In this reboot of EDU Talk Radio, host Ellen Ullman welcomes EdTech pioneer Jim Marggraff, CEO of Kabe Learning and inventor behind Leapfrog’s LeapPad and the Livescribe Smartpen. They discuss the current literacy crisis, the science of reading, and how screen-free AI tools are transforming early childhood education.

Key Topics:

• The alarming state of early literacy in the U.S. and why fourth grade is a critical inflection point.
• The evolution of reading instruction: phonics vs. whole language, and the importance of phonemic awareness.
• The story behind LeapPad and the development of interactive learning tools.
• Kabe Learning’s new AI-powered, screen-free reading wand and its impact in classrooms and homes.
• The role of data, brain science, and adaptive learning in the future of reading.
• How pilot programs in Florida and New York are helping bridge literacy gaps, especially for multilingual and underserved students.
• The importance of parental involvement and dialogic reading for comprehension and vocabulary development.
• The future of early reading: personalized, adaptive, and context-aware learning powered by AI

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