A Deep Dive into English orthography for reading and spelling success
Because students deserve to understand the language they read and write every day—and so do you.
I’m known for making the English language practical and accessible.
In this course, I teach you what I know works (because I’ve done it myself in my own classroom!) No scripted lesson plans or one-size-fits-all programs required. Only real, practical strategies that pack an instructional punch!
And I keep students’ success and teacher confidence at the center—whether you’re looking to build foundational knowledge, improve daily instruction, or support struggling readers, this course is for you.
Introducing Unlocking Literacy
Unlocking Literacy:
A Deep Dive into English Orthography for Reading and Spelling Success
A self-paced digital course that gives you the knowledge, confidence, and tools to teach reading
and spelling the right way… with all elements of English orthography in mind! This course will change how you view the English spelling system forever… a complete mindset shift—and it’s built for results.
You’ll go from feeling confused and unsure about English spelling to confident and in control of your ability to apply, explain, and teach English orthography. I’ll explain why words are spelled the way they are and offer some of my tried-and-true strategies for nurturing committed, confident, and proficient readers and writers.
Contrary to popular belief, there is a reason for EVERY spelling in English… and this course will
give you the tools to uncover it—and the knowledge to explain it.
The course is broken into two main tracks so you can go at your own pace, and apply as you learn:
Track 1: Deep Teacher Knowledge
You’ll learn the actual structure of English spelling through the lens of morphology, etymology, and phonology. No fluff. No overwhelm. Just real, eye-opening understanding.
Track 2: Practical Classroom Application
You’ll discover how to bring orthographic instruction into your day—without overhauling your entire routine. We’ll walk through 8 powerful and flexible ways to teach word structure, build vocabulary, and support confident decoding and encoding.
Who This Course Is For:
If you’ve ever paused and thought, “Why is that word spelled like that?”—or wished you knew how to explain it—this course is for you.
Let’s Be Clear: This is NOT Another Spelling Rules Course
This is a deep dive into how the English writing system really works—so you can:
Bottom Line?
This is the Course I Wish I Had Years Ago
Because nothing is more frustrating than working hard and still feeling unsure. I created Unlocking Literacy to give teachers the clarity, knowledge, and tools I spent years looking for.
I’m known for making the science of reading practical and accessible. And in this course, I walk you step-by-step through what actually works—because I’ve used it in my own classrooms and seen the lasting impact firsthand.
You’re already doing the hard work. Now, gain the knowledge to make it count.
You don’t need another list of rules—you need a deep understanding of the system. And that’s exactly what you’ll get.
Ready to Unlock Literacy in Your Classroom?
A confident teacher knows there is a reason for EVERY spelling… and this course will give you the tools to uncover it—and the knowledge to explain it.
Let’s fight illiteracy with understanding. Let’s make English spelling make sense—so every student can succeed.
Join Unlocking Literacy today and start teaching with the clarity, confidence, and joy your students deserve.
Because students deserve to really understand the language they read and write in every day—and so do you.
What’s Inside the Course?
Morphology
Discover how to break words down into meaningful units—prefixes, base elements, and suffixes—so you can teach reading and spelling as it REALLY is… a system of meaning, not just sound.
Etymology
Uncover how the history and origin of words can explain seemingly “odd” spellings—and how to make that knowledge meaningful to your students.
Phonology
Learn how phoneme–grapheme relationships and positional spelling patterns bring consistency and logic to the way words are spelled.
Implementation
Get 8 flexible, high-impact strategies for integrating orthographic instruction into your day right away—no scripted lessons, no boxed programs. Just powerful tools that fit your teaching.