I have always had a passion for working with children. When I was sixteen, I got my first job at a local daycare. I had the privilege of working with all age groups from birth to school age children. Reading to children in the three and four year old classroom was where I discovered my calling and knew what I wanted to do in college. I believe children learn best with direct, systematic and explicit instruction with ample time to practice. I have a bachelors in elementary education, masters in instructional leadership, and am a Nationally Board Certified Educator for elementary and middle school children. I have been trained in Orton Gillingham (OG) and LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). I have fifteen years of experience teaching literacy at the elementary level. I spent two years coaching teachers and providing reading and math interventions in grades K-5. I now work for our state education agency helping low performing schools build instructional systems. I've adopted the OG approach of direct instruction starting with the foundational skills students have already mastered and then building from there. My lessons follow a regular routine of 1. review, 2. new concept, 3. practice, 4. apply, 5. transfer. I am intentional about spiral review to allow students to continue to practice skills learned in the past to help build automaticity and fluency. My future goal is to receive my doctorate in literacy education and/or leadership.