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I appreciate you taking the time to read my story.
When my daughter Saskia was in kindergarten, my world turned upside down. Despite my 10 years of experience as a Montessori educator, I was at a loss, I couldn’t teach my own child to read. Watching her struggle and shed tears broke my heart as a mother. I knew I couldn’t let this be her future, so I decided to fight this problem head-on. What followed was a journey that would reshape not only Saskia’s life but also the lives of countless other young learners.
We spent significant time, resources, and energy searching for the right solution. Ultimately, we made a big move, uprooting our family and moving from Virginia to New Jersey in 2021. This shift allowed Saskia to access resources that weren’t available in her previous school. For her to succeed, we crossed three states, leaving our life behind so she could get the reading help she desperately needed.
A Transformative Idea Born from Personal Experience
Watching Saskia’s progress gave me an idea: What if I could create a solution for other struggling readers? Knowing the power of play from my Montessori background, I began incorporating play-based strategies into my work. I saw firsthand how well-designed games could help dyslexic students engage with reading in a way that felt natural and fun. This eventually led to the creation of VOWEL POWA(R)™, a game I developed from scratch at my kitchen table using recycled materials. What started as an idea grew into a practical, effective tool for teaching reading skills, and students loved it!
A Family Vision to Impact the World
Through free game nights at local libraries and testing sessions with my students, I witnessed how VOWEL POWA(R)™ could reach children of all skill levels, increasing engagement and improving literacy. When my eldest son, a fellow dyslexic learner, told me, “Mom, what you’ve done is the most amazing thing ever,” it hit me that our family’s journey wasn’t just about us. It was about helping thousands of other families avoid the struggle we’d endured.
We now have the opportunity to bring VOWEL POWA(R)™ to classrooms, libraries, and homes across the country. But for this to happen, we need support. We’re launching a campaign to fund the first round of game production.
Keep reading practice short
You do not have to work on everything at once. Choose one skill and practice it for 10 or 15 minutes.
Repeat the game over several sessions before moving on. Dyslexic children often need more repetition, but that repetition does not have to feel like another worksheet.
Games give children a reason to keep looking, listening and trying.
Find the right place to begin
The best reading games for dyslexic children meet them at their current skill level and provide focused practice without making reading feel overwhelming.
Your child does not need more random practice. They need the right practice for the skill they are finding difficult.
Choose one game. Start with one level. Celebrate each small win.
Stop guessing. Start decoding.
The Genesis Reading Team
Discover more articles like this | Explore educational games to support learners and homeschooling.
