After 19 years as a Reading Specialist in a public school, and tutoring students privately, in 2021 I decided to focus my attention exclusively on private tutoring. I hold an elementary teaching license, a Master’s Degree in Literacy and Reading, an advanced certificate in Dyslexia, and training in Orton Gillingham. In addition, I am a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, an independent nonprofit organization that seeks to further evidence-based approaches to reading and learning so that all students acquire the highest levels of literacy and thrive.
I’ve never met a teacher who isn’t searching for the best way to teach students to read and spell. We are given some training in teaching programs, a little more if we pursue more degrees with areas of speciality in literacy. But the reality is, we bump into whatever curriculum we are mandated to use, and hold on tight as the years fly by. But we are always seeking.
In all of my years in public schools as a literacy specialist, I tried it all. One deep dive after another, more money spent on programs, and many students helped. Many, but not all. It was always the kids I couldn’t help that kept me up at night, kept me searching for just the right program.
When I chanced upon Structured Word Inquiry, it intrigued me. I thought, now here is something that intermediate students might be able to use. But where was the website with the curriculum? Where was the scope and sequence I could take to administration to show how this was going to fit in? Who could I send my money to? The days are busy, so while I was throwing a matrix into instruction here and there, and puzzling over statements such as “Scholars are people who notice things,” SWI lurked in the corners of my mind. I wasn’t noticing….
Noticing that English can be explained and isn’t crazy. Noticing that we don’t need gimmicks and programs to teach students to be literate in their native language. Noticing that when students understand, they don’t have to memorize. Noticing that it is actually thrilling to embark into the world of morphology, etymology and phonology and find the teachers there waiting to help orient you. Although I will always be deepening my knowledge of the English language, my search is over for the best way to teach students.