Ep. 53 - [Bonus] What If School Creates DYSlexia? with Je'anna Clements

The conclusion of the “Start Where You Are” series

Dive deep with us into the idea that conventional schools might be contributing to the very struggles many people associate with dyslexia.

This bonus episode originally aired as Episode 38, and we’re bringing it back as the perfect conclusion to our 5-part “Start Where You Are” series (Episodes 48–52). After exploring grief, the joy of slow, learning readiness, math, and writing, this conversation invites you to rethink reading and the ways schools impact children’s learning.

I’m joined by Je’anna Clements, an advocate for self-directed learning and a dyslexic learner herself, to discuss her eye-opening perspective on DYSlexia (school-created) vs. dyslexia (a neurotype).

Je’anna explains how conventional interventions often offer “helpful harm,” leading to poorer outcomes than self-directed educational approaches for dyslexic learners. She shares how shifting our perspective allows all children to thrive in ways that truly honor their unique needs. We also explore the powerful connections between felt-safety, self-determination theory, flow in learning, and consent—and how these elements are key to fostering meaningful, lifelong learning.

We dive into the idea of “inherent wisdom”—the concept that children already possess what they need to find their own learning solutions. Je’anna shares how self-directed learning, rooted in trust and understanding, helps children mature in their own ways—especially those who’ve been labeled as “dyslexic.”

This conversation challenges conventional educational norms and invites you to rethink learning, reading, and the holistic development and respect of children.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between DYSlexia (school-created) and dyslexia (a neurotype)

• Why some common reading interventions might actually be harmful

• How felt-safety, self-determination, and flow impact learning

• The role of consent in a child’s learning process

• The importance of connecting learning to a child’s innate interests and curiosity

• Why trusting your child’s natural learning process can be the key to thriving in home education

Connect with Je’Anna:

• Website and her books
• Patreon and mini-courses
• Horizontal Communication
• Rights-Centric Education
• LinkedIn

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• What if School Creates Dyslexia? By Je’anna Clements
• Free to Learn by Peter Gray
• Successful Illiterate Men study by Roger A. Clark
• The Art of Receiving and Giving: the Wheel of Consent by Betty Marin

Join the Conversation! This episode is a peek inside our Day in the Life community, where parents support one another in self-directed learning and explore homeschooling through play, flow, and nervous system safety.

🎉Doors are open now! (Thru Nov. 4th)🎉

Want to join us for support, connection, and more conversations like this? 👉 Learn more at 90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life/.

Listen to the other episodes in the “Starting Where You Are” series:

• Part 1: What Grief Has to Teach Us with Emily Souder
• Part 2: Falling Behind is a Myth with Leslie Martino
• Part 3: Body Before Brain: Unlock Learning with Sarah Collins
• Part 4: What If Math Wasn’t The Problem with Sue Patterson
• Part 5: Becoming Brave Writers with Julie Bogart

Follow along at 90MinuteSchoolDay.com or on Instagram @90MinuteSchoolDay.