The Science of Writing Instruction

Katie Walker is a passionate upper elementary literacy specialist, dedicated to the design of instructional resources that are explicit, scaffolded, and engaging. Katie began her teaching career in Australia before relocating to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, in 2013. Over the past decade, Katie has gained international teaching experience working in an American Curriculum International Baccalaureate K-12 school. Katie’s teaching experience includes a diverse range of roles, such as upper elementary classroom teacher, learning support specialist, reading interventionist, instructional coach, Grades 3-5 literacy coach, and Student Support Team Leader. Driven by a passion for bridging the gap between research and practice, Katie's mission is clear: to empower fellow educators with the 'how' of literacy instruction. Learn More from Katie: Website Instagram Free Resource: Note-Taking Guide April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

Melissa Kruse is an experienced educator with 18 years of teaching and instructional coaching in grades 7-12. She holds a bachelor's degree in English, a secondary education certificate, and advanced certifications including a reading specialist certification, a master's degree in reading, a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a gifted and talented endorsement, and a middle school endorsement. Currently, Melissa is expanding her expertise by pursuing LETRs training. Learn More from Melissa: Website TeachersPayTeachers April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

Hallie Sherman, M.S. CCC-SLP is a licensed speech-language pathologist in New York. She worked in the public schools for over 15 years before she left the schools to work as the CEO full time for Speech Time Fun, Inc. At Speech Time Fun, Inc. Hallie provides materials and trainings for SLPs working with grades 4-12 to help them plan with ease and confidence. She does this through her SLP Elevate membership, her TPT resources, her podcast SLP Coffee Talk, her virtual conference she hosts 3x a year called the Speech Retreat and the other various trainings for organizations and associations.Learn More from Hallie: Website Instagram April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

Unfortunately, 67% of 4th graders in the US read below grade level. And it doesn't have to be this way! Malia Hollowell is on a mission to empower teachers with the science-backed, brain-friendly tools and strategies they need to help *all* students become thriving readers. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, author of "The Science of Reading in Action", and founder of the ground-breaking teaching program called The Reading Roadmap.Learn More from Malia: Instagram Facebook Website   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

Laura spent a decade as a school psychologist and special education director. During this time, she developed new programs and learned how necessary it was to make things feasible for teachers and trust in their expertise.Learn More from Laura: Website Instagram Facebook How to Talk to Parents About SEL   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

Christina Winter spent 21 years teaching 1st grade before leaving the classroom to pursue her other passion of mentoring teachers. She now spends her days teaching and supporting K-2 teachers through her website Lead in Literacy and her membership Leaders of Literacy. Throughout her years in the classroom, she was trained and taught her students literacy skills with the balanced literacy approach before accidentally stumbling onto the science of reading. Once she learned of the research it ignited her passion to learn more and has taken hundreds of hours of professional learning including The Reading Teacher’s Top Ten Tools and LETRS training. Christina is excited to share her passion for evidence-based reading and language arts instruction and can’t wait to hear about your students’ growth. Learn More from Christina: Free Science of Reading Toolkit Website Instagram K-2 SOR Community on Facebook   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

With over 28 years of experience teaching, Lena has taught at various grade levels from kindergarten through high school. With a BA in English Literature from the University of Redlands and credentials in Multiple Subject and SPED Mild/Mod from Azusa Pacific University, where she also earned a Master's in Teaching, she brings a wealth of experience to the classroom. Her career began at a non-public high school in a tough part of LA, followed by 10 years in Rosemead, CA, teaching 6th, 4th, and 1st grades. To reduce her commute, she moved to Fontana USD, where she has been for over 15 years, initially teaching 2nd grade before being laid off in 2009. During this period, she earned a SPED credential and returned to teach in an SDC classroom for 4 years. She then transitioned back to general education, teaching 1st grade, took a stint as a STEAM enrichment teacher, and finally settled into a 2nd-grade classroom. Enjoying working with primary grades, Lena looks forward to what the next few years will bring.Learn More from Lena: Website Facebook Instagram TikTok   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

 Pryor Rayburn is a Fellow-in-Training and Certified member of the Orton Gillingham Academy and a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) with ALTA. Pryor graduated from Davidson College with a bachelor’s degree in art, and she holds a Master of Education degree in Special Education, Orton Gillingham. Currently Pryor is the Director of the Associate Orton Gillingham training through Key Learning Center. She also creates Structured Literacy digital resources for teachers to use with their students. Prior to her current roles, she was the Director of the Educational Resource Program at a private school, an Orton Gillingham tutor, President of the NC branch of the International Dyslexia Association, and an elementary school teacher. Pryor is passionate about helping all students learn to read with a focus on Structured Literacy in every classroom. Pryor lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two children.  Learn More from Pryor Here: www.OrtonGillinghamMama.com Instagram How to Teach (and Master!) Sight Words in 5 Minutes a Day   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith

Rebecca Riddle is an experienced educator who has taught kindergarten, 1st grade, and 4th grade. She has a deep passion for science and currently serves as the team lead for the Simplify Science curriculum, which emphasizes the integration of writing throughout the learning process.   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith You can reach out to her through the Simplify Science program at simplifyscience.com/contact.

Heather O’Donnell MS.Ed and Ed.M began her career as a classroom teacher. Working in both special and general education classroom settings, she left the classroom in 2018 to open New Paltz Multisensory, an online and in person tutoring practice in New Paltz, NY. After identifying a need for private multisensory reading instruction in her community, the practice has grown to include a team of 14 tutors providing online and in person multisensory reading, writing and math instruction to students in over 10 states. All providers are certified and highly trained in using the Orton-Gillingham approach to diagnostically provide explicit instruction so that kids learn to love learning again! In 2023, the tutoring practice has expanded into creating structured literacy and multisensory math materials for use with our clients, and to support other teachers looking to expand their library of go-to teaching tools. Learn More about Heather: WebsiteInstagramTPTPinterestFacebookYouTubeLinkedIn   April Smith is the author of the book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. You can find her on socials at the links below. Find her free writing training at https://www.simplifywriting.com/training LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-smith-ed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsmithliteracy YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aprilsmith