Hi, I’m Erica!
I am an Illinois PK–12 certified teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience teaching reading and Spanish as a world language. I am trained in the SLANT reading program and am currently completing LETRS training to deepen my knowledge of evidence-based literacy instruction.
In my school district, I primarily work with Tier 3 students—learners who need the most intensive reading support. Working with these students and seeing their growth has inspired me to specialize in helping children with reading difficulties, including students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
My goal is to provide supportive, targeted instruction that helps students build confidence, strengthen foundational reading skills, and experience success as readers.
Structured Literacy Approach
My instruction is grounded in structured literacy, using explicit and systematic approaches to support phonics, decoding, spelling, fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
For elementary students, I use an Orton-Gillingham-based, multisensory approach through the SLANT System. When appropriate, I incorporate SLANT curriculum materials to support each child’s specific reading needs.
For upper elementary, intermediate, and secondary students, I may use the REWARDS curriculum to strengthen decoding, word attack skills, fluency, and confidence with longer, more complex words.
Core literacy support for K–2 and reading intervention for grades 3–5, a multi-sensory structured literacy approach grounded in the Science of Reading.
For upper elementary and secondary students, REWARDS supports decoding, fluency, and word-attack skills to help students read longer, more complex words with confidence.
