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!
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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 we can continue to work together to support literacy development.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
Music from this podcast was used with permission from Epidemic Sound.
4.16 How to Stop the Summer Slide
Monday, May 13, 2024 • Duration 11:33
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, make sure to listen carefully - I'll be sharing a coupon code with you!
Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
If you want to follow me on social media I can be found at the following links: Facebook, , and
4.15 Why Vocabulary Development is Key for Strong Readers with Mindy VanZuiden
Monday, April 29, 2024 • Duration 24:30
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 world but she teaches them important life skills as well.
Mindy knew that she wanted to become a teacher so that she might have the opportunity to change the course of a child’s life by helping them reach their full potential.
Mindy taught in the public school system for over 15 years. Her Undergraduate degree is in K-12 Physical Education, her Master’s Degree is in Education Leadership, and Mindy is a Certified Dyslexia Specialist through the University of Florida. Mindy has taught in Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Iowa.
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
4.14 Reading for Fun: Making Time for Books in Our Busy Lives
Monday, April 15, 2024 • Duration 19:00
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:
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
If you want to follow me on social media I can be found at the following links: , , and
4.13 Filling Your Home Library with Black Books with Melquea Smith
Monday, April 1, 2024 • Duration 28:33
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 provides positive and joyful imagery of Black kids and Black families through her art and children’s books. She specializes in illustrating little Black girls of all shapes, colors, and sizes.
When not illustrating, you’ll find Melquea watching the newest animated shows and movies, learning all about Japan, studying Spanish with her cat Kilala, and giving her other cat Bumblebee pit-pats on her super fluffy tummy.
Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
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, 5 in this episode and 5 in part one.
Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
If you want to follow me on social media I can be found at the following links: , , and
4.10 Using Children's Books to Help Kids Process Emotions with Hailey Glynn
Monday, February 12, 2024 • Duration 25:32
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 an instant hit, sparking Hailey's journey into publishing.
Hailey continues to expand her repertoire with other empowering children's books and an activity book that sparks creativity, "The Squiggle Book." Hailey writes and illustrates her own stories and is also the creative force behind Growing With Glynn, her publishing business, where she helps aspiring authors bring their book ideas to life too. The more amazing children's books that are out in the world, the merrier!
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
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 and 5 in part two.
Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way,
4.8 Writing to Improve Comprehension with Heather O'Donnell
Season 4 · Episode 8
Monday, January 15, 2024 • Duration 39:08
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 Multisensory, an online and in-person tutoring practice in New Paltz, NY. After identifying a need for private multisensory reading instruction in her community, the practice has grown to include a team of 13 tutors providing online and in-person multisensory reading, writing, and math instruction to students in over 10 states.
Heather uses the Orton-Gillingham approach to diagnostically provide explicit instruction so that kids learn to love learning again!
This book and resource list may contain Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated!
Music from this podcast was used with permission from Epidemic Sound.
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