Name: TALK to Raise a Reader: How to Build Strong Reading Skills at Home :: Maya Smart [Ep 527]
Description: Don't Mom Alone Podcast · Episode · 2025

Kids all read at different ages, stages, and times, but how can we, as parents, ensure they are getting all the tools and skills they need to become great readers? Today, Maya Smart joins me to talk about her new book Reading for Our Lives. She delves into the science of how kids become not just readers, but also comprehend and think critically. Here is some of what we cover:

Why you are your child’s chief vocabulary builder
TALK stands for: Take turns, Ask questions, Label and point, Keep the conversation going
Why literacy still matters—even in an AI world
Literacy is relational, not just instructional
Early vocabulary and sound awareness are critical foundations

Connect with Maya Smart:

Website: Maya Smart - Helping Parents Raise Readers | Become a Reader
Facebook: Maya Smart
Instagram: Maya Smart - Parent Educator and Literacy Advocate (@mayasmarty)

Links Mentioned:

Reading for Our Lives: By Maya Smart

Related Episodes:

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TALK to Raise a Reader: How to Build Str...