“…genuine success isn’t always easy or perfect; sometimes it’s the quiet victory of a child finally making a connection.”
4-minute read
Cynthia B. Kaye
Early Education Advocate | EdTech Innovator | CEO, Alive Studios
As an educator, I know you face immense pressure to improve literacy scores and manage behavior. It’s a national crisis that weighs on all of us. I felt this deeply when I was trying to teach my own children to read, and I discovered that the traditional tools simply weren’t enough. That experience led me on a journey to find a better way, and what I discovered is that the solution isn’t just about trying harder, but about trying differently.
From Personal Struggle to Unexpected Discovery
My journey began with a personal struggle. My husband and I adopted two boys from an orphanage in Latvia. I had an optimistic view of our future, but teaching them to read was an enormous challenge. As an elementary education graduate, I tried everything—public and private schools, interactive whiteboards, and the latest phonics software. But the resources were passive and not engaging enough, and we often ended up in tears, not breakthroughs.
It was during this time that a young support technician at my old company introduced me to something that would change my life: augmented reality (AR). He slid a piece of paper with a black square under a document camera, and the Eiffel Tower appeared in 3D. In that moment, I had a wild idea. What if we could use this technology to make learning come alive for kids? What if a giraffe could pop out of a card to teach the letter “G”? This idea became my “why,” and it led to the creation of Alive Studios.
Beyond the Gimmick: The Power of Augmented Reality
Augmented reality isn’t like virtual reality (VR), which requires a headset and closes you off from the world. AR integrates digital content into a real-world environment. It takes something not-real, like a 3D animal, and brings it into your classroom right in front of your students. But does it actually work?
When a professor from the University of West Georgia approached me to conduct an independent study on my new program, Letters alive®, I agreed. The condition was that they would publish the results, whether positive or negative. I was prepared to close up shop if it didn’t work. The results, however, were astonishing. The study revealed:
• 48% increase in letter naming and a 112% increase in letter sound knowledge compared to non-users
• All students in the study experienced learning gains
• Improved student behavior and increased attention spans
These weren’t isolated findings. Subsequent studies from various institutions have shown that AR develops peer relationships, fosters collaborative problem-solving, and keeps children from passively “staring and pecking” at a screen. Instead, they are actively engaged and facilitating the learning process together.
The Brain Science of Joyful Learning
Dr. Judy Willis, a renowned neuroscientist, has reinforced the power of AR. Dr. Willis teaches that the more modalities we use to teach, the more neurological pathways we create in the brain, leading to better memory and recall. AR engages multiple senses at once:
• Visual: Seeing a 3D animal appear in their space
• Auditory: Hearing the letter sound or a story
• Kinesthetic: Physically holding the card and interacting with the scene
• Emotional: The element of surprise and delight when an animal comes to life triggers a positive response that strengthens memory
This is all tied to the amygdala, the “gatekeeper” of our brain’s learning centers. When students are bored, stressed, or disengaged, the amygdala closes the gate, blocking learning. But when they feel safe, joyful, and connected, that gate opens wide. AR creates this state of joyful engagement, leading to increased confidence, better focus, and a willingness to participate.
Many of us use scripted Science of Reading (SOR) lessons with movement, which is highly beneficial. However, what if we could add an additional layer of engagement to that instruction? This AR technology is designed to do just that—to totally pull children into the learning experience and open the gate to their minds. It’s not a replacement for proven methods, but an enhancement that makes them more powerful.
My boys did become good readers, and I am incredibly proud of that. While their journey was filled with challenges, their ability to connect with learning through Letters alive was a profound victory. Their struggles and eventual breakthrough were my motivation.
If it wasn’t for their challenges, I wouldn’t have had the drive to develop this new approach. Their personal story is the reason Alive Studios exists. It taught me that genuine success isn’t always easy or perfect; sometimes it’s the quiet victory of a child finally making a connection. That is the mission that continues to inspire us every day.
We’d love to hear your comments or questions below: