Amy Shapiro brings her expertise to My Learning Springboard as a Reading Specialist with a focus on systematic, explicit, and multisensory methods that follow an Orton-Gillingham sequence with integrated opportunities for comprehension work (verbal and written), spelling and word work, and handwriting instruction.
Amy is a National Board Certified Teacher with more than 35 years in the field of education as a classroom teacher, school leader, reading specialist/interventionist, instructional coach, and educational consultant. She received her National Board Certification in the Fall of 2010 and 2018 (renewal) and joins an elite group of teachers who meet the National Board’s rigorous standards; only about 3% of the nation’s teaching force has achieved this recognition of excellence.
Amy specializes in literacy instruction at the early childhood and elementary levels. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland and later completed a Graduate Certification Program in Professional Teaching Standards at George Washington University as well as a Reading Specialist Certification. Committed to her own professional development, Amy has completed numerous advanced certifications in reading instruction that are based on the “Science of Reading” and are endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association such as Orton Gillngham, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading & Spelling Vol 1 & 2 (Lexia), and Really Great Reading. Each of these programs follows an I do, we do, you do interactive approach to learning to read.
Amy is astute at determining each student’s learning needs and differentiating her approach to support or enrich an individual learner. An ardent follower and graduate of Jonathan Saphier’s The Skillful Teacher, Research for Better Teaching, Amy uses a broad repertoire of teaching strategies to create a learning environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and obstacles to learning are overcome. She has successfully worked with students who have a variety of physical and learning disabilities including dyslexia, speech and language disorders, sensory integration disorder, ADHD, and autism. Amy believes in the collaborative learning process and builds strong partnerships with families and students.
Using the “Science of Reading Research” Amy takes a structured literacy approach to her reading instruction. She understands the importance of explicit and systematic reading instruction that embeds multi- sensory techniques, student interaction, continuous feedback, and opportunities to retrieve previous learned skills. During each instructional setting, students have opportunities to develop and practice phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, writing, and comprehension. Through her targeted planning and direct instruction, Amy ensures that her students are advancing their reading skills.
In her spare time, Amy enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, cycling, and the performing arts.