# Why Mississippi's Reading Scores Skyrocketed (And What It Means for Your Child)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/foundations-of-learning-6742795/why-mississippi-s-reading-scores-skyrocketed-and-what-it-means-for-your-child
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/foundations-of-learning-6742795/why-mississippi-s-reading-scores-skyrocketed-and-what-it-means-for-your-child.md
Podcast: [Foundations of Learning](https://stenobird.com/podcast/foundations-of-learning-6742795)
Published: 2026-08-20T18:10:11+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/foundationsoflearning/3084062
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/245035/3084062/foundationsoflearning/2026_08_20_18_10_04_661356b4-668e-4490-ad3d-4f4947657363.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/foundations-of-learning-6742795/episodes/why-mississippi-s-reading-scores-skyrocketed-and-what-it-means-for-your-child
Duration seconds: 487

## Resource

What if your child's struggle to read has nothing to do with them — and everything to do with how they're being taught? In this episode, I'm breaking down the "Mississippi Miracle" — how a state that used to rank near the bottom in reading scores turned things around and posted some of the biggest reading gains in the country. It wasn't luck, more homework, or a new gadget. It was a shift to explicit, systematic phonics instruction rooted in Structured Literacy. I'll walk you through exactly what Mississippi changed, why so many classrooms still aren't teaching reading this way, and — most importantly — how you can bring these same research-backed principles into your home, no matter where your child is starting from (struggling, brand new to reading, losing confidence, or ready to move ahead). You'll learn: ✔️ What actually happened in Mississippi's reading turnaround ✔️ Why phonemic awareness is the #1 predictor of reading success ✔️ How explicit, systematic phonics instruction works (and why "exposure" isn't enough) ✔️ How high-frequency words should be taught in context, not memorized in isolation ✔️ What a research-backed, at-home reading routine actually looks like I also share a bit about how these exact principles are built into my Level 1 and Level 2 Skill-Based Literacy Curriculum, and how you can join the waitlist for Level 3. Check out K3 Homeschool Foundations Resources to get started today: Science of Reading Simplified Ecourse for Parents 5 Foundations of Reading Ecourse for Parents Skill-Based Literacy Curriculum Get the first 2 letter lessons for FREE Get the first 5 Reading Lessons for FREE Join the waitlist for level 3; The Sound and Spelling Guide Your Guide to Teach High-Frequency Words Get the first 10 lessons to teach high-frequency words for FRE…

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## Transcript

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