About

Who  am I

I'm a native English speaker from the United States with a teaching certificate in Literacy Support for Learners with Dyslexia from the British Dyslexia Association. Literacy refers to reading, spelling, writing and reading comprehension. I also have a Masters degree in Education from Western Washington University.  I was trained in the United States to teach history and language arts (reading comprehension, writing, spelling & speaking skills) to junior high and high school students.  Since coming to the Netherlands, I became more interested in learning support/remedial teaching and have moved in that direction over the years.  I also taught English to adults in Japan for three years. 

Purpose

My purpose is to help students to develop their literacy skills to the point that they don't need me anymore.

Teaching Methods based on the Science of Reading

I only use programs and methods backed by peer-reviewed research.  Examples of such programs are the following:  Alpha to Omega: The A-Z of Teaching Reading, Writing and Spelling; Sound Linkage: An Integrated Programme for Overcoming Reading Difficulties; Teaching Literacy to Learners with Dyslexia: A Multisensory Approach; and Toe By Toe: A highly structured multi-sensory reading manual for teachers and parents.  These are structured, sequential multi-sensory programs.  Nessy, Jolly Phonics and Read, Write Inc. (Oxford) are good programs for beginning readers.  The University of Florida Literacy Institute's program for teaching reading, Foundations, is also excellent.