The Reading Project: Recent Episodes
Ashley DiMercurio - Your Reading Tutor
Hey there! Welcome to The Reading Project podcast where I help you build stronger readers one episode at a time. I am Ashley - Your Reading Tutor - and my experience as an online tutor, classroom teacher, and the mother of a reluctant reader, has allowed me to bring a fun and effective approach to building stronger and more confident readers. I created The Reading Project after working with dozens of families in my business that needed support in helping their readers at home. I want parents to know that you don't have to be a teacher to help your struggling reader! I'm here to help!
It’s been an incredible journey hosting this podcast. We’ve produced 115 episodes and had nearly 20,000 downloads. The podcast has reached so many families and I’ll forever be grateful and proud of that. In this episode, we’re saying goodbye. Tune in as a I recap some of our most impactful episodes and let you know how […]
Summer is just around the corner! Are you beginning to wonder what the break will mean for your child’s literacy skills? In this episode, I cover the summer slide: What it is, and how you can avoid it. Tune in for my top five tips you can follow to help combat the summer slide! And, […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Mindy VanZuiden, an educator and tutor who places the importance of rapport with students at the top, knowing if the relationship is in place everything else can then fall in line. Mindy is passionate about learning and encourages her students to not only learn to succeed in the academic […]
We often hear about the importance of reading for educational purposes, but reading for fun holds its own unique benefits. In this episode, I’m sharing all about the importance of reading for fun and how families, including busy caregivers, can find more time for it in their lives. Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Melquea Smith, a Black, Queer, multi-award-winning children’s book illustrator based in New York, for a discussion about filling your home library with black books! Melquea is an active member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a committee member of #BlackCreatorsHeadquarters. Certified kid at heart, she […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Jody Sperling for a conversation about helping our kiddos develop a life-long love of reading. Jody Sperling is the author of the Luke in Time mysteries and host of TRBM a podcast for authors who want to get their books into more readers’ hands. He’s also hitchhiked across the […]
This is part two of a two-part series on literacy hacks for busy families. Catch part one, here. In this episode, I’m sharing practical and time-efficient tips for parents and caregivers who may have busy schedules but still want to foster a culture of literacy at home. I am going to share 10 different ideas, […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Hailey Glynn for a conversation about how we can use children’s books to help our kiddos process difficult situations and learn more about themselves. Hailey, a former elementary teacher from Buffalo, NY, unexpectedly ventured into storytelling during the pandemic. Her debut, “When Virona the Corona Came to Town,” became […]
This is part one of a two-part series on literacy hacks for busy families. In this episode, I’m sharing practical and time-efficient tips for parents and caregivers who may have busy schedules but still want to foster a culture of literacy at home. I am going to share 10 different ideas, 5 in this episode […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Heather O’Donnell for a conversation about writing skills that will help your kids and students improve their comprehension. Heather O’Donnell MS.Ed and Ed.M began her career as a classroom teacher. Working in both special and general education classroom settings, she left the classroom in 2018 to open New Paltz […]
In this special holiday episode, we’re diving into the world of reading, writing, and online learning with a guide to thoughtful and educational Christmas gifts for kids! With the holiday season right around the corner, I’ve curated a list of gifts that will inspire young minds and foster a love for learning. Whether it’s enhancing […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Gilbert. Ashley is a former elementary school teacher who took her favorite parts of the classroom and turned them into a successful and thriving tutoring business, Keep It Up Tutoring! She’s on a mission to help K-5 students become better readers, spellers, and writers. Ashley has a Master’s […]
In this episode, I’m joined by executive function coach, Carrie Bonnett. Carrie is a veteran teacher and lifelong listmaker based in Bend, Oregon where she lives with her husband and two children. Carrie works with families all over the United States. Her no-shame approach and the strategies and tools that she teaches empower students to […]
We’re back with season 4! In this episode, I’m joined by Scotti Weintraub of Reframe Parenting. Scotti Weintraub is the mom of 2 teen boys. After supporting her own struggling children, she’s using her hard-won experience to save other parents time and heartache with her business, Reframe Parenting. She loves nothing more than helping other […]
It’s our season 3 finale! Wow, I can’t beleive how incredible this season has been! Tune in as we take a stroll down memory lane, get a sneak peek at what’s to come over the summer, and I’ll offer my opinion on the debate over whether kids should take the summer off or keep tutoring. […]
In this episode, we’re discussing how to avoid summer learning loss with your children.Summer break is a wonderful time for kids to relax, explore new activities, and enjoy some much-needed downtime. However, studies have shown that students can experience learning loss during this period, commonly known as the “summer slide.” But don’t worry! Tune in […]
In this episode, I’m breaking down reading levels and the different types of systems used for leveling. Tune in for a brief overview of five different methods/types of levels, how they work, and what they tell us! Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: If you’d like to support this podcast in a small way, you […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Margie Figueroa. Margie is a wife, mom, and Founder and Lead Teacher of Funshine Educational Services, a small business that provides online learning opportunities including tutoring, homeschool help, and parent coaching. She has 13 years of classroom experience and 1 year of Instructional Coaching experience and she has a […]
In this episode, I’m joined by return guest, Emily Gibbons! She is a mom of four and an educator who loves creating, sharing, and talking about all things literacy. As a certified Orton-Gillingham educator and dyslexia specialist, she strives to provide resources that assist teachers, families, and children with all aspects of structured literacy and […]
April is National Poetry Month, so this week I am sharing my favorite types of poems for kids: Haikus and Limericks! I love using these types of poetry with children because they are short to read and write, so they aren’t overwhelming for our growing readers. Tune in as I explain what haikus and limericks are, […]
In this episode, I’m happy to share a conversation with Lisa Parnello. Lisa is a dyslexia expert with over 15 years of experience including public schools, and private schools, with a primary focus on students with learning differences such as dyslexia, and dysgraphia. She started her career teaching general education students and discovered her heart […]
April is National Poetry Month! What are you planning to do this month to celebrate poetry in your home? If you’ve got nothing planned yet or you’re looking for fun ideas, I’ve got you covered! In this episode, I’ll let you know why I love poetry and why I think poetry is great for children. […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Spanish teacher, Sandy Jackson! Sandy is a Spanish teacher turned tutor that helps families bring Spanish into their homes in easy and approachable ways. She is a mother of two toddlers and has used her experience in the classroom and in her personal life to create Spanish with Sandy: […]
Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I love watching the grass get greener, the trees grow their new leaves and the flowers bloom. The promise of a new day and growth in all areas. In this episode, I’m sharing ways you can help your children and students “spring into reading”! Tune […]
A few weeks ago, I released episode 3.24: Make Word Study Fun! Today, I’d like for you to check out this re-released episode from season 2 featuring Diane Talbot all about word study. I hope you enjoy! I am super excited to bring you, Diane Talbot, as a guest to the podcast. She is the […]
In this episode, we’re going to talk about what I want families to know about reading. Tune in for five things I think it is so important for families to know Resources Mentioned in This Episode: If you’d like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any […]
In this episode, I’m joined by children’s book author, Judd Shaw! Judd B. Shaw likes to bring out his inner knight in shining armor. He does that through his work as a New Jersey attorney representing injury victims, as a parent, and by creative writing. Judd shares his passion for helping others with his imaginary […]
Are your children doing Word Study at school? A listener recently told me that her kids are doing Word Study at school and they don’t have anything nice to say about it… In this episode, I’m talking all about Word Study. What it is, why it’s important, and how you can make it more fun […]
Here at the Reading Project Podcast, we love storytelling! In this episode, I’m joined by Merideth Kelly, the founder and creator of Storitopia. Storitopia is a new podcast player just for kids! It was created to give both kids and caregivers a tool to discover awesome content. Storitopia’s goal is to create a community where stories […]
I’m back with a short episode packed full of great ideas for how you can inspire your child to read and write in fun and creative ways! I’m all about creative thinking, life hacks, and finding ways to reach children that are struggling as readers and writers. Tune in as I share 20 ways to […]
I’m thrilled to welcome Sarah Travers to The Reading Project Podcast. Sarah is a former primary school teacher turned online reading tutor. She’s a mama to two girls, one of which she’s just started teaching to read. She is part of an ex-pat family from the UK and currently lives in Germany. Like many families, […]
In this very exciting solo episode, we are going to talk about how you can use music to help your child with their reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills. We’ll start by discussing exactly what fluency is. Then, we’ll look at using favorite and familiar songs to encourage and engage reluctant readers. Tune in for […]
I’m so excited to welcome Olivia Richardson to The Reading Project Podcast. Olivia is a reading interventionist and first-year, 1st-grade teacher. After school, she uses her signature 3-step framework to help her students master phonics quickly so they can finally read their favorite books! Tune in to this episode where we’ll be discussing learningg styles […]
I’m so excited to welcome Emily Gibbons of The Literacy Nest to The Reading Project Podcast. She is a mom of four and an educator who loves creating and blogging about all things literacy. As a certified Orton Gillingham educator, she seeks to provide resources that assist teachers, families, and children with all aspects of structured literacy […]
Have you ever wondered what to do when you’re reading with your kiddo at home and they make a mistake? In this episode, I’m joined by a special guest, Lindsey Norton. Lindsey is a former classroom teacher turned private tutor. She’s the owner of Kids Tutoring Online and she’s been educating preschoolers-fifth graders since 2014. […]
Let me introduce you to Laurie Molnar. Laurie is a certified Level OG (Orton-Gillingham) practitioner with over 35 years of experience teaching students in public, private, and homeschool settings. She is also a learning disability and dyslexia specialist. Laurie knows we all learn best and are willing to make mistakes when we are relaxed and […]
I hear it all the time… Ashley, HELP! My child does not like to read! In this episode, I’m sharing three pieces of advice for what you can do if your child has said that they don’t like reading. Stay tuned until the end and pay close attention to #3. I think it might surprise […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Wood. Melissa Wood studied elementary and early childhood education, as well as early childhood special education. She has been in the field for nearly 20 years and has a passion for child development. She finds her current role as the Early Education Director for a Supervisory Union in […]
Boy, do I have a special episode for you here! In this episode, I’m joined by Cait Curley of My Little Poppies, who I’ve been following for years, she is just amazing. Cait Curley, MA/CAGS is a school psychologist and unexpected homeschool mom to three outside-the-box kiddos. She is the founder of My Little Poppies, where […]
In this episode, we’re focusing on middle school learners and how to help those students continue to build their vocabularies. I’m joined by Krystal Koppel, and I can’t wait for you to meet her! As an educator with over 13 years of classroom experience, Krysta has a passion for helping middle school students (and their […]
Today, we’re talking about one of my favorite topics… Podcasts! Recently, I saw a post in a parenting Facebook group looking for podcast recommendations for kids. So, I thought this was a great topic for us to dive into. Tune in to this episode as we discuss why podcasts are awesome for kids, the five […]
In this episode, I’m joined by Josh Mann. Josh is very passionate about helping students succeed. He has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in writing and also studied at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and Oxford University. He has extensive experience tutoring and teaching at […]
Developing strong reading comprehension skills is critical to overall reading success. Often, students struggle with mastering comprehension skills. If you are a parent who wants to know how you can work with your child on reading comprehension at home, this episode is for you! Tune in for my top five practical and easy-to-implement tips for […]
Do you ever feel like you can’t keep up with all of the reading your middle schooler is doing? As parents, we want to know what our kids are reading and have meaningful conversations with them about books. But, seriously, it can become difficult as they get older! Well, have no fear – Laura Kebart […]
Have you heard of book trailers? They’re really fun! In this solo episode, we’re covering what they are and why I love them! Tune in to this episode for… My top three reasons to use book trailers with your kids and students. A fun bonus activity to work on with your students or kids. A […]
In this episode, I share an amazing interview with Emily Laidlaw. We’re talking about letter confusion – what it is and how to address it at home! Emily has worked in private and public schools in various capacities, including as program director for students with learning differences and as a reading interventionist. She’s tutored in […]
Parents often ask about the best online tools for reading and writing. There are A LOT out there. Some are better than others and some will be a better fit for you and your learner. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. In this solo episode, I’m sharing five of my favorite online tools for […]
It’s that time of year – back to school! Let me ask you a question… do you know if your child is learning structured literacy or whole language in their classroom this year? If you don’t know, this episode is for you! In our season 3 premiere, I’m joined by Jill Kohlenberg. Jill is an […]
I’m so excited to kick off the 3rd season of The Reading Project Podcast in just one week – August 29, 2022. Wondering what you can expect in season three? Well, this season, we’ll be releasing episodes on Mondays instead of Fridays. Our weekly episodes will alternate between short and sweet solo episodes and interviews […]
In this episode, I’m excited to tell you a little bit more about homeschooling! Particularly about what learning at home over this last year has been like for my family and for me as both teacher and mom. Guys, I’m going to bare it all to you. These are my personal thoughts on what it’s […]
This episode is going to be a little different because I’m going to be talking about writing instead of reading. I have done many episodes on all different kinds of literacy but I haven’t talked a lot about the writing side of things. In the coming months, I will be talking more about writing, spelling, […]
Today, we’re going to talk about independent reading and how and WHY you should work with your child to develop this habit. You may be wondering what I even mean when I say independent reading. Independent reading is when your child is reading on their own with no assistance from you. Oftentimes, students who independently […]
Have you ever wondered how to help your child pick a book? Maybe you’re worried that the books they are picking are too hard or too easy. You’re not alone. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re standing in a bookstore or library. I get asked all the time, “How do I know if my […]
If you’ve been on social media recently, you’ve probably seen the hashtag #raisingreaders. Maybe, it has you wondering what exactly it means to raise a reader. Maybe, you’re also wondering how you can raise a reader, too? That’s exactly what I want to talk to you about this week. In this episode, I’ll answer two […]
This past week on Facebook I saw a mom ask the following question, “Parents of readers – how do you go about keeping your kids reading all summer?” Now, I know if there is one person out there asking this question, there are likely many more wondering the same thing. In today’s episode, I’m going […]
In this solo episode, I chat about one of my favorite subjects, children’s books, and movies! It’s another great tool for combating the dreaded summer slide. My house is screen-friendly, my kids play video games and have screen time. But, it’s also important to me that we make the screen time connect to learning. In our […]
In today’s episode, I’m going to talk to you about the dreaded summer slide! As we’re all preparing to wrap up another school year and head into the summer, I’ll bet a lot of you are thinking, “Where’s my kid at right now?” or “What has this last year been like?” We can’t deny the […]