Location: Colorado, USA
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education Studies
Years Experience Teaching: 13
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 3
Teaching Experience
The majority of my teaching experience comes from working with students in small reading intervention groups in elementary schools. I worked with students in grades K-6 and provided them with extra reading instruction that focused on the concepts they struggled with the most. Then in 2020 I became the teacher of my own children when we made the decision to homeschool. I have two children with dyslexia and both of them have the additional struggle of ADHD. My skill sets as an educator and parent have helped me to develop skills for working with students who struggle in multiple facets of acquiring an education.
Programs Trained In
Currently training in the Take Flight Dyslexia Therapy program.
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
I have the most experience with students in K-6, but I am comfortable will all ages.
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
While working as a reading interventionist I discovered that no two readers had the same struggles and that they needed support that was tailored to their exact needs. While working one on one with struggling readers I came to realize how impacted their lives were by their reading challenges, especially if they had dyslexia. After this realization my heart belonged to reading and my passion for helping struggling readers, especially those with dyslexia, was ignited. I pursued a degree in Special Education with a focus on dyslexia. I was blessed to find a Take Flight training program that would allow me to acquire additional knowledge so that I could be therapeutic in my instruction and truly help dyslexic readers see how amazing they are and realize that with support and instruction tailored to their specific needs they can learn to read!
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
I am currently working with a 13 year old that has struggled with reading her entire school career. When we started with Take Flight she was very hesitant to read and would often be very quiet during our sessions. A few months into our sessions I started seeing a change in her countenance, her confidence grew, and she started to try reading books on her own using the skills she was learning. She would come to sessions and tell me all about books she was exploring. This child spent most of her life intimidated by books and only reading when she was required to. Now she was seeking books out and finding opportunities to read and explore books. She even chose books that she was excited to read in the future. She came to realize that she was going to be able to read those books. She had never had this mindset before and it was an amazing transformation to be witness to.
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
My goal when working with dyslexic kids is to help them see their potential and realize how amazing they already are! Most kids that struggle to read don’t realize that they have other talents that make them incredible. My goal is to always help them see that a struggling reader is not all that they are! Their unique talents and personalities are destined for greatness in their own way!
Alongside this first goal I want dyslexic kids to realize that reading can happen for them and I will support them and work with them until we conquer their reading struggles!
Your teaching style, personality?
My teaching style is to set reasonable, age appropriate expectations, and then give the child the tools to meet those expectations. I like to stay positive, listen to child’s concerns, discover their needs, and be very interactive with a child while we learn.
Any family details?
I am blessed with five daughters, a cute girl pup, and a wonderful husband that puts up with all the girl in my household!