How Brainstrong Started

Founder/CEO

Derek Lester, Ph.D.

Nice to meet you– I’m Dr. Derek Lester, the founder and CEO of Brainstrong. 

Growing up with dyslexia, I faced my own challenges learning to read. This personal struggle drove me to pursue a Ph.D. in Education, where I focused on the biology, psychology, and sociology of human learning. As an educator who has been working with children for over 3 decades, I now dedicate my career to building Brainstrong, a company that is committed to designing educational materials that help children learn to read intuitively and confidently.

Inspiration

Throughout my teaching journey, I discovered flashcards are the best way to teach a child to read. However, the ones available on the market were overloaded with information, poorly designed, and easily damaged. Teaching children to read can already feel overwhelming, and using ineffective materials only adds to that challenge. These frustrations inspired me to create a solution that is effective, high quality, and intuitive for both parents and children to use.

Solution

Introducing the Brainstrong Reading System, a method rooted in science and the key principles of learning. Central to this system are our flashcards, designed to present just the right amount of information to keep children focused and engaged. Each card features hand-drawn illustrations, with colors, font size, and style carefully chosen to support a child's learning.

To make progress clear, each deck includes “Will Learn,” “Learning,” and “Learned” dividers, giving families a tangible way to track improvement. We break down the learning process into manageable steps that keep children motivated.

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