Multi-Sensory Approach
incorporating physical movement and visual elements.
From Risk Flag to Reading Success: How A Parent's Instinct Changed Everything
When Evan's parents noticed their energetic kindergartener wasn't developing reading skills like his older sibling had, they trusted their instincts that something was "off."
In just 5 months working with Sprout, Evan's assessment results went from high risk of dyslexia to no detectable dyslexia risk, and high likelihood for on track reading!
The Challenge: A Parent's Intuition and Speech Concerns
Evan was a fun, energetic kindergartener who loved games and activities, but his parents were worried about his reading readiness. With speech articulation issues complicating his learning and noticeable differences compared to his older sibling's development at the same age, dad knew Evan needed extra support designed specifically for his age and grade level.
The Discovery: Significant Struggles & High Dyslexia Risk
Major Phonological Awareness Gaps
9th percentile in both rhyming and blending — critical foundational skills
Language Comprehension Challeneges
7th percentile in oral sentence comprehension
A comprehensive assessment by Evan's Reading Specialist confirmed Evan's parent's suspicions that something was off with his reading.
"When Evan started, the assessment clearly showed those foundational gaps in phonological awareness and comprehension, compounded by a dyslexia risk flag." - Caron, Reading Specialist
Driven by Innovation from the Head and Heart
A Note from Our Founders
As founders, we know that reading education isn’t just powerful and promising – it’s personal. Some of us have dedicated our careers to studying the science behind reading success, while others of us have experienced first-hand the challenges families face when a child struggles with reading. We know, both intellectually and emotionally, how essential reading skills are for children to grow into confident, happy, and successful adults who love to learn. Sprout Labs was born from this passion.
Carla Small
Co-Founder and CEO
is a business executive, a leader of the Boston Children’s Hospital accelerator that backed the development of EarlyBird, and the parent of a child with dyslexia. She joined Drs. Gaab and Petscher in launching EarlyBird Education, and now Sprout Labs, as part of her personal mission to equip families with the tools and confidence they need to help children discover the joy and rewards of reading.
Nadine Gaab, PhD
Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor
Nadine Gaab, was a developmental neuroscientist at Boston Children’s Hospital when she developed the EarlyBird assessment, proven effective at predicting dyslexia and other reading challenges in young children. As both a professional and a mother, she recognized the power of bringing a proactive, preventive approach to educators, and now families, and joined forces with the team to create Sprout Labs.
Yaacov Petscher, PhD
Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor
Associate Director at the Florida Center for Reading Research, contributed his extensive research, data and expertise in developing and implementing EarlyBird. Understanding the transformative potential of their combined work, he collaborated with Dr. Gaab—not only for reading education, but for improving lives. Together, they combined years of research, data, and knowledge to bring EarlyBird, and now Sprout Labs, to life.
Research-based.
Scientifically-tested.
The Plan: Engaging, Multi-Sensory Daily Practice
Game Based Learning & Progress Tracking
The animal friends in the Sprout app kept Evan engaged in daily play, and motivated with fun prizes!
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On Going Reading Specialist Support
Monthly family meetings ensured Evan's family had peace of mind about his reading progress.
Evan dove into the Sprout app with enthusiasm, often telling his parents he couldn't wait to play again the next day.
The daily practice was something his family knew traditional tutoring couldn't provide, since Evan was playing 4-5 times a week.
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The Results: Life Changing Progress In Just 5 Months
Skills
Before
After
Growth
Rhyming
9th percentile
55th percentile
+46 points
Blending
9th percentile
58th percentile
+49 points
First Sound Matching
59th percentile
96th percentile
+37 points
Nonword Repetition
45th percentile
85th percentile
+40 points
Oral Comprehension
7th precentile
57th percentile
+50 points
The transformation was remarkable: Evan went from having a dyslexia risk flag to "no risk detected" and achieved a 74% likelihood of meeting kindergarten reading benchmarks. After completing all the games in the app, he celebrated with Pip and his animal friends at the special feast — a reward for his hard work.
Reading Specialist Insight
Caron, Licensed Reading Specialist
Masters in Education with 20+ years experience
Orton Gillingham Certified
Loves using data to tap into students unique strengths
"Watching Evan embrace the multi-sensory games and seeing those percentiles jump dramatically, especially in rhyming and blending, was incredibly rewarding.
It really solidified for me that consistent, engaging, and individualized practice is the most powerful engine for early reading development, even when there are significant initial challenges.
Evan's journey is a testament to a parent's intuitive grasp of their child’s needs and how quickly young learners can thrive when given the right tools and consistent support."
Evan's Growth: Beyond the Report
Program Love
"Evan loved the multi-sensory approach of physically moving parts in the Sprout app" - Evan's dad
Early Validation
Evan's parents were grateful for the assessment to validate their suspicion that something was "off".
School Success
"Evan has been doing great in school and sounding out words really well. I'm impressed!" - Evan's teacher
Visible Progress
"I'll never forget the first time I heard Evan sound out a word on his own." - Evan's mom
Evan didn't just need more instruction — he needed the right kind of instruction delivered in an engaging, consistent way that worked with his learning style and speech challenges.
The Science Behind The Results
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Comprehensive assessment
Addressing specific areas accelerated progress
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Expert guidance grounded in the Science of Reading
Helped decode his learning profile and guide targeted support
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Progress monitoring
Ensured instruction evolved with his growth
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Confidence-building instruction
Matched to Evan's strengths
Parent Q&A with Evan's parents
Q: Why Sprout Labs?
A: We chose Sprout based on a recommendation from our Speech Pathologist, whom we trust deeply.
Q: Biggest Surprise
A: We knew something was off, but we were surprised to see that Evan was at high risk for dyslexia. The assessment results made it clear that we did the right thing by acting early.
Q: Changes Observed
A: We've noticed changes at home, and at school! Evan has become a confident reader and learner, which is all we can ask for.
Q: Advice to Parents
A: If your child has been identified as high risk for dyslexia, don't panic. The best thing you can do is seek expert support.
The Takeaway for Families
Reading struggles aren't always about intelligence
Sometimes reading struggles aren't about a lack of intelligence — they're about a mismatch between how a child learns and how they're being taught.
The right insight makes all the difference
Understanding a child's unique learning profile can transform their educational experience and unlock their potential.
Personalized support leads to breakthroughs
With the right insight and support, even the most puzzling challenges can become turning points.
Expert guidance is essential
Professional assessment and specialized instruction can reveal hidden strengths and address specific learning needs.
