My Journey as a Literacy Teacher

My career began in January 1998 when I was a student teacher. I graduated in May and worked as a substitute teacher and private reading tutor. My first full-time position was as a Title 1 assistant in a first-grade classroom. The next year when the Title funds shifted, I was moved to the middle school. And I have been there ever since! So although my undergrad degree was Elementary K-6, and I intended to be an elementary school teacher, I have spent pretty much the entirety of my career with middle school kiddos. 

While working as an assistant, I began a Master’s program in reading. I obtained certification as a reading specialist, and a Master’s Degree in Reading K-12. I taught 6^th grade reading in a middle school where reading and English were taught as two separate subjects—I focused on reading comprehension and vocabulary while my teaching partner focused on grammar and writing. In 2005 I relocated to Virginia when I accepted a position as a middle school reading specialist. I co-taught English with special education teachers in grades 6-8. In 2007 I began my new assignment as a reading intervention teacher in grades 6-8. I have been working predominantly with students who have difficulty with/have no interest in/would rather be doing anything BUT reading for 20 years. So, this is the lens from which I view the educational system.

I don't just say this to impress my students...I also really do love to learn. I read professional books each year because I didn’t want to fall out of the loop once I finished grad school. Below are books that have greatly impacted my classroom practice and beliefs. 

If you ask people who have worked with me, they will tell you how dedicated I am to literacy instruction. I am an avid reader myself, and I want nothing more than for my students to love reading as much as I do. I have also formed some strong opinions about the best practices for our students. At a recent conference, I was reminded that if we are brave enough to state things in private conversations in the hallway or workroom, we need to be brave enough to say them out loud in public. So before I begin to do just that, I wanted to give you a brief glimpse into how my ideas have been shaped.