Paula Banks - A Literacy Expert Empowers Young Writers

<p>In this episode of <i>Falling for Learning</i>, T.D. Flenaugh sits down with Paula Banks, a creative confidence educator, children’s author, and founder of Lit Kids Create. Paula shares how curiosity, reading, and storytelling shaped her path as an educator and how she now helps children discover that their voices matter before they worry about writing perfectly.</p><h6>Key Topics </h6><p></p><ul><li>Paula’s educational journey </li><li>How Lit Kids Create helps children express ideas and build confidence</li><li>The “Books by Me” program and how students become published authors</li><li>Why “confidence before correction” matters for young writers</li><li>How a negative early writing experience can affect a child for years</li><li>The importance of being your child’s “first hype crew”</li></ul><h6>Highlights</h6><p>Paula explains that children often shut down when adults lead with criticism instead of encouragement. She shares her belief that kids need confidence before correction, and that adults should notice what’s working before pointing out what needs revision.She also describes how her program gives students ownership over their stories, characters, and plot ideas while guiding them through the publishing process. For Paula, the goal is not just writing—it’s helping children feel safe, heard, and valued.</p><h6>Resources</h6><ul><li>Lit Kids Create: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://litkidscreate.com" target="_blank">https://litkidscreate.com</a></li><li>Instagram: @litkidscreate</li><li>Facebook: Paula Banks</li><li>Anthology: <i>I Got a Story to Tell, Volume One</i><p></p></li></ul>