What Does It Really Take to Raise a Reader?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Mrs. M, a Kindergarten teacher from the great state of Georgia, to talk about what parents can do at home to support the development of a reader.

And interestingly enough, she suggests getting outside to do some of the work.

As you listen, I want you to think beyond:

“What should I be doing with my child?”

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Let me remind you of something I said in the episode:

Learning to read is not a skill humans are simply born knowing how to do.

And parents?

You aren't expected to walk into this knowing how to teach reading.

That’s why I’m here.

If you have a preschooler through 3rd grader who is learning to read, come join me for the Parents as Co-Teachers Masterclass Series.

I’ll be teaching you the good stuff I coach seasoned educators through, including how the interconnected pieces of reading development actually work and how you can use that knowledge to become a stronger educational partner for your child.

Live teaching. No replays.

🎓 Parents as Co-Teachers Masterclass Series

Register here.

Want to Go Deeper?

I mentioned several areas of research during this episode. If you’re ready to move beyond social media sound bites and actually explore how reading development works, start here:

An Anatomy of the Science of Reading

If you’ve heard the phrase “Science of Reading” everywhere but still want to understand what researchers actually mean by it, this systematic review is worth exploring.

McLean, C. (2026). An Anatomy of the SoR: A Systematic Review of the Conceptualizations and Instrumental Uses of the Science of Reading. Reading Research Quarterly.

Read the research here.

How to Find High Quality Instructional Materials

A high-quality resource isn't simply a resource with good activities.

Hill & Charalambous (2012), Teacher Knowledge, Curriculum Materials, and Quality of Instruction: Lessons Learned and Open Issues

Their analysis found that both teacher knowledge and curriculum materials matter for instructional quality. Curriculum materials can create opportunities for richer student thinking, but they also place demands on teachers to enact them well.

Read the research here.

If this episode helped you understand your child’s reading development a little differently, send it to a friend who needs to hear it, too.

P.S. - Be sure to save your seat!

Parents as Co-Teachers Masterclass Series S

Register here.

P.P.S. Have a question, a story, or just want to say hi? I'd love to hear from you.

📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ChristenJoli

📩 Email: inquiries@christenjoli.com

What does advocacy actually look like once you're inside the school system?

In this episode, I sit down with Ingrid Williams-Perry, a Family and Community Specialist for a NJ school district, to talk about what it really takes to advocate for your child — whether they're neurotypical or navigating special education.

Ingrid opens up about raising a daughter on the general ed track and a son on the special ed track.

She dives into the moment she realized her son's development had stalled, and everything she's learned navigating early intervention, IEPs, and the legal language of public education along the way.

We cover:

• Two kids, two different paths; general education and special education
• What parents of neurotypical kids should still watch for
• The road to an autism diagnosis
• Entering the school system: expectation vs. reality
• The "cracks" in the system parents don't see coming
• Why the free public system is where most families end up staying
• Why self-care should be built in to your advocacy journey.

If you've done everything "right" as a parent, trusted the system, shown up, and still felt like you were playing catch-up, this episode is for you.

📅 Save the date: our Parents as Co-Teachers Masterclass is happening August 11.

Let's Connect

Have a question, a story, or just want to say hi? I'd love to hear from you.

📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ChristenJoli

📩 Email: inquiries@christenjoli.com

What if the key to a real partnership with your child's school starts with seeing their teacher as a whole human being — not just "the teacher"?

In this episode of Parents as Co-Teachers, Dr. Maggie, a veteran ELA and ESL teacher opens up about the limiting beliefs teachers carry (yes, they have bucket lists too), why letting your guard down speeds up trust rather than risking it, and how she keeps the focus on student growth through honest, professional dialogue.

She also shares how teachers are using social media to invite parents into their world — plus the one thing so many parents and teachers get wrong walking into meetings together (you'll have to listen for that one).

Along the way, you'll pick up some key terms worth knowing: EL students, 504 plans, IEPs, UDL, and WIDA Levels — the everyday language of school partnerships that can make these conversations feel a lot less intimidating.

By the end, you'll walk away with a single action step to shift how you show up with your child's school — and once you find your footing there, it extends to every stakeholder in your child's life.

Welcome to your Coach Teacher era.