Are we misunderstanding what it means when a child “can’t read”?

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we revisit the conversation around reading gaps—and shift the spotlight from student deficits to the materials we’re using to assess and support them. Are we combining decoding and vocabulary too early? Are our “level one” books actually aligned with what’s being taught?

We unpack the difference between learning to read and building vocabulary, explore the risks of resource mismatch, and rethink what early readers really need to succeed.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher or curriculum coordinator, this episode offers practical reflection on how we teach reading—and how we can do it better.

Free early reader eBooks and blogs: https://shalabooks.com

Please share, comment, or rate the show—it helps bring these conversations to more educators around the world.