Let’s Connect: Free Resources + a Look Into My 30 Years in Literacy
Curious About My Work in Literacy? Here's a Great (Mostly Free!) Place to Start
It’s been just about three months since I started writing here on Substack—and I have to say, I’m really enjoying it. I’ve reconnected with longtime colleagues, made new professional friends, and had some of the most thoughtful literacy conversations I’ve had in years.
After nearly 30 years in this field—as a teacher, coach, consultant, and curriculum writer—I’ve collected, created, and curated a lot. And now, more than ever, I want to make sure it’s easy for educators, leaders, and curious readers to find helpful, practical tools that support meaningful literacy work.
So this post is both a welcome and an invitation.
Whether you're just getting to know my work or you've followed me for a while, this is a great place to start exploring. Many of the resources below are free, and for the few that aren’t, I’ve made sure they’re affordable and worth your time.
Why? Because we’re at a real crossroads in literacy.
The science of reading, writing, and learning is giving us powerful tools. But the art of teaching—our instincts, our relationships, our lived classroom experience—matters just as much.
I’ve spent my career bringing both together. That’s the heart of my work: blending research with real life so we can create smart, kind, and lasting solutions for the students and teachers we serve.
So, here’s a roundup of where you can dive into that work—from free webinars and published articles to books I’ve authored and a curated Amazon list of my go-to tools.
Maybe something here will inspire your next planning session, spark a coaching conversation, or give you the words you’ve been looking for to explain something complex in a clear way.
Let’s get started.
Books
Each of my five books tackles a different piece of the literacy puzzle—from making the science of writing feel practical, to launching strong writing instruction, to helping students become more self-directed.
How to use them:
📌 Choose one of my books that fits a topic you’ve been thinking about and make it your summer read.
📌 Ask your school if you can lead a book study—great conversations often start with one good question.
Free Articles
My article archive covers a wide range of topics: the link between encoding and decoding, what makes a strong writing curriculum, and of course, the science of reading and writing as a connected whole. Many are quick reads with practical takeaways.
How to use them:
📌 Pick a topic that’s been on your mind and plan to read one or two over the summer.
📌 Share one with a colleague and talk it over together—just a 10-minute conversation can open up big thinking.
Free Webinars
Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to give webinars on everything from the reading-writing connection, to the science of reading/writing/learning, to collaborating with child neuropsychologists and community partners.
You’ll also find webinars on how to make the most of my book, as well as thoughtful deep-dives into speech-to-print phonics programs and curriculum alignment.
How to use them:
📌 Pick one to watch this summer before you dive into your curriculum work—it’s a great way to zoom out before zooming in.
📌 Choose one to view during a PLC or staff meeting. Let it be a spark for your team’s next conversation.
Amazon Storefront
If you’ve ever wondered which professional books I return to again and again, or which literacy tools I recommend to families and schools alike, you’ll find them all in my curated Amazon storefront. I’ve also added some of my favorite children’s books—because joy in reading matters too.
How to use it:
📌 Choose a new professional read for the summer and email me if you want to know why I love it—I mean it, reach out! :)
📌 Use it to shop for your classroom or literacy corner as you gear up for back-to-school.
Ending the Year—and Looking Ahead
I hope this little tour gives you a chance to explore, reflect, and find something that supports your own growth as an educator.
Whether it’s watching a webinar, diving into an article, or finding your next favorite professional book, my goal is always the same: to help make literacy work more meaningful, more connected, and more effective.
Here’s to wrapping up the year with intention—and stepping into summer with curiosity.
Let me know what you find, what you love, or what you'd like to see more of. I’m always up for a conversation
This post is free to read, so please ‘like’ it via the heart below and share it widely. The best way to support my work is with a paid subscription.
If my thinking resonates with you, I’d love to help you customize it for your school or district.
📌 Need tools for ELA instruction? My Literacy Toolkit has templates and planning guides and curated videos designed for coaches and teachers.
📌 Want direct support? I offer coaching sessions to help teams develop strong, sustainable coaching models.
📌Want me to work directly with your school or district? Sign up for a discovery call.
📌 Want to learn with me over the summer? Sign up for LMC’s Summer Literacy Series If you sign up for all five sessions, you get a 10% discount. If you are a paid subscriber to my Substack, you get an additional 10% off.
📌Artfully Teaching the Science of Reading is my favorite book on blending the art and science of literacy.
(This post may include affiliate links.)
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