Welcome to the Blog: A New Look at Education | Blog Post 1 - Introduction

by Mikaela Ostrander

Hi there — I’m Mikaela Ostrander. I’m a special education teacher and speech-language pathology assistant with a focus on dyslexia and behavior intervention. Over the years, I’ve worked with countless students who have been misunderstood — often labeled as “behavior problems” when the real issue was a mismatch between their needs and the way we teach.

This blog is born from years of research, trial, error, and a relentless pursuit of doing better for kids. The core of my work centers on two powerful ideas that I believe could revolutionize the world of education:

1. Literacy is Everything: The Science of Reading

Reading ability doesn’t just determine success in school — it determines success in life.

Research shows that two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. In fact, over 70% of inmates in American prisons cannot read above a fourth-grade level. This isn’t just a reading issue — it’s a systemic failure.

The Science of Reading is a research-backed approach to teaching literacy that integrates decades of studies in neuroscience, education, and psychology. But it’s not widely understood or implemented. Many schools are still using outdated methods that leave our most vulnerable students behind.

I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this approach can be — not just in test scores, but in how children see themselves. Kids who once said “I’m just dumb” begin to read, write, and believe in their ability to learn. Literacy opens doors. It builds confidence. It changes lives.

2. Understanding Children Through Personality and Development

The second concept that’s been life-changing in my work is understanding personality — specifically, the 16 personality types and how they influence a child's experience in both the family environment AND the classroom.

This isn’t about labeling or putting kids into boxes. It’s about recognizing that every child learns, engages, and grows differently. Our current public education system is designed to support just 2 of the 16 personality types. That’s a staggering gap.

What happens to the other 14? Often, they’re misunderstood. They get labeled as lazy, defiant, distracted, or difficult — when really, the system just isn’t meeting even 30% of their core needs.

Here’s what I’ve learned:When we meet just 30% of a child’s needs, behaviors drastically decrease. But that requires a fundamental shift in how we think about child development as both parents and teachers.

Sitting still in one room for 6-7 hours a day, rote memorization, limited access to arts and music — this works for a small percentage of children, but not for most. And certainly not for the creative, intuitive, movement-driven learners who make up much of our population.

We need a multi-modal, interest-based approach to support child development. That means expanding access to:

• Art programs

• Technology and coding programs

• Project-based learning

• Music and performance

• Outdoor and movement-based curricula

These aren’t luxuries. They’re lifelines for kids who thrive outside of the narrow mold we currently ask them to fit into. 

“But what about funding?” Yes — that’s always the big question. The good news is, there are creative ways to utilize existing funds more effectively and get the outcomes we’re truly aiming for. We’ll explore those ideas together along the way.

What to Expect from This Blog

In the posts to come, I’ll be diving deep into:

• Literacy intervention THAT WORKS [designed for individuals with dyslexia, dysgraphia and/or other language-based disorders but works for all] - The Science of Reading and how to implement it 

• Behavior as communication — what kids are really telling us

• Understanding the 16 personalities in relation to child development and yourself as the parent or teacher

• How we can redesign schools to meet more children’s needs

• Real strategies, stories, and solutions for educators, parents, and advocates

If you’ve ever felt like something just isn’t working in education — you’re right.

But there’s another way.

Let’s do better — together.

Mikaela