Episode 83. In this episode of Play on Words, reading specialist and early childhood educator Beth Gaskill discusses overcoming perfectionism, rejection sensitivity, and learning to advocate for your child's education during America's literacy crisis.Beth explores the alarming statistics behind the U.S. reading crisis — 67% of fourth graders cannot read proficiently — and shares the success story of Mississippi's reading instruction reforms. Mississippi's evidence-based approach to teaching reading, including intensive teacher training in phonics and the science of reading, has transformed student outcomes and proves that reading failure is preventable.This episode is essential listening for parents of struggling readers, those struggling with fear of rejection, and anyone who wants to understand how to advocate for better reading instruction in schools. Whether you're concerned about dyslexia, phonics instruction, or your child's literacy development, this conversation offers practical strategies and hope.

⸻

In This Episode About Reading Advocacy and Literacy Crisis, You'll Learn:

Why perfectionism holds parents back from advocating for their children's education
How rejection sensitivity and ADHD can make it harder to ask for help
What Mississippi's reading reforms teach us about science-based reading instruction and phonics
Why evidence-based reading instruction (structured literacy) is critical for all students
How to overcome fear of rejection when advocating for your struggling reader
Practical steps to build confidence in educational advocacy, starting small


Mentioned in This Episode:Big Feelings, Bigger Reactions: Parenting Kids With ADHD [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-on-words/id1689430556?i=1000740217537]

⸻

About the HostBeth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth:Instagram: @bigcityreaders
Website: bigcityreaders.com [http://bigcityreaders.com/]
Podcast: Play on Words from Big City Readers


Why Kids Can’t Read

Episode 82. What do you do when your child says, “I’m bored” — and why does that moment feel so hard?

In this episode of Play on Words, Beth Gaskill sits down with Lizzie Assa (@theworkspaceforchildren), early childhood educator, parenting strategist, and founder of The Workspace for Children, to talk about her upcoming book But I’m Bored! [https://amzn.to/3NaKnHl] https://amzn.to/3NaKnHl

Together, they explore why boredom isn’t something parents need to fix, how independent play builds confidence and creativity, and what it actually looks like to step back without guilt. This conversation is practical, research-aligned, and grounded in real life — not perfection or Pinterest setups.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to constantly entertain your child, this episode offers permission (and tools) to do things differently.

⸻

 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

•    Why “I’m bored” is an opportunity, not a problem

•    What independent play really means (and what it doesn’t)

•    How to support play without over-directing or hovering

•    Why stepping back helps kids — and parents — thrive

⸻

 About the Host

Miss Beth is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and the founder of Big City Readers. She supports parents in raising confident, capable kids through research-backed literacy and development strategies.

 Follow Miss Beth:

•    Instagram: @bigcityreaders

•    Website: bigcityreaders.com [http://bigcityreaders.com/]

•    Podcast: Play on Words from Big City Readers

Letting Kids Be Bored (Without Feeling Like a Bad Parent) with Lizzie Assa

Episode 81. This week, Miss Beth welcomes KC Rickerd [https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com](@milestonesandmotherhood) for a fun dive into the wild, weird world of English spelling and pronunciation!

In this episode, Miss Beth and KC explore why English words are so quirky, the origins behind confusing spellings, the science of reading and word morphology, and why we hammer with a hammer but sweep with a broom (seriously, what's up with that?).

If you've ever wondered why 'cue' has four silent letters or why 'fridge' has a 'D' when 'refrigerator' doesn't, you're definitely not alone! Sparked by a viral TikTok video, KC and Miss Beth unpack the oddities of English with humor and insight, sharing hilarious Misheard Monday moments and explaining how understanding word origins actually helps kids become better readers.

You'll also discover why English loves turning nouns into verbs, how the science of reading includes morphology, and some eye-opening examples of how pronunciation connects to a word's history.

So grab your favorite beverage, get cozy, and let's chat about the beautiful chaos that is the English language. Whether you're a word nerd or just trying to help your child navigate tricky spellings, this episode will have you laughing and learning!

Miss Beth is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and the founder of Big City Readers. She supports parents in raising confident, capable kids through research-backed literacy and development strategies.

For more info visit https://www.bigcityreaders.com/podcast

Message me your questions on Instagram @bigcityreaders

Check out Big City Readers picks on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4stPAdp]

Why is English so Confusing? Breaking it Down with KC Rickerd of @milestonesandmotherhood

Episode 80. This week, Miss Beth dives into a question she hears all the time from concerned parents: "Why does my child write their letters backwards?"

In this episode, Miss Beth goes over backward letter writing in children, reversing letters and numbers, typical writing development milestones, and when to worry about letter reversals.

If you've ever watched your child scribble their name with letters facing the wrong direction, you're definitely not alone! This is completely normal and part of your child's natural development. Miss Beth explains why backward writing is so common in early learners and shares the encouraging news that most kids naturally outgrow this phase by around age seven.

You'll also discover why proper letter formation matters, how reading and writing skills work hand-in-hand, and some practical, fun ways to support your budding writer at home.

So grab your favorite beverage, get cozy, and let's chat about writing development. Your child's literacy journey is just beginning, and we're here to help you every step of the way!

⁠Tracing Letters A-Z Handwriting Graphic⁠ [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/blog/2025/5/30/tracing-letters-a-z-the-complete-guide-free-worksheet]

For more info visit ⁠https://www.bigcityreaders.com/podcast⁠ [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/podcast]

Message me your questions on Instagram ⁠@bigcityreaders⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/231175467376275/big-city-readers/?hl=en]

Check out Big City Readers picks on ⁠Amazon⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders?ccs_id=edcb4b9f-0e3e-4452-97bb-7b5c3af5e78d&isPublicView=true&linkCode=sl2&tag=bigcityreader-20&linkId=11779dd6606a346b9c9eac09e9f8eda8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl]

Why Does My Child Write Their Letters Backwards?

Episode 79 - ADHD and motivation—let's cut through the noise. This episode breaks down why so many people get motivation wrong when it comes to ADHD, and what actually works to move the needle. Dr. Carrie gets real about the myths we need to retire (like motivation being some tank you can empty) and what actually matters: understanding what drives each person and building an environment that doesn't work against them. Miss Beth chats with Dr. Carrie Jackson about ADHD motivation in kids (and adults!), executive function challenges, dopamine regulation, and neurodivergent strategies.

If you're tired of surface-level advice and want strategies that hold up over time, this one's for you.  

For more info visit https://www.bigcityreaders.com/podcast

Find Dr. Carrie on Instagram @dr.carriejackson 

Message me your questions on Instagram @bigcityreaders 

Check out Big City Readers picks on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4a6VMl0]

Big Feelings, Bigger Reactions: Parenting Kids with ADHD Without Losing Your Mind with Dr. Carrie Jackson Ep 79

EP 78: Beth and Susan host the first-ever meeting of the Elf on the Shelf Haters Club, a hilarious and heartfelt look at why this tradition stresses so many parents out. Using real listener DMs, we break down the surveillance storyline, comparison culture, mom mental load, and kid confusion — while offering alternatives, middle-ground solutions, and scripts you can actually use.

Inside this 35-minute episode, we talk about:

 * Why the elf’s surveillance storyline doesn’t align with many families’ values
 * The comparison chaos (especially in 2nd–4th grade)
 * The emotional load on kids AND parents
 * Moms drowning in the nightly setup expectations
 * Kids feeling sad or left out
 * Why some parents absolutely love the elf and why others are DONE

You’ll also get middle-ground ideas, alternatives, and scripts for navigating questions like:

“Why doesn’t our elf bring gifts?”
“Why don’t we have an elf at all?”
“Why do my friends have elves that do more?”

Whether you love the elf, hate the elf, or forgot to move the elf… this episode is for you.

In this episode: The 25  Books of Christmas [https://bigcityreaders.myflodesk.com/iw5hdvwnf4]



Elf on the Shelf Haters Club (Holiday Meeting Now in Session)

Episode 77 In today’s episode of Play on Words from Big City Readers, Miss Beth breaks down one of the top questions parents ask: Should I correct my child's spelling? Spoiler: correcting isn’t the enemy… but how you do it absolutely matters if you want to protect your child’s confidence and build lifelong readers and writers.

From invented spelling to letter reversals, from the dreaded sight word “said” to why she cannot stand the book The Rainbow Fish, Miss Beth gets real about what’s developmentally normal, what to gently support, and what to leave alone.

Whether your child is in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade, this episode gives you practical, science-backed tools to help your child feel confident while still building strong reading and writing foundations.

✏️ What We Cover in This Episode

👉 Should You Correct Your Child’s Spelling?

👉 Does Writing Letters the “Right Way” Matter?

👉 Why I Don’t Love The Rainbow Fish

👉 How to Teach the Sight Word “SAID” (And Why It Matters)

 ...And So Much More

 * Building confidence through “productive struggle”
 * Why correcting too much can accidentally shut kids down
 * How to model writing without perfectionism
 * What to do when your child hates writing
 * When spelling concerns are worth a deeper look

For all the resources I mentioned- free and on demand courses- visit bigcityreaders.com and connect with me on instagram @bigcityreaders

How to Correct Your Child’s Spelling Without Crushing Their Confidence

Episode 76 When a school or teacher suggests tutoring, it can feel confusing, triggering, or even alarming — especially if you don’t understand the school’s actual plan to support your child. In this quick episode, Miss Beth breaks down what to do in that moment and what every parent needs to know before hiring a tutor in first grade.

You’ll learn:

 * what schools are expected to do before recommending outside tutoring
 * the key questions to ask when a teacher brings it up
 * how to advocate for your child (even if you don’t realize you need to)
 * what first-grade support should look like
 * a simple script to get clear answers and keep communication collaborative

If you’ve ever wondered whether tutoring is the right next step — or if your school should be doing more — this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and the exact words to say.

First Grade RESET doors now open [https://bigcityreaders.thrivecart.com/first-grade-reset/]! Until 11/23

Is Tutoring Really The Answer? What To Expect From For Your First Grader

Episode 75 of the Play On Words podcast from Big City Readers, host Beth Gaskill dives into the viral trend inspired by Taylor Swift's song "Cancelled," exploring the concept of a "betrayal list" in education. Beth shares her own list of educational practices she believes should be "cancelled" to foster successful readers, including behavior charts, memorizing sight words, and the "letter of the week" approach. She emphasizes the importance of connection, regulation, and adaptive teaching methods over outdated practices.

Timestamps:

 * 00:00:00 Introduction and Viral Trend
 * 00:03:00 Beth's Full Betrayal List
 * 00:06:00 Behavior Charts
 * 00:09:00 Reading Levels and Sight Words
 * 00:12:00 Letter of the Week
 * 00:15:00 The Giving Tree and Rainbow Fish

  •  00:18:00 What's Not Cancelled?

Follow Miss Beth

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/bigcityreaders/

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@bigcityreaders

More Resources: Bigcityreaders.com

Things I Wish Were Canceled: Sight Words, Letter Of The Week, Behavior Charts, Reading Levels and MORE

Episode 74 Miss Beth from Big City Readers reads Room On The Broom, our Halloween favorite! Julia Donaldson is one of the best authors we love to promote. Find more Halloween stories ⁠here⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders/list/28CPOTTKD7LP2?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_WYEA56NR5Q0NJ6YRSS14]!

And Follow on ⁠Youtube⁠ [https://youtu.be/WAFjxPt9e3Y] for more story time for kids!

Check out our ⁠on demand classes⁠ [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/] to raise readers- toddlers to third grade.

Story Time For Kids! Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson

Learning to read starts with learning to play. This is the podcast for parents and teachers of kids ages 0-8 who want to have FUN learning evidence backed early development and literacy strategies in a short amount of time. This is the podcast for the teacher who needs a bestie to ask questions to and the parent who wants to know the best developmental practices to implement in the 3 minutes a day they have. You're not alone. Ask your questions here. If I can't answer them, one of my friends will be on to help! There are so many confusing parts about the learning to read journey. Miss Beth is here to simplify it, affirm you are the best person to teach your child, and give you the confidence you need in the early childhood education years. This podcast is for fun, community and confidence making tough topics more bite sized for every parent teacher and child. 

play on words

miss beth's Show

parenting

Miss Beth is known across the globe as a reading rockstar, disrupter of the education system and "like Taylor Swift and Mr Rogers."

miss beth

Shows