If your middle or high schooler avoids books, argues about homework, or insists they’re just not a reader, this episode is for you. We’re digging into reading motivation for older kids and, most importantly, how to motivate your kids to read without constant battles or guilt trips.

In this episode of The Literacy Keys, Tracy breaks down why so many secondary students are still struggling with foundational reading skills and what makes teens’ reading challenges very different from younger kids’. You’ll hear how low confidence, slow fluency, and intimidating multisyllabic words in subjects like science and social studies slowly drain motivation. Best of all, this episodes shares what you can do to rebuild reading motivation at home.

Drawing on a powerful Education Week article about secondary reading struggles and the book Know Better, Do Better by Meredith & David Liben, Tracy explains why it’s never too late to become a better reader, and why age-appropriate materials, targeted fluency work, and mindset shifts matter so much for teens. You’ll walk away with practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away.

Whether your child is barely reading, reading very slowly, or simply refusing to try, this episode on reading motivation shares how to motivate kids to read. If you’ve been feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure where to start, this conversation will give you a concrete plan to help your older child see themselves as a reader.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Education Week article: “Secondary Students Are Struggling With Reading, Too. A Look at the Landscape.”
  

• Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read by Meredith & David Liben
  

• Learn more about dyslexia tutors, resources, and support for struggling readers at The Literacy Keys

In this episode, Tracy and Alex discuss their personal experiences with dyslexia, parental guilt, anxiety, and the importance of therapy. They explore the emotional journey of receiving a dyslexia diagnosis, the differing reactions between parent and child, and the complexities of parental guilt. The conversation also emphasizes the significance of finding the right therapist and the value of self-acceptance in the face of challenges.

TAKEAWAYS

• Alex experienced relief when diagnosed, feeling it validated her struggles.
• Tracy felt a significant amount of guilt upon Alex's dyslexia diagnosis.
• Parental guilt is tied to the feeling of letting children down and the desire for perfection.
• It's important for parents to be kind to themselves and recognize their imperfections.
• Parents should be aware of red flags indicating their child may need professional help.
• Therapy can be a valuable outlet for emotions, but finding the right fit is crucial.
• Not every therapist will be suitable; it's important to find someone relatable.

Keywords

child psychologist, parental guilt, therapy, therapist, mental health, emotional support, parenting, anxiety, dyslexia,

Dive into the essential skills of reading fluency — what it is, why it matters, and how parents can strengthen it at home using multi-sensory techniques.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What reading fluency actually means

• Why fluency is the bridge between decoding and comprehension

• How dyslexic learners uniquely benefit from structured fluency practice

• The most effective multi-sensory reading fluency strategies parents can use at home

• • Echo reading

  • Phrase scooping

  • Repeated readings

  • Pressure-free timed readings
    

You'll also hear about a FREE opportunity to participate in a Spelling Program that Tracy has created for Struggling Spellers. Head over to: https://theliteracykeys.com/beta-tester-unlock-the-spelling-code/

Tracy Young is an Orton-Gillingham trained, ALTA Certified Practitioner and the founder of The Literacy Keys, where she tutors dyslexic students and teaches parents how to support literacy at home with confidence and clarity.

This Episode Is For:

• Parents of dyslexic children
• Parents of struggling readers
• Homeschooling families
• Educators looking for multisensory fluency ideas
• Anyone wanting to understand structured literacy more deeply

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If your child avoids reading, mixes up words, melts down over homework, or keeps saying, “I’m just not smart,” you may be wondering whether there’s something deeper happening beneath the surface. What if these challenges aren’t a phase, but signs of dyslexia symptoms that have been overlooked?

In this episode, Tracy Young, Orton-Gillingham practitioner and host of The Literacy Keys Podcast, walks you through the most common dyslexia symptoms across four age groups: toddlers, elementary students, teenagers, and adults.

You’ll hear parent-friendly explanations about the subtle signs that most families and teachers miss. Whether you're noticing reading struggles in your preschooler, inconsistent spelling in your middle schooler, or lingering confusion in a young adult, this episode will help you connect the dots.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Sold a Story by Emily Hanford
• I'm Dyslexic - Not Stupid

Is essay writing a battle in your house? If the physical act of writing is draining all your child's mental energy, then you need a new tool.

Join Orton Gillingham Tutor Tracy Young as she explores mind maps, a visual and flexible planning tool that can turn writing frustration into celebration! This episode dives into why mind maps are especially effective for students with dyslexia and dysgraphia and provides practical, step-by-step guidance.

KEY MOMENTS

• [04:25] What is a Mind Map? A description of the tool: starting with a central idea, main points radiating outwards as major lines, and details/examples as smaller sub-branches.

• [07:10] Free Online Mind Maps: Discussion of resources like Zoom.com, Canva.com, and Mindmup.com that offer free online mind maps templates to create digital mind maps.

• [08:55] The 5-Step Process: The main steps for creating a mind map, including starting with a central idea, brainstorming main points, adding details, connecting ideas, and refining.

• [12:15] Mind Maps for Different Essay Types: Strategies for using mind maps to plan expository (informational), persuasive (argumentative), and narrative (story-telling) essays.

• [16:00] Essay Planning Example: A detailed walkthrough of creating a mind map to plan an expository essay on the character transformation of Percy Jackson.

• [22:00] Why Mind Maps Work: Explaining their effectiveness for students with dyslexia (visual organization) and dysgraphia (reduced writing load and non-linearity).

• [25:30] Teaching the Tool: The "I do, we do, you do" scaffolding approach for teaching someone how to use mind maps effectively, emphasizing patience and not rushing the process.

3 Resources for Free Online Mind Maps:

https://www.zoom.com/

https://www.canva.com/templates

https://www.mindmup.com/

This conversation explores the connection between dyslexia and success, highlighting how many innovative thinkers and leaders have thrived despite their challenges. The discussion emphasizes recognizing and leveraging strengths, navigating educational paths, and the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in career choices.

The episode also shares one person's symptoms of dyslexia and what a "bad dyslexic day" really feels like.

Takeaways

• Many successful individuals, like Whoopi Goldberg and Anderson Cooper, have dyslexia.
• Dyslexics often develop resilience and resourcefulness.
• Recognizing personal strengths is crucial for dyslexics.
• Career paths can vary greatly; higher education isn't for everyone.
• Exams can be challenging for dyslexics; alternative assessment methods are beneficial.

• Continuous learning and adaptability are key to career success.

• Leverage strengths rather than focusing solely on weaknesses.

Episode Keywords:

dyslexia, success, innovative thinkers, career paths, education, strengths, entrepreneurship, continuous learning, adaptability, dyslexic advantage, symptoms of dyslexia,

Does your child have Dyslexia and ADHD? Up to 40% of people with Dyslexia also have ADHD. Discover helpful hints to manage learning. You'll also want to ensure that ADHD doesn't mask their Dyslexia.

0:00 - Introduction Dyslexia and ADHD

1:53 - The Critical Question: ADHD, Dyslexia, or Both?

4:47 - Five Tips to Support Your Child

5:39 - Tip 1: Seek a Comprehensive Evaluation

9:55 - Tip 2: Structure, Structure, and More Structure

1:47 - Tip 3: Teach Organizational Skills Explicitly

14:38 - Tip 4: Leverage Technology

17:15 - Tip 5: Add Movement

Does your child struggle with math? There might be something going on in the brain that’s causing the struggle. In this episode we talk about a condition which is sometimes referred to as “math dyslexia.”

Learn about the neurological aspect, how it's diagnosed, along with practical strategies that can be used to help reduce the frustration. Best of all, we’ll share how to pronounce dyscalculia!

0:00 The Struggle and the Truth About "Math Dyslexia"

0:15 What the Episode Covers (Diagnosis, Strategies, Pronunciation)

0:40 Pronunciation of Dyscalculia and Word Morphology (Difficulty Counting)

1:30 What is Dyscalculia (Math Dyslexia) and separating it from Dyslexia

2:15 Analogy for Dyscalculia

3:00 Examples of Struggle

3:45 Common Symptoms of Dyscalculia

5:00 Impact on Daily Life

5:45 How is Dyscalculia Tested?

7:00 Comorbidity: The Connection to Dyslexia and Dysgraphia (The "3 Ds")

7:45 Strategies for Parents