Teaching Reading the Right Way | What Every Parent and Educator Should Know

Learning to read is one of the most important skills a child develops and is not natural. It must be explicitly taught. Reading requires an understanding of how the brain learns to read, as well as evidence-based practices that help learners build a strong foundation.

Mary-Anne Mouawad is the Founder and Director of The Reading Clinic and a literacy educator with more than 25 years of experience supporting children, youth, and adults on their reading journeys. Mary-Anne shares her passion for the Science of Reading and explains why explicit, systematic, sequential, and multisensory instruction matters.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

💥 Why many educators feel unprepared to teach children how to read and why understanding the Science of Reading is essential

💥 The four key components of effective reading instruction and what they mean.

💥 The connection between decoding and language comprehension, and why both are necessary for reading comprehension

💥 The difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness, and why these skills begin with listening before reading and writing

💥 How young children can build early literacy skills through rhyming, songs, chants, syllable activities, and sound play

💥Practical strategies for parents, including ways to support pre-reading skills with young children

💥 Why older students who struggle with reading need assessment to identify specific areas for support

💥 How educators can use evidence-based resources and approaches aligned with the Science of Reading

💥 Why choosing a literacy tutor or support provider who understands how reading develops matters