My Mission
Provide resources for teachers and families to help support beginning reading skills and a love for reading.
Create meaningful and innovative learning experiences for children that are tailored to their needs and interests.
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About Me
My name is Sam and I’m a credentialed K-3 public school reading specialist that is passionate about creating more effective ways for schools to raise reading rates. I have over a decade of experience teaching in a variety of educational settings and love collaborating with fellow educators and companies to support students, teachers and families. In addition to being a full-time teacher, I also have six years of experience providing private tutoring in reading to TK-6 students.
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent summers in Sonoma at my grandparent’s house that they bought in the 60’s when they moved here from Ireland. Sonoma has always held a special place in my heart and was like a second home to me. It is a dream to now be living in Sonoma as an adult and I hope to set roots down for my own family here in the “Valley of the Moon”.
I received my BA in Human Development with minors in Early Childhood Education and Business from Sonoma State. After receiving my BA I moved to San Francisco to acquire my CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State. After teaching in the classroom for a few years I went back to school to become a K-6 Reading Specialist. I currently work with students K-4th in a California public school and create resources for teachers and families on Teachers Pay Teachers. I have experience working in preschool and elementary settings, both public and private. I have also worked at summer camps, provided childcare for private families throughout the last fifteen years and have planned and taught a six class parent workshop on kindergarten readiness and beginning reading skills.
As a teacher I have always been drawn to innovating the ways literacy and social-emotional intelligence are incorporated into my classroom. Through Valley of the Moon Learning I hope to help children grow their love of reading and become lifelong learners.
EDUCATION:
- CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – San Francisco State (Cleared through BTSA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with Minors in Early Childhood Education and Business – Sonoma State
CERTIFICATES:
- Professionally trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach(2021)
- CA Reading Certificate – Reading and Literacy Added Authorization
- CLAD Certificate – Authorization to instruct English Language Learners
OTHER:
- Has passed the:
RICA (Reading Instruction Competence Assessment)
CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers)
CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test) - Trained in CPR
- I sell the resources I have created and use in my classroom on Teachers Pay Teachers. You can view my products by clicking here.
- I offer online tutoring services. You can learn more here.
- I offer parent workshops on Kindergarten Readiness and Beginning Reading and recently completed a workshop series for Parent University in Sonoma.
*If you are a Sonoma County school, organization or non-profit and would like to collaborate, please do not hesitate to reach out 🙂
ValleyoftheMoonLearning@gmail.com
Click here to learn more about me, my credentials and experience.
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Click here to view my teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers
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Click here to learn more about my services
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Click here to check out what Valley of the Moon Learning is up to on Instagram