LET ME TELL YOU A STORY...
Hi! 🤗 My name is
Vannesa Martinez.
I was a teacher for 23 years in both the public and private school systems.
Let's take you back in time...
As a child felt that school
could be challenging.
I was never in the high reading groups in elementary school.
In middle school,
it was more of the same.
Teachers taught information, not skills for success.
In high school, I can remember a specific instance where the teacher completely deflated my confidence with one sentence.
"You didn't write this."
That was the defining moment for me when I realized I wanted to be a teacher and NEVER be like HER.
I was asked to write a poem for 11th grade English class, so I did.
I worked day and night trying to find the right words, making them rhyme, and making it flow.
I read it and reread it, changing vocabulary, rhythm, and rhyme.
I was so proud of the work that I had done, and I couldn't wait to get it back to see that big, beautiful A on my paper.
The day arrived. The anticipation was overwhelming, I was so excited! The teacher was walking up one row and down another passing out our graded assignments and when mine hit the desk, my confidence hit the floor.
The grade was a Hiroshima explosion!
What the heck?
I went to see her after school, and she said those 4 explosive words...
"You didn't write this."
Of course I did!
But how could I prove it?
It wasn't even the grade that shocked me, it was the way my teacher had such little faith in me.
P.S. Kids don't care about the grades, they want the people in their corner to be proud of them.
I thought my teacher
was in my corner, but that day, she destroyed me. My self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth plummeted.
Years later, when I became a teacher myself,
I saw this child everywhere.
👉🏻The troublemaker
👉🏻The kid walking with his head down
👉🏻The kid afraid to raise her hand
They all had the same problem,
lack of confidence.
I looked, and I knew I could bring them back to life, and so...
I made it MY MISSION to do so.
I breathed vitality into them through explicit teaching using a SUPER SIMPLE
SKILLS-BASED APPROACH.
I taught them "THE HOW & WHY".
And guess what?
Confidence SKY-ROCKETED🚀
Participation WENT VIRAL🥳
The VIBE & ENERGY in class completely changed and went from grayscale to vibrant!
NEURONS were FIRING!
CONNECTIONS WERE MADE!
INSIGHT WAS SUDDENLY A THING!
AND THEN...
One fine day, a 7th grader shot up from his seat and shouted,
"It's just... I've never been taught like this before!
This is AWESOME!"
He felt EMPOWERED, STRONG, & CAPABLE all because he was learning
"THE HOW & WHY"
He was having an epiphany!
Or some may call it a TRANSFORMATION
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
BUT BEWARE...
THERE MAY BE SIDE EFFECTS TO THESE
LIFE-ALTERING
TRANSFORMATIONS
- Improved Academic Confidence
- Better Performance Across All Subjects
- Critical Thinking Skills for Life
- Higher Standardized Test Scores
- Increased Creativity
- Emotional Growth Through Self-Expression
- Preparation for the Future
- A Lifelong Love of Learning
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms,
📞contact the teacher IMMEDIATELY
with the good news!
The Bad News...
WHEN KIDS FROM THE OTHER CLASSES STARTED SEEING THEIR FRIENDS WINNING IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE, THEY WANTED IT TOO!
I FELT
H 😭 R R I B L E
How could I help them?
There weren't enough hours
in the day?
There was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I could do.
Or was there?
I got the old wheels spinning and got to work.
What if I had a bunch of calls with a bunch of parents and they told me about the problems they were having!
AND
What if I started noticing certain patterns?
AND
What if I could take everything
I did in my classroom and package it up so that kids everywhere could know
THE HOW & WHY.
AND
What if I made it on demand
so that kids everywhere could have these lessons FOREVER and be able to access them wherever and whenever
they want?
PLUS BONUS!
No more tutor scheduling or rescheduling!
I started to think about what their lives would look like if they learned THE HOW & WHY.
What if I COULD help all of those kids at the same time?
They'd all be my students!
OMG!! Okay, I think I'm onto something big! I can feel it!
I started to get to work.
I designed a program that teaches kids the basic skills they need to succeed in reading comprehension and in writing.
Then, after an online tutoring session, one of my students said,
"Mrs. Martinez, I really wish you would record these lessons because I have too many other commitments and I'd like to be able to learn on my own time and at my own pace."
I said, "OMG!
You just gave me a BRILLIANT IDEA!"
So, I made my program ON DEMAND so that kids everywhere can access THE HOW & have the recorded lessons and resources
FOREVER!!
BUT THEN...
I thought to myself, what if they need me?
This is ON DEMAND, which is great for them, but what if they get stuck?
How will I be able to help them?
🤯
What if I included A COMMUNITY!
YES!!
A COMMUNITY where the kids can post wins, ask questions, give advice, or get advice.
After all, COMMUNITIES foster...
- Collaboration and Connection
- Engagement and Inspiration
- Support and Feedback
- Confidence and Skill Building
- Accountability and Structure
- A Safe and Inclusive Environment
Then I thought,
"Yes, but, what if they want more individual attention?"
I got my Master's Degree in
READING EDUCATION in 2005
DUH!!
I'm a READING and WRITING COACH!
WHAT'S A READING AND WRITING COACH?
1. Identifies Specific Gaps: Coaches pinpoint the exact areas where a child struggles, such as organizing thoughts in writing or understanding how to analyze texts,
2. Provides Customized Support: They create a targeted plan to help students overcome those challenges, emphasizing growth and mastery at the child’s own pace.
3. Builds Confidence: A coach’s goal is to help students develop self-assurance by focusing on skills that will make them feel successful in school and beyond.
4. Teaches Life Skills: Reading and writing coaching often goes beyond academics, teaching skills like planning, problem-solving, and time management.
5. Works with Parents Too: Coaches provide insights and updates to parents, helping you understand your child’s progress and how you can support their learning.
SO, THEY JUST NEED TO SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH ME AND WE CAN HAVE A 1:1 🥳
Doesn't this sound AMAZING??
Or a bit like
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie?
✏️The point is...
I want to help.
I want to reach as many kids as possible as quickly as possible.
MY ULTIMATE HOPE IS TO TEACH KIDS NOT ONLY THE SKILLS, BUT THAT...
THEY ARE SPECIAL
THEY CAN SUCCEED
THEY DESERVE TO SUCCEED
THEY DESERVE TO BE HAPPY
AND THEY CAN MAKE SEEMINGLY DIFFICULT TASKS EASY BY GOING...
