Burned out by the system but still love teaching? You don’t have to choose between your passion and your peace. In this episode, you’ll hear how Joy Anderson went from stay-at-home mom with no income to thriving preschool founder—and how you can turn your own living room into a flexible, fulfilling preschool too.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• The moment Joy realized she had to create a new future for her kids—and herself.
• How she launched her first preschool using just her living room and kitchen table.
• Why so many teachers are trading the classroom for something better.
• The exact first steps to take if you want to start your own preschool.
• How to overcome fear and finally take action on the dream tugging at your heart.

Show Links

"Start Your Preschool" by Joy Anderson
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How do you really know if what you’re teaching in reading is actually helping kids grow?

If you’ve ever finished a lesson wondering, “Is this even working?” — this episode is for you. We're diving into how to use student data to take the guesswork out of reading instruction and make sure every moment you teach counts.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• The 3 types of assessments that show you what’s working (and what’s not).
• How to use student data to plan smarter, faster reading lessons.
• Why guessing is the #1 time-waster in reading instruction.
• How to group students without 25 different lesson plans.
• What to do when your curriculum isn’t delivering results.

Show Links

Assessment Pack
Progress Monitoring Tool
Join Malia on Instagram.
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!

Rate, Review, and Follow

If you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.

Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!

While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out!

When a family receives a new dyslexia diagnosis, emotions run high—and teachers are often the first person they turn to for answers. But what should you say? In this episode, dyslexia therapist Rebecca Bush gives teachers practical guidance on how to talk to families with clarity, empathy, and confidence.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• What to say (and what not to say) after a dyslexia diagnosis.
• How to support families emotionally and practically.
• The role of the teacher in early intervention and next steps.
• How to build trust even without formal dyslexia training.
• Free resources and organizations every teacher should know.

Show Links

Rebecca Bush Website / Instagram / LinkedIn
"Dyslexia and Your Newly Diagnosed Child" by Rebecca Bush
International Dyslexia Association
Decoding Dyslexia
Neuhaus Training
Wilson Training
ALTA Academic Language Therapy Association
Take Flight Dyslexia Training

Join Malia on Instagram.
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!

Rate, Review, and Follow

If you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.

Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!

While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out!