Maya's Favorites, Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds . By Maya Smart | September 16 , 2024

Spelling Champs Beat the Odds, But Reading Itself is a Stretch Goal for Too Many

Discover the history of black spelling bee contestants who beat the odds, even as strong reading & spelling remain stretch goals

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Early Language, Personal Development . By Maya Smart | November 04 , 2024

I Made These New-Mom Mistakes. Then I Wrote a Book So You Won’t Have To.

Parenting author Maya Payne Smart shares her inspiring journey to becoming a literacy advocate and what new parents can learn

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Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds . By Maya Smart | November 11 , 2024

5 Tips for Parents from Reading for Our Lives by Maya Payne Smart

Empower your child’s literacy journey with these five actionable tips from Reading for Our Lives by Maya Payne Smart. Discover

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A Crisis Is Brewing: Learning Gaps and How to Avert Them

Parenting author Maya Payne Smart explains the overlooked phonological awareness skills kids need to become thriving

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Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds . By Maya Smart | October 14 , 2024

Phonological Awareness: The Overlooked Skill Kids Need Before They Can Read

Parenting author Maya Payne Smart explains the overlooked phonological awareness skills kids need to become thriving

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Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds . By Maya Smart | August 26 , 2024

How to Develop Your Child’s Phonological Awareness in Easy, Fun, Free Ways

Discover how to develop phonological awareness in easy, fun, free ways. It’s a key but often-overlooked skill kids need to read

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Parent-School Partnership, Books for Adults . By Maya Smart | January 01 , 2024

The Overlooked Tool Parents Have for Getting Kids Ready to Read

Parent educator Maya Payne Smart discusses an easily overlooked tool parents have at their disposal in preparing their kids to

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Literacy Skills, Early Language, Books for Adults . By Maya Smart | July 24 , 2023

Why & How to Talk to Your Baby: ‘Language Nutrition’ Feeds the Brain

Talking to babies is so vital to their brain development that it’s often called language nutrition. And some ways of talking

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Literacy Skills, Letters & Sounds, Writing, Family Activities, Literacy Activities . By Maya Smart | April 15 , 2024

Why b and d Reversals Happen and 3 Ways to Help Kids Set Them Straight

Young kids often confuse lowercase b and d—for good reason. Get easy, high-impact tips to teach your child to read and write

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Community, Library & Literacy Advocacy . By Maya Smart | August 28 , 2023

How a Milwaukee Summer Reading Program Builds a Better Tomorrow

Author Maya Smart reflects on fostering literacy & life success for kids Milwaukee & beyond with programs like Tragil Wade

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