🌟 Debunking Reading Myths

So many children struggle to read — even after years in school — and it’s not their fault. The truth is, many of us (myself included!) were taught to teach reading using methods that we now know don’t work.

So many well-meaning teachers and parents have followed advice that sounded helpful… but actually made learning to read harder.

As a new teacher, I made some of these same mistakes — but now we know better, and we can do better. ❤️

Let’s bust a few common myths 👇

🚫 Myth #1: “It’s okay if my child guesses words by looking at the pictures.”

✅ Truth: Pictures can support understanding, but strong readers use the letters to figure out the words — not just the pictures!

👉 Try this instead: Choose high-quality, phonics-based books for your early reader. If your child looks at the picture to guess, gently point them back to the word. If they’re stuck, help them map the sounds. For example:

“The word is boat. Let’s pull apart each sound and blend it together: b–oa–t. The word is boat.”

This builds sound-symbol connections and true decoding confidence!

🚫 Myth #2: “My child is doing great — they’ve memorized so many sight words!”

✅ Truth: Memorizing whole words can only take a child so far.Real reading success comes from learning to decode — connecting letters to sounds so they can read any word, not just the ones they’ve memorized.

👉 Try this instead: Use the Heart Word Method instead of pure memorization. Teach your child that some words have parts they need to “learn by heart,” while the rest can be sounded out.

This builds flexible, powerful readers who can tackle new words with confidence.

🚫 Myth #3: “It’s okay if my child focuses on just the first letter — that’s enough to figure it out.”

✅ Truth: Focusing only on the first letter leads to guessing, not true reading. Good readers look through the entire word, noticing all the sounds from beginning to end.

👉 Try this instead: When your child misreads a word, gently guide them by saying:

“Let’s look all the way through the word. What sound do you see after the first letter?”Encourage them to blend each part — beginning, middle, and end.

This helps build accurate word recognition and prevents guessing habits before they form.

When we teach kids to blend sounds, recognize patterns, and connect letters to meaning, they gain the tools to read any word — and the confidence to see themselves as readers. 💪📚

💬 What’s one reading myth you’ve heard before? Let’s spread the word and help more kids become confident, joyful readers! 🌈