Stellarwise Learning Hub

✨ The mission has ALWAYS been global impact.

I started off as a preschool teacher in a homeless shelter.

Then I became a classroom teacher.

Then I began tutoring students across the country.

Then I coached teachers in school districts.
And eventually… teachers around the world!

Now, my newest opportunity is speaking.

This morning, I received a call from a university inviting me to speak to their undergraduate and graduate pre-service teachers about the most effective ways to teach literacy skills.

It feels incredible to be part of the solution to today’s literacy crisis and to pour into the next generation of teachers.

5 Key Lessons from Parenting and Learning Support in The Wild Robot Movie That Will Help You Teach Students - The Innovative Learners Which is exactly why Parenting and Learning Support in The Wild Robot hit me so hard. Because, at its core, it’s a story about parenting, learning, and

I say this with love: sometimes, kids struggle with basic tasks or schoolwork because we help them too much.

It’s natural to want to step in and make things easier, but when we don’t give them the space to figure things out on their own, we unintentionally hold them back.

I’ve seen it in all areas—whether it’s parents jumping in to give their child the word they’re stuck on instead of encouraging them to sound it out, completing middle school projects for them, or tracing letters for their preschooler to make things “neater.”

When we do this, we’re basically saying, “I don’t believe you can do this on your own.”

But here’s the thing: productive struggle is so important. Kids learn by working through challenges.

When we do too much for them, they miss out on the chance to build problem-solving skills and confidence.

If your child is struggling in school and you’re not sure how to support them without stepping in too much, don’t hesitate to get help. Talk to their teachers, watch educational videos, or even hire a tutor.

At Stellarwise Learning, we help hundreds of kids each year improve their reading skills so they can read the books they WANT to read- without needing help on every word. The goal is to support them in tackling challenges confidently and building the skills they need to succeed.

Remember, the goal isn’t to prevent struggle but to guide them through it, building their self-esteem along the way.🙌

I was chatting with some teacher friends recently, and they mentioned a common trend: most parents don’t request a teacher conference until after the Christmas break. By that time, their child has already failed two grading periods.

I also noticed that around the same time, I tend to get more inquiries about tutoring.

Parents, this is something I really want you to understand:

You don’t have to wait until your child is struggling to get help. In fact, there are situations where it's wise to start tutoring at the beginning of the school year. Here are some signs:

If your child barely passed with a 70 last year, it likely means they were at risk of failing but were passed through.

If your child failed their state exam and didn’t get tutoring over the summer, they’re at an increased risk of failing again, especially since each year's exam becomes more challenging.

If they have a history of reading anxiety—things like tantrums, extreme shyness, or avoidance when it comes to reading activities—this is a red flag.

If you feel their school doesn’t have the resources to support your child’s needs. Signs like being understaffed often mean they won’t be able to provide the individual attention or accommodations needed when your child starts to fall behind.

If any of these apply to you, it's crucial to make a plan now, before your child falls too far behind.

We’re currently accepting students for our fall cohorts.

To schedule a time to chat about it, send me a message.

As the new school year approaches, you might be feeling a mix of emotions—either tears or cheers! Many of you are preparing for Meet the Teacher or Open House events, and I want to ensure you make the most of this opportunity.

Now is the perfect time to set the stage for an excellent year for your child. Here’s how you can get started:

✅Establish yourself as a partner in Team [Your Child's Name].

✅Learn how to communicate efficiently and effectively with your child's teacher.

✅Give your child the advantage they need to succeed.

Let's talk about this.

Long ago, before transitioning fully into reading intervention and instructional coaching, I was a classroom teacher. I remember the nerves of decorating my classroom and wondering how to make a good impression on new families. I had 87 students, and 70 of them showed up for Meet the Teacher. One parent, in particular, made a significant impact on me.

She grabbed my hand and said, "Hi Ms. Joseph, my name is Sharon. Steven is my son, and he struggles with reading. Please watch him closely. We need this to be a better year."

Here’s why this was impactful:

At the beginning of the school year, it takes a teacher weeks to determine if a student's scores are due to incompatible learning styles, lesson engagement, or a skill deficit. It's not until schoolwide testing in the first few weeks that teachers can truly assess student performance.

Students often regress nearly 40% over the summer if they don't attend tutoring but can close significant gaps with consistent instruction. Last year's scores may not be entirely accurate.

When Sharon approached me, she saved valuable time. I didn’t have to wait for the first test to understand Steven's needs. I learned that his silence wasn’t due to a quiet personality but because he was lost and too afraid to speak up. This early insight allowed me to start intervention six weeks earlier than usual.

If you haven’t met your child’s teacher yet, make sure to convey that you have high expectations, you are an involved parent, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to make this year better than the last.

Just refrain from touching the teacher—that part still freaks me out!

For more tips on preparing for the first weeks of school or helping your child excel this year, join my Facebook group: Level Up in Reading, Writing, and Math.

This is your yearly reminder: it's not you, it's them kids.

Before I focused on reading intervention, I worked in the private sector and tutored all sorts of kids:

Rapper’s kids in music theory

Politicians' and lawyers' kids in civics, government, and history

Doctors' and surgeons' kids in biology and anatomy

A publicist’s kid in writing

Nearly a quarter of my current students are the children of teachers and principals.

The struggle you face when trying to teach your kids at home has more to do with WHO you are, not what you're doing wrong.

Kids don’t see parents as teachers, no matter how much you know. They’ll respond better to an outsider, even if that person teaches exactly the same way you do.

So, don’t take it personally.

Save yourself the headache and hire a tutor.

My DMs are open.

Did you know that reading can help children deal with bullying? 📚✨

Reading can empower kids to handle bullying more effectively by:

✨️Developing Empathy: Reading stories about diverse characters and experiences helps children understand others’ feelings, fostering empathy and promoting supportive relationships with peers.

✨️Offering Perspective: Books often feature characters who overcome challenges, including bullying. These stories can provide children with strategies and the courage to face similar situations in their own lives.

✨️Building Confidence: Confident readers have higher self-esteem and are better equipped to stand up for themselves and others. They can draw strength from the characters they read about and feel more empowered to handle difficult situations.

✨️Encouraging Problem-Solving: Reading about how characters navigate conflicts and find solutions can inspire children to think critically and develop their problem-solving skills, helping them deal with bullying effectively.

At Stellarwise Learning, we encourage our students to read widely and thoughtfully to build these essential skills.

Here are some great book recommendations📚:

✅️ For Early Readers:

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy

✅️ For Older Readers:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Blubber by Judy Blume

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

If you need more book recommendations or want to discuss how to support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re here to help 👋

Happy Reading! 🙂

When you have kids in different age groups, it's so easy to rely on them to fill in the gaps in their sibling's education.

My sisters and brothers were stand-in tutors.

My big sister held my hand and helped me trace letters before starting school.

Another made up a song to help me remember how to spell my name.

My big brother literally taught to me speak and would double check my math.

I taught both my older brother and younger sister how to read.

And to be honest, the system works until it doesn't.

Until they change math

Until they have gaps in reading that aren't caused by a lack of strategies

Until the symptoms of learning disabilities show up that they aren't prepared for

Peer learning has its merits and can definitely SUPPLEMENT learning.

But children are not a replacement for an educator or trained professional.

When you notice that homework suddenly becomes a hassle and misbehavior starts to begin, it's probably time to tag a professional in to help mitigate the problem before it gets worse.

We have a few spots available in our upcoming cohort.

Send me a message for more information on how to get started.

Studies show that the difference between struggling readers who eventually meet or exceed benchmark, and students who do not is about 6 minutes.

The average grower reads about 6 minutes MORE per day than students who stay stuck.

Every Minute Counts ⏰️

It's so important that you're reading with your child at least 20 minutes a day.

If you don't want to fight with your child each day to open a book, enroll them in a summer reading program so that they can close the gaps in their learning and reduce the summer slide 🌞

Almost every public library has some sort of summer reading program to encourage them to read.

If you'd like more personalized support, so that you can close the gaps even faster, send me a DM for more information about our Accelerated Reading Program📚