Hi, I’m Emily.
I help teachers, tutors, and families teach reading with more clarity, confidence, and ease.
If this feels familiar, you’re in the right place.
You care deeply about your students. You want to do this right.
But sometimes it feels like you’re piecing everything together while trying to figure out what to teach, when to teach it, and how it all fits.
You’ve taken trainings. You’ve tried different approaches. And still, there are moments where you catch yourself thinking:
Am I doing this the right way? I’ve been there too.
I created The Literacy Nest as a place where things felt clearer. More connected. More doable.
Because effective teaching isn’t just about knowing more. It’s about having a structure you can rely on and support you can come back to when things feel uncertain.
Why I created The Literacy Nest
From figuring it out as I went… to teaching with clarity and purpose
There was a time when I felt like I was constantly trying to piece everything together.
I cared deeply about my students, and I wanted to do this work well, but I didn’t always feel confident that I was making the right instructional decisions.
I was pulling from different resources, trying different strategies, and hoping it would all come together in a way that truly supported my students.
Sometimes it did.
Sometimes it didn’t.
And that uncertainty was hard.
Everything started to shift when I began to understand structured literacy in a deeper, more connected way.
Not just the individual pieces, but how everything fit together.
That’s when my teaching became clearer.
More intentional.
More effective.
But even then, I saw how hard it was to bridge the gap between learning something and actually applying it in real lessons.
That’s the gap I care most about.
Today, my work is focused on helping teachers close that gap.
To move from:
- piecing things together → to having a clear plan
- second-guessing → to feeling confident
- overwhelmed → to supported
Because you shouldn’t have to figure this all out on your own.
A little more about me
I’m in a season of life where I’m thinking a lot about sustainability, how to do this work well and in a way that feels manageable long-term.
I’m a mom of four and have been an educator for over 26 years, both in the classroom setting and now in private intervention. I’m a Certified Clinical Orton-Gillingham teacher with Orton-Gillingham Academy, as well as an IDA Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist. My current role involves working in the private setting for dyslexia intervention and in schools as a literacy support specialist for students and teachers. As CEO of The Literacy Nest since 2012, I’ve enjoyed supporting teachers and families from all over the world with literacy resources and professional development.
Teaching reading shouldn’t feel this hard.
My mission is simple: to bring clarity to how we teach reading.
Because too many teachers are doing important work without the support, structure, or guidance they actually need.
And that leads to second-guessing.
Overwhelm.
And a constant feeling of trying to keep up.
I believe structured literacy should feel clear and not confusing.
I believe teachers deserve tools that save time, not add more to their plate.
And I believe the right support can change everything, not just for teachers, but for the students they serve.
That’s why everything I create is designed to help you:
- Know what to teach and when
- Plan your lessons with more ease
- Feel confident in the decisions you’re making
Because when teaching feels clearer, everything else starts to fall into place.
my background
- Structured literacy specialist
- Certified Clinical Orton-Gillingham Academy
- Creator of The Literacy Nest
- Creator of Word List Builder
- Author of Wise Words Decodable Series
- Presenter / consultant for schools and educators
favorite posts
Here’s How I Can Support You
Plan Smarter
Tools like Word List Builder help you create aligned word lists, streamline your planning, and stop starting from scratch every time.
Grow With Support
Through Building Readers for Life, you’ll find training, coaching, and guidance to help you feel more confident and supported in your teaching.
Find Resources
Browse structured literacy materials you can use right away with your students without extra prep.