Raising Readers

S1 E11: Celebrating America's Favorite Principal

This special episode celebrates Mr. Manning and the incredible impact he’s had on Voyager students, staff, and families before his retirement. Fittingly, this podcast exists because of his encouragement to create a literacy resource that connects school and home—something he’s been doing for years through reading challenges, classroom visits, and a love for helping kids become readers. To celebrate him, we went straight to the experts: our students. 💙 Thank you, Mr. Manning, for helping raise readers—and for making a difference that won’t be forgotten.

S1 E10: Read, Pause, Talk

You’re doing the reading…but is your child actually understanding what they read? In this episode of Raising Readers, I'm sharing the simple shift that turns reading time into real learning. You’ll walk away with one easy strategy you can use tonight: Read. Pause. Talk. Plus, hear a real student example that shows how a quick conversation can unlock deeper thinking in seconds. Because whether your child is reading independently or still learning, comprehension is built through language.

S1 E9: Why Language Matters

In this episode of Raising Readers, you’ll learn how oral language—the way children talk, think, and make sense of ideas is one of the strongest predictors of reading success, and why the conversations you’re having every day are building the foundation for comprehension, vocabulary, and writing.

S1 E8: Let’s Build a Story

Ever heard a child talk their way out of being eaten by a tiger? In this episode, we’re sharing a simple (and seriously fun) way to build your child’s language and storytelling skills—by creating a story together, one idea at a time. No prep. No pressure. Just one sentence… and see where it goes. Because when kids learn to build stories out loud, they’re building the exact skills they need to become strong readers and writers.

S1 E7: Tell me more!

In this episode of Raising Readers, we’re adding another simple tool to your family conversation toolkit: “Tell me more.” This small phrase encourages children to expand their ideas, add details, and explain their thinking — all skills that support strong reading comprehension. Give it a try and see where the story goes.