phonics
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Why I Believe Every Child Can Learn to Read
As a reading teacher and a parent, I’ve seen firsthand the frustration, tears, and self-doubt that can come when a child struggles…
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Why Sounding It Out Works (And How to Support It)
When children are learning to read, one of the most common strategies teachers and parents encourage is sounding out words. But why…
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Decoding the Difference: Sight Words vs. High-Frequency Words in Early Reading
A crucial distinction for educators and parents to understand in the journey of teaching a child to read is the difference between…
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What the Brain Actually Does When We Read
Reading may seem automatic to skilled readers, but under the surface, it’s one of the most complex tasks the human brain…
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About Texas Reading Teacher
MaryEllen Gibson – Texas Reading Teacher
MaryEllen Gibson is a dedicated Texas Reading Teacher with a strong foundation in both education and business. She earned her undergraduate degree from California State University Long Beach and received her Teaching Credential from Concordia University Irvine. She also holds an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing and is CLAD certified in California. MaryEllen is ELIC trained, a Reading Academy graduate, Reading by Design certified, Science of Teaching Reading certified, and Gifted and Talented certified through the Texas Education Agency.
With nearly three decades of experience in education, MaryEllen brings not only professional expertise but also a personal passion to her work. As a mother of two daughters—both of whom work in the Texas Senate—she understands the challenges many families face. Her youngest daughter struggled with reading early on, giving MaryEllen firsthand insight into the journey of supporting a child with reading difficulties. Today, she is proud to share that her daughter not only overcame those challenges but is also a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Hook ’em!
MaryEllen has been married to her husband Steve for 28 years and remains deeply committed to empowering young readers and supporting families through structured literacy and targeted intervention




