Insights from AMLE: Educators Reflect on How They Learned to Read
How did you learn to read?
At this year’s AMLE Conference, we asked attendees to share a simple but powerful story: How did you learn to read? Their reflections, captured in photos and video, remind us why literacy matters, and why programs like STARI are so important for students who need extra support.
Hearing these stories highlights the variety of ways early reading experiences can spark a lifelong love of learning:
Julie
Reading Interventionist
Illinois
I remember having phonics books, and I thought they were fun. There was a lot of rhyming and matching, and they were in color—the only workbook we ever had that was in color.
Akilah
School Support Specialist
Chicago, IL
I remember having a toy called Alphie that used to light up. You put a card in Alphie and you go through the different words and so I would repeat after Alphie.
Chad
Principal
Nebraska
I grew up in a small rural town, and when the bookmobile came, I discovered Black Beauty and ended up reading the whole series.
These personal stories remind us that reading journeys are as unique as the students we support. Some learners thrive with hands-on phonics, others with interactive tools, and others with access to books in their community.
Connecting the Stories to STARI
Programs like
STARI (Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention) are designed to meet students where they are, providing engaging, leveled texts and structured discussion opportunities to strengthen reading fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking. Just as these educators experienced different paths to literacy, STARI offers multiple pathways for students to grow and succeed.
SERP Stories Podcast: Continuing the Conversation
This same question—How did you learn to read?—is at the heart of every episode of the
SERP Stories podcast. Each conversation with educators, researchers, and developers reflects on personal reading journeys, showing how early experiences shape literacy and inspire the work we do today.
SERP Stories
Listen to SERP Stories to hear more educators share their own reading experiences and learn how STARI supports students across the country.
Explore STARI Resources
Download STARI curriculum materials for free, request a STARI bundle, or join a STARI Community Forum to connect with colleagues implementing the program in classrooms like yours.