My Child Can’t Read: A Heartland Crisis
My Child Can’t Read: A Heartland Crisis
Podcast Description
In classrooms across America — and especially here in Kansas — too many children are being left behind in reading. And too often, their parents and teachers are left wondering: What did I miss? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
Hosted by Jesica Glover — a National Board Certified teacher, reading specialist, and parent who couldn’t help her own daughter learn to read — this podcast explores the literacy crisis in Kansas and across the country. Through real stories and expert insight, we uncover how reading is actually learned, where schools are falling short, and what families and educators can do to change it. Each episode combines real stories, expert insight, and a look at the science of how reading works —
From early warning signs and misdiagnoses to bold reforms and grassroots change, My Child Can’t Read traces a powerful journey from heartbreak to hope.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or policymaker, this podcast helps you understand what went wrong — and what we can do to make it right, right here in the Heartland.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the critical issues surrounding reading education, with specific episodes discussing topics like the inadequacy of balanced literacy programs, the realization of dyslexia among students, and the importance of structured literacy. For example, Episode 2 features Jeanine Phillips sharing her journey discovering her dyslexia and advocating for her son, illustrating the emotional impact of educational shortcomings.
In classrooms across America — and especially here in Kansas — too many children are being left behind in reading. And too often, their parents and teachers are left wondering: What did I miss? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
Hosted by Jesica Glover — a National Board Certified teacher, reading specialist, and parent who couldn’t help her own daughter learn to read — this podcast explores the literacy crisis in Kansas and across the country. Through real stories and expert insight, we uncover how reading is actually learned, where schools are falling short, and what families and educators can do to change it. Each episode combines real stories, expert insight, and a look at the science of how reading works —
From early warning signs and misdiagnoses to bold reforms and grassroots change, My Child Can’t Read traces a powerful journey from heartbreak to hope.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or policymaker, this podcast helps you understand what went wrong — and what we can do to make it right, right here in the Heartland.
What happens after awareness?
One month after concluding Season 4 of My Child Can’t Read: A Heartland Crisis, Jesica Glover sits down with investigative journalist Emily Hanford for a thoughtful conversation about what comes next in the national literacy conversation—and what that means for Kansas.
Together, they explore:
- Why reading reform is so difficult inside large systems
- The ongoing gaps in teacher preparation
- Why quick fixes rarely create lasting change
- What states like Mississippi can teach the rest of the country
- The role of parents in shaping literacy reform
- Why humility, alignment, and sustained effort matter
- What still concerns Emily most about the literacy crisis
This episode is not a recap of Sold a Story.
It’s a conversation about what comes after the awareness stage—and what it will take to continue moving forward for kids.
🎙️ About Our Guest
Emily Hanford is an investigative journalist with APM Reports and creator of the podcast Sold a Story, whose reporting helped spark a national conversation about reading instruction, literacy outcomes, and the Science of Reading movement.
🔗 Mentioned in This Episode
- Sold a Story by APM Reports
- Planet Word Museum interview with Dr. Carey Wright
- Interview featuring Reid Lyon & Margaret Goldberg
- Mississippi Literacy-Based Promotion Act
- Science of Reading
- Structured Literacy
Dyslexia advocacy movement includes many organizations like these: Decoding Dyslexia and International Dyslexia Foundation (IDA)
Resources & References:
- Structured Literacy (International Dyslexia Association): https://dyslexiaida.org/structured-literacy/
- Kansas Literacy Initiatives (KSDE): https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/English-Language-Arts/Literacy
- Kansas Policy Institute: https://kansaspolicy.org/
- Phillips Fundamental Learning Center: https://www.funlearn.org/
If This Episode Resonated:
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This podcast is produced by KB PODCASTS
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