The Science of Reading with Dr. Irene Daria (E144)

04/23/25 • 56 min

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Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations

Today’s guest is Dr. Irene Daria, a developmental psychologist and passionate literacy advocate who has helped hundreds of children learn to read—including the children of celebrities. She’s also trained teachers in the science of reading and created the Steps to Reading program for parents.

Before entering the world of psychology, Dr. Daria worked as a journalist and editor, with bylines in The New York Times, Parents, Money, and more. She joins us to talk about what actually works when teaching kids to read—and what doesn’t.

Highlights:

Why balanced literacy and sight word learning often fall short

What the Science of Reading says really works
The five key components of reading:
1. Phonemic Awareness
2. Phonics
3. Vocabulary
4. Fluency
5. Comprehension
How parents can advocate for change—and teach reading at home if needed
Reading myths debunked
The power of parent advocacy
Tools to help your child become a confident reader

Connect with Irene Daria:

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Why Johnny Can’t Read by Rudolf Flesch
Colleen Hoover books
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Book Flight

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes
Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel

Dessert Pairing

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

Ready for a monthly literary adventure? We now have the BFF Book Club. Join us each month to explore a new book. After reading, connect with fellow book lovers and meet the author in a live interview! Can’t make it live? Don’t worry—we’ll send you the recording. You can find all our upcoming book club selections HERE.

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

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Highlights:

Why balanced literacy and sight word learning often fall short

What the Science of Reading says really works
The five key components of reading:
1. Phonemic Awareness
2. Phonics
3. Vocabulary
4. Fluency
5. Comprehension
How parents can advocate for change—and teach reading at home if needed
Reading myths debunked
The power of parent advocacy
Tools to help your child become a confident reader

Connect with Irene Daria:

Show Notes

Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.

Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

Why Johnny Can’t Read by Rudolf Flesch
Colleen Hoover books
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Book Flight

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes
Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel

Dessert Pairing

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Previous Episode

The Art of Surrender and Storytelling with Joanna Davidson Politano (E143)

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Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of 8 novels. She loves tales that capture the color, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. Her latest novel, The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House, was released yesterday.

Key Highlights:

Joanna’s experience as a writer, homeschool mom, and leader of a church writing group
Co-writing her latest novel with her husband—his engineering skills, her storytelling flair
The power of surrender in creativity and how it shapes her writing journey
Her surprising approach to writing endings before beginnings
Fitting reading into a full life and nurturing a love of books at home
Encouraging young writers and fostering creativity in her community

Connect with Joanna:

Books and authors mentioned:

Mo Willems books
Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano
Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano
Mary Higgins Clark books
John Grisham books
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Vienna Prelude by Bodie and Brock Thoene
The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts
Kristy Cambron books
All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

Book Flight

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
Roald Dahl books

Episode Sponsor

This episode was sponsored by Bethany House with a Suspense Book Flight, head over to their website and get a generous 30% off, as well as free shipping.

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz
Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Support the show

Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!

Next Episode

Where Fantasy Meets the American West: Writing and Editing for Young Readers with Lindsay Flanagan (E145)

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Today’s guest is Lindsay Flanagan. Lindsay writes fantasy adventures that empower girls to embrace their unique traits and weave their own spells into the world. Her debut novel, AnnaGrey and the Constellation, is the first runner-up in the middle reader category of the Eric Hoffer Book Award and a First Horizon Medal Finalist. Her newest novel, Little Red Wraith, is her debut young adult book. She is also an award-winning editor and has edited fiction and nonfiction, and is currently a senior editor at Eschler Editing. Additionally, she took on the role as co-publisher of Mad Cat Books, the young adult Imprint at Roan and Weatherford Publishing.

Highlights:

The inspiration behind AnnaGrey and the Constellation and Little Red Wraith.
What developmental and substantive editing really mean.
Empowering young girls through storytelling.
The importance of audiobooks in a reader’s life
Behind the scenes in the world of publishing
Her book flight features books with an alternate history set in the American West.

Connect with Lindsay Flanagan: