handling Discouragement And Hope51:29 Final Thanks And Podcast OutroMichelle's Website Michelle's course