Celebrate 30 Days of Literacy with us!
Have you ever wondered how your child’s brain learns to read—or what to do when reading becomes difficult?
September is National Literacy Month, and at Izora Elaine Dean Educational Center (IED), we’re celebrating by helping families take a closer look at something that affects every child: literacy.
Reading can feel complicated, especially when families begin hearing terms like phonics, fluency, comprehension, reading levels, interventions, and grade-level standards. Understanding what those terms mean—and how the pieces of reading work together—can help you better understand what your child is being taught, recognize where they may need support, ask informed questions, and find practical ways to help at home.
That’s why we created 30 Days of Literacy.
Throughout this family-friendly journey, we’ll break reading down into language you can understand and use. We’ll explore how the brain learns to read, the five skills that every great reader must have, how reading skills grow over time, what learners are expected to know at different grade levels, how reading is taught, what happens when a learner needs extra help, and practical ways families can support learning at home.
Whether your learner loves reading, is just beginning to read, or is having a difficult time with reading, 30 Days of Literacy is an opportunity to better understand what is happening behind the words on the page.
Celebrate National Literacy Month with us. Come learn how reading works-one day at a time.
Featured 30 Days of Literacy Resources
Day 2: How Does Your Brain Learn to Read?
Have you ever stopped to think about what your brain is doing when you read a word? It's doing quite a bit more than you might think!
Your brain has four important parts working together to help you recognize words, connect letters with sounds, and make sense of what you're reading. Come explore these four parts, see how they work together, and discover what's happening behind the scenes every time you read!
Day 3 — Can Your Child Recognize Their Letters?
Your learner can sing the ABC song from beginning to end. But what happens when you show them a letter out of order? Can they recognize it? Knowing the alphabet song and recognizing individual letters aren't quite the same thing! Come discover how your learner's brain begins recognizing letters and familiar words and try a few fun activities together.
Day 4: How Does Your Brain Connect Sounds to Letters?
Day 4: How Does Your Brain Connect Sounds to Letters?
Have you ever watched your learner sound out a word and wondered what's happening inside their brain? How do we make different sounds, and how does our brain connect those sounds to letters?
Come discover how your lips, tongue, and even your nose help make sounds as you try a few fun experiments together!
The Astronaut GearPaks™
The Astronaut GearPak 2.0
The Astronaut GearPak OG
The Superhero GearPaks™
The Superhero GearPak 2.0
The Superhero GearPak OG
The Time Traveler GearPaks™
The Time Traveler GearPak 2.0
The Time Traveler GearPak OG
The #1 Learner GearPaks™
The #1 Learner GearPak 2.0
The #1 Learner GearPak OG
The Jungle Explorer GearPaks™
The Jungle Explorer GearPak 2.0
The Jungle Explorer OG
Additional Resources
Confused about IEPs or 504s? You’re not alone.
- What is an IEP?
- What is a 504?
- What’s the difference between them?
- Will my child be pulled from class?
- What are my legal rights in Kansas?
We answer your biggest questions in one family-friendly guide.
Fun Friday Episode 1: Four Ways to Support Your Child This School Year
Many families ask, "How can I help my child in school?" We will share four ways that families can support their child to make sure he/she has a great school year! During this episode, we will discuss the following questions: 1. What's my child's data?, 2. Is my child receiving an intervention or an enrichment?, 3. What standard(s) does my child's homework reinforce?, 4. What plans have been put in place to support my child? Knowing the answers to these questions will help learners be successful this school year!
Educational Acronyms
Educational Acronyms
Does all of the acronyms used in education have you feeing overwhelmed? Click the box below to get your free copy of "Common Educational Acronyms"!
Spark a Mind & Change a Life!!!!
At the Izora Elaine Dean Educational Center (IED), Spark a Mind and Change a Life isn’t just our motto — it’s our mission. Every program, product, and experience we create is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and nurture the whole child. Proudly voted one of the best schools in Wichita, Kansas, IED is more than a school; it’s a learning community that feels like home — where families, educators, and learners grow together. Whether it’s personalized schooling, tutoring, online classes, family workshops, or our engaging subscription boxes and learning kits, we’re proud to make IED learning possible for families everywhere — in homes, classrooms, and communities around the world. Everything we do is driven by one purpose — to spark a mind and change a life.