Reading is a Human Right

In this episode of Wisdom Wednesday on the Reading is a Human Right podcast, Leta Palmiter dives into one of the most important questions parents face: When should you be concerned about your child’s reading development—and when is it okay to wait and see?

Leta unpacks the current state of early literacy legislation in the U.S., including mandatory dyslexia screenings in 34 states, and explains why reading is not a natural process—it must be taught explicitly and systematically.

You’ll also meet Malachi, a kindergartener whose reading journey illustrates the power of early intervention, structured literacy, and never giving up. Through setbacks, slow progress, and tears, Malachi’s story becomes one of triumph, showing how the right help at the right time can change a child’s life forever.

👉 Support our mission: Visit illuminationsdyslexia.com
👉 Join us at Sip & Sway on April 26th!

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—because reading is a human right.

#DyslexiaAwareness #EarlyLiteracy #StructuredLiteracy #ReadingIsAHumanRight #WisdomWednesday #Podcast

🎧 Episode 1: Why Spelling Homework Isn’t Helping
Welcome to Therapy Thursdays! This week, Leta Palmiter tackles one of the most familiar—and frustrating—school night battles: spelling homework.

Is writing words 10 times really teaching our kids to spell? Or is it just performance with no purpose?

In this episode, we dig into:

• Why traditional spelling tests don’t build real literacy
• The science behind how the brain actually learns to read and spell
• What to do instead—like phoneme-grapheme mapping, word sorts, and real-world reading

If your Thursday nights are filled with tears and "rainbow words," it’s time to rethink homework. Tune in to find out how purposeful practice can build confidence, not just compliance.

Homework that matters. Spelling that sticks. Literacy that lasts.
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and share with a teacher or parent who needs to hear this.

Wisdom Wednesdays with Leta: Episode 1

“What Happens in the Brain When We Read?”

Welcome to the very first episode of Wisdom Wednesdays with Leta! In this kickoff to our new series, Leta Palmiter invites you into a powerful conversation about what dyslexia really is, how reading happens in the brain, and why teaching with evidence-based practices matters now more than ever.

Through a heartfelt read-aloud from Mississippi Rising, Leta explains the science behind how the brain learns to read, how this process differs for students with dyslexia, and why phonological awareness is the bridge to literacy for all learners. Whether you're a parent, educator, or advocate, this episode offers clarity, hope, and purpose.

🔍 Topics covered:

• What is dyslexia?
• How the brain processes written language
• The neurological basis of learning to read
• Why some students struggle—and how we can help them
• Why the science of reading matters more than ever

📚 Join our movement to bring knowledge, change, and support to classrooms everywhere. Buy your copy of Mississippi Rising at https://illuminationsdyslexia.com/products/ols/categories/illuminations-mississippi-rising