Do you agree that our students deserve not just a good education but an exceptional one? In this episode, Malia Hallowell, CEO of Playdough to Plato, shares her story of founding the website and transitioning back into the classroom after maternity leave. She breaks down great tools and strategies related to the science of reading and its positive impact on students' growth. Malia stresses out how using the science of reading can help students achieve reading proficiency. Let's dive in!Malia is a National Board Certified Teacher, founder of the Reading Roadmap professional development training, and soon-to-be published author. Her obsession is giving you the tools, strategies, and support you need to give EVERY student that big, exciting reading growth you crave. It’s time to become a wildly successful, confident reading teacher.Key Highlights: [00:01 - 06:53] Opening Segment• Malia Hallowell's background and storyHow she ended up creating Playdough to Plato• An overview of the science of reading strategies for educators[06:54 - 13:30] Science of Reading: Tips for Teachers• The most important thing is making sure that you're current on research• What the science of reading is• Why it's key to be aware of the basics of phonological awarenessOnly 10% of students naturally learn how to read [13:31 - 20:00] How to Teach Your Kids to Read with Sound Mapping• Make sure to explicitly teach phonic skills so that students can decode words correctly• Swap out flashcards and word walls for sound mapping to help students learn words faster• Challenges teachers can face when implementing the science of reading strategiesThe teacher's guilt and having a hard time getting support from their administrators[20:01 - 27:27] Closing Segment• Tap it, map it, graph it, write it, and read it• Why the science of reading can impact student growthLet’s Connect! Want to connect with Malia? Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Head to Playdough to Plato, for more tools, training, and support to get bigger results with less planning time! You can connect with our host Erica Terry on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Be sure to check out her website https://www.healthywealthyeducators.com/ to learn more about different strategies to achieve your teaching goals!You can connect with the TeacherGoals community on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter. If you'd like to engage in Q&A with our guests during the live interview or interact with a rockstar community of educators, then you definitely want to join the TeacherGoals Facebook group.