Why Kids Struggle to Read & The Science of Reading Explained

Is your child struggling to read, or are you wondering if their school is actually using the right methods to teach them?In this episode of Wake Up Your Soul, Andrea sits down with Jessica Reid Sliwerski—a former teacher, literacy leader, breast cancer survivor, and the founder of Ignite Reading. Jess shares her fearless mission to ensure every child learns to read on time using the "science of reading." We dive into why traditional ways of teaching reading are failing our kids, how evidence-based phonics and data-driven instruction can rapidly turn things around, and what parents can do at home to advocate for their children's education.From being banned from volunteering at her own daughter's school to launching a nationwide virtual tutoring program during the pandemic, Jessica's story is one of raw hope, resilience, and relentless advocacy for our youth.In this episode, we cover:• Why the "science of reading" is the critical missing piece in early literacy• The problem with traditional reading instruction in modern schools• How Ignite Reading uses virtual 1-on-1 tutoring to close the education gap• Why kindergarten and first grade are the most crucial years for reading development• Actionable tips and word games for parents to build vocabulary at home• Jessica's inspiring journey of navigating a breast cancer diagnosis while scaling her missionEpisode Timestamps:00:00 - A Cancer Survivor’s Purpose & Mission00:45 - Show Disclaimer & Intro02:18 - Welcome Guest: Jessica Reid Sliwerski03:24 - Early Teaching Struggles & Failing Methods04:24 - Discovering the Science of Reading09:18 - Scaling Literacy Impact in Schools10:45 - Banned From Volunteering at Her Daughter’s School14:19 - Proving All Kids Can Learn to Read15:47 - The Pandemic Zoom Breakthrough17:22 - The Vision for a Virtual Reading Corps19:14 - The Reality of Kindergarten Reading Skills21:22 - The Daily Alphabet Debate23:51 - The Phonics "Schwa" Problem Explained25:37 - The Need for Strong Instructional Leadership27:28 - How Tutors are Trained for Success28:38 - "Mind Movies" and Reading Comprehension31:37 - Word Games to Build Vocabulary at Home33:56 - Navigating a Breast Cancer Diagnosis35:42 - How Ignite Reading Actually Works38:55 - Funding and Scaling Access for Students40:05 - Why Early Literacy Matters More Than Ever43:12 - The "First Grade Promise" Mission47:20 - Parent Tips and Reading Benchmarks51:54 - Home Programs and Episode Wrap-UpConnect with Us:Follow Andrea on Instagram: @andrealynnintuitiveLearn more about Ignite Reading: https://ignite-reading.com/#ScienceOfReading #EarlyLiteracy #TeachKidsToRead #ParentingTips #IgniteReading #WakeUpYourSoul #AndreaLynnSupport the showClick and subscribe to my youtube channel where you can catch fun lives to uplift your mood and video versions of this podcast:https://youtube.com/@wakeupyoursoulwithandrealynn?si=fGyeGrftRqTZNnjRFollow me on Ig:https://www.instagram.com/andrealynnintuitive?igsh=MTgzemQ2bnNwM2d4ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr