Literacy Consultant; Educational Consultant for local school districts in Mendocino County

Dear Educators, 

The continued decline in reading scores is particularly troubling. Reading is foundational to all subjects, and failure to read well keeps students from accessing information and building knowledge across content areas.

The focus of my life’s work has always been helping teachers understand the “What, the Why and the How” behind how we teach reading. Our students need direct, systematic and explicit instruction – I Do, We Do, You Do! Our teachers need it too!. Model!  Model! Model! 

As a facilitator for one of the initial Science of Reading classes, “The Reading Teacher’s Top Ten Tools,” it was my privilege to introduce educators to the basic tenets of what we refer to as the “Science of Reading.”  My mentor of thirty-five years, Dr. Deb Glaser, authored this class and modeled how, with the best possible support all children can be successful readers. 

Across the nation our institutions of higher learning have adhered to a faulty theory of reading instruction, based on whole language principles. Districts across California and the country are scrambling to shift from a balanced to a structured literacy approach.  The solution is explicit and ongoing professional development for our educators, supported by well-informed and focused administrators.  May I help your district with this essential shift? 

Diana

Private tutoring; Multi-sensory one-on-one tutoring in the areas of reading and writing

Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Concerned Adults, 

Learning to read can be difficult for twenty percent of our children.  Educators and parents often assume that because a child naturally learns to speak and communicate within that family unit, their same child will naturally learn to read. In truth, humans are genetically wired for language, but not for print. Unlike children learning to talk, learning to read is code-based and needs to be explicitly unpacked for the beginning reader. 

One-to-one tutoring is highly effective because I can personalize and target instruction to a student’s specific needs. I am able to give your child immediate feedback, address specific learning gaps, and enable your child to achieve better academic outcomes. This is often the focused attention they need to build their confidence and help them succeed. 

My experience includes teaching in a so-called regular classroom, in private settings for dyslexic students, as a reading specialist in a large elementary school, and as an adjunct professor at the university level. 

I would love to visit with both you and your child, as we discuss options for ways I can help. 

It takes a village to raise a reader! I am looking forward to hearing from you. 

Diana