Judi Dodson, a highly respected author and literacy expert with more than 20 years as a trainer of teachers and special education teacher, has joined Tools 4 Reading as in the role of Trainer Relations and Learning Consultant. Tools 4 Reading helps educators gain the expertise to implement effective classroom reading instruction
Dodson is the author of 50 Nifty Activities for 5 Components and 3 Tiers of Reading Instruction, which provides teachers with activities grounded in the Science of Reading and helps teachers make critical instructional decisions. She also is the author of 50 Nifty Speaking and Listening Activities to Promote Oral Language and Comprehension as well as Venture Town Series — both to be available soon from Tools 4 Reading.
“Judi’s belief is that literacy is a social justice, equity and inclusivity issue, which adds passion to her work with teachers and students and makes her the perfect fit for Tools 4 Reading as we grow,” said Dr. Mary Dahlgren, president and founder of Tools 4 Reading. “Dr. Antonio Fierro, our Chief Academic Advisor, and I are thrilled to welcome Judi who is driven by instilling in children a lifelong love of learning.”
Dodson consults on issues related to school change, teacher knowledge, and literacy achievement. She has served on the board for the Rocky Mountain Branch of the International Dyslexia Association in Colorado and Horizons at Colorado Academy, a summer program in Denver for children from high-risk schools.
She also is president of Peruvian Hearts, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and development of leadership of young women in Peru, giving them the necessary resources to break the cycle of poverty and become leaders in their country.
“Mary, Antonio, and I have worked together for many years and share a vision for our work, which puts the hearts and minds of teachers first by providing knowledge and tools that will support their students’ literacy growth,” Dodson said. “My work with our trainers will entail building a community of elite trainers who will share from their hearts, their gifts for teaching, and the deep knowledge they have about the science of reading and literacy.”
Dodson added that when a teacher is trained by a Tools 4 Reading trainer, they will know they have received more than just the facts. “They also will feel empowered and have had an opportunity to share time with someone who truly cares about them and the achievement and well-being of their students,” she said.
To register for Dodson’s Fifty Nifty Activities professional development classes, to be held Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, visit this link.
About Tools 4 Reading | www.tools4reading.com
Since its founding in 2010, Tools 4 Reading has empowered educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to ground literacy instruction in the science of reading. Its resources and professional learning experiences are easy to implement and designed to improve literacy instruction. Tools 4 Reading products and training include Kid Lips, Kid Lips Instructional Guide, Sound Wall Solutions, and Phoneme/Grapheme Cards, and The Reading Teacher’s Top 10 Tools.
