Sam Curtis

✨ My Experience I began my journey in elementary education in 2005 and have dedicated my career to supporting students in building strong academic foundations. For the past 8 years, I have served as a Tier 2 Intervention Specialist, providing targeted reading and math intervention for students in grades 1–5. My work centers on identifying skill gaps, delivering small-group instruction, and using data-driven strategies to accelerate student growth. I specialize in foundational literacy skills, number sense development, and closing learning gaps through structured, systematic instruction. I am trained in the Science of Reading and dyslexia education, which deeply informs my instructional practices. My approach emphasizes explicit phonics instruction, phonemic awareness, fluency development, and evidence-based intervention strategies that support struggling readers and students with learning differences. Every resource I create is grounded in real classroom experience, intervention best practices, and practical tools that teachers can implement immediately. My goal is to provide materials that are clear, effective, and designed to truly move students forward.

🍎 My Teaching Style As a Tier 2 Intervention Specialist serving grades 1–5 in reading and math, my teaching style is centered on one core belief: every child can learn when we find the right entry point. I focus on pinpointing each student’s individual skill gaps and identifying what is truly blocking their progress. Whether it’s a phonemic awareness gap, weak number sense, processing challenges, or confidence barriers, I work to break through learning blocks with intentional, targeted instruction. I teach in small-group settings, which allows me to treat each student as an individual. I believe intervention is not one-size-fits-all — it requires flexibility, responsiveness, and strategic support tailored to each learner. My instruction includes: Explicit, targeted skill instruction Visual supports and anchor charts Hands-on learning strategies Game-based practice to increase engagement Scaffolded, step-by-step modeling Data-driven progress monitoring I intentionally use a variety of research-based strategies to ensure students not only practice skills but truly understand them. My goal is to build both competence and confidence, helping students close gaps while developing the independence they need to thrive in the general education classroom. Every resource I create reflects this approach — structured, engaging, and designed to help teachers reach students who need that extra breakthrough moment.