structured literacy
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Understanding Rules Around Vowel Pairs and Effective Ways to Teach Them Introduction
Vowel pairs, also called vowel teams, are an important part of learning to read and spell in English. These combinations of two…
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Teaching the Six Syllable Types: Building Blocks for Reading Success
Discover the six syllable types and how to teach them with clear examples, word lists, and research-based strategies. Strengthen decoding, spelling, fluency,…
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Dyslexia Risk Factors in Middle School and High School
Learn the key dyslexia risk factors in middle school and high school. Explore research-based insights on reading fluency, written expression, and foreign…
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Dyslexia Risk Factors in Kindergarten and First Grade Why This Matters
Early signs of dyslexia often appear in kindergarten and first grade. Risk factors include difficulty breaking words into syllables, trouble recalling letter…
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Characteristics and Consequences of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability that affects accurate word recognition, decoding, oral reading fluency, and spelling. These challenges vary in severity,…
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A 70 Percent Increase in Dyslexia Identification: What the Numbers Tell Us Key Takeaways
2018–2019: 194,225 students in Texas identified with dyslexia 2023–2024: 329,247 students in Texas identified with dyslexia Change: 70 percent increase in five…
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Steubenville Reading Success: What Every School Can Learn
Steubenville City Schools in Ohio have defied the odds for more than 20 years, achieving some of the nation’s strongest reading results…
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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




