Jul 1
Reading is everywhere and in everything we do, but most reading curriculums taught in schools aren’t aligned with the current research on the most effective way to teach reading. Kathleen Germs, a second-grade teacher and Instagram educator, is on a mission to change not just the way reading is taught, but the entire dynamic between teachers and students in the classroom–starting with asking kids what they need to learn best.
Unsurprisingly, Kathleen’s students adore her because she makes learning as easy as possible and helps them feel empowered and valued in the classroom. Join our conversation as Kathleen explains how she adjusts her lessons to meet her students’ needs, the importance of bringing mental health into the classroom, and how her ADHD makes her the phenomenal teacher that she is.
APPLE
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
"I see how many kids struggle with reading and I see the stigmas attached to kids who struggle with reading, and I want to break those. Because it has nothing to do with whether or not a child has a high IQ, it has everything to do with how we are teaching reading."
- Kathleen Germs
"I knew that I always wanted to do something to make a change in the world and make the world a better place, that’s always been in my heart since I was a little kid."
- Kathleen Germs
"When I find my interest, I excel in it, but when I’m not interested in it it’s very hard to set aside the time to work on things."
- Kathleen Germs
- Kathleen shares that she struggled in school due to ADHD and trauma in her childhood home, which made it hard for her to focus and retain information.
- Kathleen shares her experience with ADHD, mentioning that her closest friends were aware of her dad's abuse and felt uncomfortable around him, while her dad was charismatic and could hide his true nature.
- Kathleen shares a harrowing experience of being chased by four men in China, including trying to kidnap her and her mother fighting them off.
[23:18 - 37:27] Dyslexia and Its Impact on Reading and Intelligence
- Kathleen shares her passion for education, revealing her journey from motherhood to reading teacher.
- Kathleen emphasizes the importance of teaching reading correctly to prevent stigmas and struggles for children with dyslexia.
- Kathleen explains that reading is not learned through memorization, but rather through listening and oral skills, and that teaching students how to put sounds together orally before writing can help prevent reading difficulties.
- Kathleen emphasizes the importance of engaging students through multi-sensory approaches, including hands-on activities and symbolic gestures, to help them learn and retain information.
- Kathleen shares her unconventional teaching methods, including focusing on phonics and spelling patterns, and prioritizing student well-being through mental health lessons and positive affirmations.
- Kathleen believes her ADHD has helped her become an excellent teacher by making her aware of her students' emotions and adaptable to their needs.
