Coming Fall 2024

Today, Irene Daria is a cognitive developmental psychologist and reading tutor to the stars. At the time of this story, she was a graduate student and “just” a mom thrilled that her son had been accepted to one of the most esteemed schools in Manhattan. Sure that he was on the path to a venerable education, she did not listen when her 5-year-old told her that he—like millions of other children—was not being taught how to read in school. 

An entire, very painful school year passed before Eric got her to realize he was right. Follow along as Daria begins a perplexing but ultimately empowering journey to save his academic life. She finds herself pitted against well-intentioned teachers and administrators, people she would have loved to trust if only they weren’t so misinformed. The more Daria tries to get the school to see that it—like tens of thousands of other schools across the country—is teaching reading all wrong, the more the school insists there is something wrong with her child and not with its teaching.

Although I Didn't Believe Him is about a disturbing topic, it is a joy to read. Its pages overflow with the tenderness and love a mother has for her child and the trust a child has that his mother will make everything right. In addition to sharing her personal story, Daria takes you behind closed doors at a top-rated school to witness how flawed teaching methods are causing millions of kids to struggle with reading. You will see how a child's struggles in school affect the entire family. In an entertaining who-dun-it way, you will learn about the horrifying history of reading instruction in our country and the absurd way reading is currently being taught in many schools.

In the end, simply by going on this life-altering journey with Daria and her son, you will learn how to teach a child to read and be empowered to set any child on the path to becoming a proficient reader.

With these books, anyone can teach a child to read!

Steps to Reading workbooks teach phonics explicitly and systematically and sight words in order of frequency of use. They adhere to the science of reading and provide you with everything you need to teach a child to read.

The books include:

• Step-by-step instructions on how to teach:

  • Phonics

  • The most frequently used sight words

• Fun and engaging worksheets

• Vocabulary

• Phonics Bingo games

• Phonics board games

• Online activities

• Recommendations of decodable stories children can read from the earliest stages of reading. The stories reinforce the lessons and make children feel so proud of themselves!

Steps to Reading was written by developmental psychologist Irene Daria, Ph.D, below. She has taught hundreds of children to read and has trained teachers in the science of reading.

The books enable you to follow the exact same steps Dr. Daria uses when she teaches children to read. You’ll see why so many celebrities have asked Dr. Daria to teach their children how to read, and why actress Kate Winslet says, “Irene is remarkable at teaching children how to read. How wonderful that the skills Irene so clearly and beautifully taught my children are now available in these books for parents and  teachers to use.”