ABOUT

Welcome to Reading by Heart!  

I’m Laura Hurley, a reading specialist with decades of experience turning struggling readers into successful readers.

I’ve created this blog to share tips and tricks, strategies and resources that will be of help to older readers - from second graders to adult learners.

Together, we'll be exploring ways to grow strong readers through advanced decoding support, building confidence, deepening understanding, strengthening stamina, techniques for reading nonfiction - and much more.

I hope you'll join me.  There is good news.  Struggling readers can become successful readers!

QUESTION: 

What is your professional background?  

ANSWER: 

I’ve been a reading specialist and classroom teacher for over 4 decades.  

I started out as a high school English teacher.  My very first year, I had a group of ninth grade boys who couldn’t read The Cat in the Hat.

I was mandated to require them to write 400-word essays and read The Importance of Being Earnest.

Their unremitting failure broke my heart.

My journey to find an answer started then and there.

• Along the way, I taught reading to all 7th and 8th graders in my middle school.
• Later, I taught middle school "remedial reading" - as it was called then, to 5th through 8th graders.  
• I moved to elementary and spent 15 years teaching 3rd-5th grade. 
• The real love of my life has been the 15 years I spent running The Reading Room - my 3rd-5th grade reading intervention room surrounded, literally, by my classroom library of 10,000 books.
• I retired in 2013.
• Since then, I've adopted a class of 4th grade readers, worked with adult learners, and have continued to create curriculum designed to help others grow successful readers.  

QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT YOU?

ANSWER: 

• I make bead earrings.
• My classroom library had 10,000 books!
• I sold my house and bought a tiny house.
• I enjoy spending time at the lake.

Beaded earrings on flowers from the garden. Double pleasure.

My library now, tiny house style.

Campfires at the lake.

QUESTION: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

ANSWER: 

• I'm the oldest of 5 siblings.
• Mom to sons Robby and Jonathan and daughter-in-law Jenni.
• 2 grandpuppies: Sequoia and Ahma.
• My 91-year-old dad is still going strong!

Me, my sibs, and my dad, John with his whale, the Edmonds Orca. 

Robby in his natural habitat.

 Jonathan in his.

Jonny and Jenni

The grandpuppies, Ahma and Sequoia.

QUESTION: WHERE DO YOU LIVE, AND HAVE YOU EVER LIVED ANYWHERE ELSE?

ANSWER: 

• I live in Western Washington State.
• I love the Pacific Northwest’s oceans, sound, rivers, lakes, forests and mountains! 
• When I was in my 20’s, I lived and taught in Queensland, Australia for two years. 
• I taught 2nd grade in the South Bronx, New York City for one year.