Little Learning Secrets

One of the things I wish more children knew…

The adults who truly see them are often noticing very different things than they are.

We’re noticing that they walked through the door even though learning feels hard, that they had another go, that they kept going after getting stuck, that they took a risk.

Those moments don’t always show up in assessment data.

They don’t always show up in books.

And they don’t always get celebrated in the way they should.

But they’re often the moments that matter most.

Sometimes courage looks a lot quieter than people expect.

And sometimes our job is simply to make sure children know we noticed.

“I noticed how hard that was for you, and you kept going.”

can mean more than we realise 🤍

I get so fussy about reading books 😅

One of the things I’ve become more and more particular about over the years is the books I put in front of children.

Not because every book has to be perfect.

But because struggling readers already spend so much time feeling unsuccessful.

I want children reading books that give them the chance to practise what they’ve been taught, experience success, and actually enjoy the story at the same time.

That combination is rare.

One of the things I loved about these readers straight away was that they’re carefully matched to the skills children have been taught, while still feeling engaging for older children.

The visuals are engaging, the stories feel relatable, and they don’t feel babyish.

I think we sometimes underestimate how much the right book can change how a child feels about reading.

Not sponsored, just genuinely excited about these 📚🤍

Oh and bonus… they’re created right here in Papamoa by Innerlinks Decodable Books, which makes me love them even more!

Looking forward to seeing what my students think.

My favourite responses when a child catches me making a mistake?

“Good spotting. Let’s fix it together.”

Children don’t need perfect adults.

They need adults who show them what to do when things don’t go to plan.

Because every time we respond calmly to a mistake, we’re teaching something far bigger than the task in front of us.

We’re teaching that mistakes are safe.

That learning is messy.

And that getting something wrong doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

It means you’re learning 🤍

Save this one for the next time your child catches you making a mistake.

Most parents are surprised when I tell them this…

Sometimes children can sound like they’re reading long before they’re actually reading confidently.

That doesn’t mean they’re not learning… It’s often a really normal part of the process.

Children are incredibly clever. They use pictures, context, memory, and familiar patterns to help make sense of books.

But one of the easiest ways to tell whether a child is truly decoding rather than memorising familiar books is to try a few made-up words.

Why?

Because they’ve never seen them before.

There are no pictures.
No story clues.
No memorising.

They have to use their knowledge of sounds and letters to work the word out.

Try these:

• mip
• teb
• lan
• sog
• fip
• stog

If your child can read these, it’s a great sign they’re using their decoding skills to work out unfamiliar words.

And that’s often the difference between a child who can read a familiar book…

and a child who can confidently tackle a brand-new one. 🤍

Save this one to come back to later.

I think some children quietly change the adults around them more than they’ll ever realise.

And I think many of them have no idea how much they’ve taught us.

About learning.
About connection.
About resilience.
About what really matters.

Far more capable than the world gives them credit for 🤍

I could make more money doing this differently.

But the most valuable parts of my support are often the least profitable. And I’m okay with that.

The extra time helping a child feel safe before we even start learning
The personalised resources made for one specific brain
The time spent analysing every detail of every assessment
The parent chats
The flexibility
The sessions that run over because a child finally feels safe enough to try
The tiny moments noticed
The relationship built slowly over time
The last-minute trips to Kmart to buy something they mentioned the session before so their little faces light up

None of those things are the fastest or most “efficient” way to grow a business.

But they’re often the things that matter most for the children I support.

Some children need more than quick fixes and high-volume tutoring. They need to feel deeply seen, understood, safe, and successful.

And honestly… that matters more to me 🤍

I can’t stop thinking about this lately…

Excuse the rambling think aloud 😅

But I really think so much of this work is in the noticing.

The little adjustments, observations, and adaptations that help a child feel safe enough to engage, try, and learn 🤍

The goal isn’t always to start with the things a child can’t do yet.

Sometimes the goal is helping a child feel:

* capable
* successful
* safe enough to keep trying

I see so many children who know more than it first seems…

but the effort of reading, second-guessing themselves, and constantly feeling unsure slowly chips away at their confidence.

So sometimes?

We go back before we move forward.

Not to lower expectations…

but to build strong foundations, trust in the process, and momentum.

Today was such a beautiful reminder of how important that can be 🤍

I think one of the hardest things as a parent… is when you know something isn’t quite adding up for your child, but you can’t fully explain why.

Because sometimes what’s happening underneath for a child isn’t obvious from the outside.

I’ve been quietly working on creating something for parents who feel like there’s more going on for their child than what they’re seeing on the surface 🤍

It’s called Step Into Your Child’s World.

A small in-person experience here in Papamoa designed to help parents better understand what learning and everyday experiences can actually feel like for a child underneath the surface.

If you’d like the details, DM me “WORLD” and I’ll send them through 😊

I’d love to see you there 🤍

Wish I’d started with the takeaway 😅

One simple thing that can make reading much easier later on?

Making sure your child knows both the letter names AND the sounds automatically.

Most children learn their letter sounds early… and they absolutely should.

But here’s what often gets missed.

Sometimes the vowel stays short:
kit
hop
cap

Sometimes it says its name instead:
kite
hope
cape

Same vowel. Completely different sound.

That’s why words suddenly start feeling so much harder once reading becomes more complex.

One of the best things you can do at home?

Practise both the letter names AND the sounds until they become quick and automatic.

Even 5-10 minutes a day really adds up 🤍

Save this for later if your child is starting to get stuck on longer words.