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About Sound Readers® & Crazy Cards Phonics Card Games
Martha Kovack, MEd
About Sound Readers
Sound Readers is a Canadian-owned and operated company committed to delivering high-quality, structured literacy-based reading games and courses for educators and families. For over 25 years, Sound Readers has brought reading success and joy to thousands of students—and their teachers—through engaging and effective learning tools.
Meet Martha Kovack, Founder and CEO
Martha Kovack, MEd, is the founder, owner, and CEO of Sound Readers, and a passionate advocate for improving literacy skills. With a background in primary school and special education teaching, as well as early childhood education, Martha brings over 35 years of experience to her work. She has provided training and support to teachers, preservice teachers, families, early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists, librarians, and others dedicated to helping children learn to read.
A Passion for Improving Reading Skills
Martha's journey began in the classroom, where she witnessed firsthand the impact of reading struggles on students' lives. This experience sparked her passion for finding effective solutions to improve reading skills. She went on to earn her Master of Education degree at the University of British Columbia and became certified in Orton-Gillingham, Practical Linguistics, and Structured Literacy approaches to beginning reading instruction.
Creator of Crazy Cards Phonics Card Games
Martha created and produced the first set of phonics card games, Crazy Shorts, in 1998. These games have been enjoyed by teachers and students alike for over two decades, and continue to be a teacher favorite to support their students in gaining the decoding, spelling, and oral language practice they need.
Staying Current and Committed to Excellence
Martha is committed to staying current with the latest research and best practices in reading instruction. She regularly attends conferences, takes courses, and participates in conversations with leading reading researchers to ensure that Sound Readers' products and resources are always aligned with the latest scientific knowledge.
Our Mission
At Sound Readers, our mission is to provide educators and families with beginning reading instruction tools and resources to help students enjoy the practice they need to succeed.
Visit Martha's "LetsGetReadingRight.com' site to read her blogs, and view her favorite training opportunities and resources.
Martha talking with Dr. Marnie Ginsberg of Reading Simplifed about Crazy Cards, and her positive experiences.
Some of Martha's college students learning to read aloud using high quality children's literature, and engage children in rich conversations and pretend play. (Winter, 2019)
Martha teaching the Orton-Gillingham approach with her first student Ashley where she received her training and certification at the Scottish Rite Learning Centres (2009). Ashley is now working towards her Bachelor's degree, with intentions of obtaining her Masters and Doctorate!
Martha with her Sound Readers Crazy Cards phonics card games graphic designer Janet Tonello (Lakeside Graphics) at the Word on the Street literacy festival in Toronto in 1999. Phonics card games.
Feeling blessed to have taught so many beautiful, hard-working, enthusiastic, and kind students in the Early Childhood Education program at Georgian College.
Martha in British Columbia in 2019 while studying for her Master of Education in Early Childhood Education at UBC.