Hi, I'm Erin!
Hi! My name is Erin and I support and guide teachers and parents in teaching reading so ALL students can be successful.
Since I could remember, I always wanted to be a teacher. Despite my own struggles in school and learning to read, I felt the desire deep down inside me to be an educator.
I found out my reading struggles were due to dyslexia when I was in second grade. Throughout elementary school, I received special education services in the area of literacy. Through the saving grace of a private tutor who taught me to read the way I needed to learn and gave me the needed confidence in myself, I was able to get through middle, high school, and my undergraduate teaching program with only accommodations in the general education classes, to help level the playing field.
I graduated with a teaching degree in elementary and special education and got a job as a special education teacher. I was determined to help my students succeed. When I didn’t feel I was getting the results I wanted, I continued my education and got my master’s in literacy education. I felt this would give me the answers and I could successfully teach my students to read. Unfortunately, this was not the case. What I had learned throughout my schooling and in my school district was not enough to help my lowest students close the reading gaps that they had.
I still remember the day that changed things for me. I was meeting with a fellow learning disabilities teacher and the reading specialist at our school. We were talking about one of our students, who was having difficulties learning to read. Her parents took her to a specialist and she was evaluated. She was found to have dyslexia. My colleagues had so many questions. How do we help her? What will work best for her learning? As a fellow dyslexic, I should have had the answers. I should have known… but I didn’t. Knowledge is power! I began endless hours of learning through research, books, webinars, podcasts, anything to help me learn more. To my surprise, I found the answers based on science, on how I could help others learn to read with dyslexia, and all readers at that. I continue to learn and grow as a teacher and recently obtained my Orton-Gillingham teaching certification on this continued journey. I now feel confident in my abilities to teach reading and can see my student’s growth through data.
According to the NAEP statistics, “In 2019, the percentage of fourth-grade public school students performing at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading was 34 percent nationally.” This means 66 percent of students read below proficiency in America. As teachers, we chose this profession to educate children. Do you have questions about teaching your students to read? Knowledge is power! I encourage you to learn more about the science of reading and dyslexia. Don’t know where to start? I totally understand! My website has a lot of information for you and other resources to checkout. Are you looking for resources you can use with your students? Don’t we all! Head over to my TPT store for games and resources that are ready to use.
I want to share what I have learned with you so you too can be confident in your reading instruction, watch students make progress, and see them reach their full potential!