You’ve noticed something about your child’s reading, but the thought of bringing it up with their teacher makes you hesitate. What if I sound pushy? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I’m overreacting?
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares how to have low-pressure, supportive conversations with your child’s teacher about reading. From real-life examples to simple conversation starters, you’ll learn how to approach teachers with confidence, curiosity, and collaboration—without the guilt or second guessing.
What You’ll Learn:
☑️ Why talking to teachers about reading can feel so intimidating (and how to reframe it)
☑️ A mindset shift that turns “confrontation” into “collaboration”
☑️ Practical ways to start the conversation, no matter your communication style
☑️ Gentle conversation starters you can use right away
☑️ How to follow up (even if the first conversation didn’t go as planned)
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:00:25] Why it feels so hard to bring up reading concerns with teachers
[00:01:25] A personal story: learning to advocate for my child, even when it was uncomfortable
[00:03:19] Why building teacher relationships early makes conversations easier
[00:04:05] A mindset shift: collaboration, not confrontation
[00:04:39] Choosing a communication style that works for you
[00:05:33] The Conversation Starter Kit: a free resource with templates and phrasing help
[00:06:00] Real-life examples of conversation openers and questions to ask
[00:08:07] What to do if the conversation doesn’t land the way you hoped
[00:08:58] Why persistence matters: progress happens in the follow-up
[00:09:25] Sneak peek at next week’s episode
[00:09:42] Reset & Read Workshop
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/09/05/talk-to-your-childs-teacher-about-reading/
📺 Prefer to Watch? YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/OLXVLDQYf5k
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your Conversation Starter Kit—a free guide with conversation openers, message templates, and phrasing help to make teacher talks about reading less stressful and more supportive.
📥 Get it here → https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/teacherconvos
🎟️ Reset & Read is now available as a replay!
If your reading habit is feeling off, this workshop will help you reset your reading rhythm—without the stress.
🎟️ Grab the replay here → http
Grab your Motivating Reluctant Readers Guide today --> https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/mrrguide
🎧Love the podcast? Hit the 5⭐to leave a rating & review!
It helps get this podcast out in front of more moms that need to hear it, so we can help more reluctant readers learn to love books and put an end to the nightly battles around reading!
Resources:
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