Hello Parents!
Thanks for your interest in Reading to Succeed, which is dedicated to supporting your child’s reading at home.
Hi! I’m Elizabeth Morphis
I’m a life-long literacy expert, who has been teaching children to love reading and writing for over 20 years. I have worked as a literacy professor, an elementary classroom teacher, the teacher for the child actors on the Broadway Tour of Annie, and a content specialist at Sesame Workshop. Since my first year teaching, I quickly learned the role that interests and choice play in getting kids to want to read, and since then, I have continued to inspire kids to read and support parents to come along on the journey.
When my daughter was in elementary school, I made it a point to read her assigned novels alongside her. Though she was an avid reader, I either read the chapters aloud to her or we each read on our own and then talked about what we discovered. One afternoon, on the way to an after-school activity, she said something I've never forgotten:
"Mom, I wouldn't understand these books if you didn't read them with me and talk to me about what they are all about."
She didn't say it to be profound. She was just being honest. But her comment made me stop.
When I asked if the books were discussed in class, she shrugged, "Sometimes—but there's not always time." Here’s what I have learned–there is never enough time. And, that's why parents and caregivers matter so much for a child’s reading journey.
This conversation with my daughter was a strong reminder that comprehension doesn't happen automatically. Kids need someone to read with them, think with them, and talk with them. And for too many kids, that simply doesn't exist–not always at school, and not always at home.
My goal is to help children not just learn to read. I want them to want to read. When a child struggles to understand what they're reading, they stop trying. It's that simple. Parents and caregivers can fix that—by building the comprehension skills that turn a reluctant reader into a child who reaches for a book on their own. When parents and caregivers read with their kids and talk about what they are reading, they are directly building reading comprehension–and over time, this will help a kid want to read.
Reading comprehension is a game changer. It's the foundation of academic success. It's the skill employers say is missing in their new hires. It's what separates a child who tolerates reading from one who loves it. And the most powerful place it gets built isn't in a classroom.
It's in your home. In your conversations. In the time you invest together.
When you read with your child and talk about what they're reading, something remarkable happens—and it goes far beyond books. Yes, your child builds the skills to succeed in school and in life. But, you build a relationship with them that runs deeper than you might expect. And somewhere along the way—you'll rediscover your own love of reading too.
Just like you, I'm a parent. I have two daughters, a full life, and a calendar that never seems to have enough room. I know what it's like to want more for your kids while running on fumes.
That's exactly why I built this the way I did. Supporting your child's reading at home doesn't have to be another big thing on your to-do list. Small, purposeful moments do add up to big results. If you want to learn exactly how to make that happen at home, email me—no question is too small. Or explore my courses designed specifically for busy parents like you.