Individualized Literacy Intervention for All Students
Marin Reading Specialists & Intervention provides a direct, explicit, and balanced approach to teaching reading and literacy skills
Maggie McDermott
Maggie McDermott is an independent Reading Specialist providing direct literacy support to students of all ages and literacy levels. She earned her Masters in Teaching Reading from the University of San Francisco and is trained in the Slingerland method for supporting students with dyslexia. Maggie taught for 17 years as an elementary teacher in San Francisco, Marin, and Napa, and has developed Reading Intervention Programs in multiple Bay Area schools. In 2011, she was awarded the Herbst Foundation Teaching Excellence Award.
Maggie specializes in creating individualized programs to support and address the literacy needs of each unique child. Through a balanced and multisensory approach, she provides a supplement and reinforcement of the essential pillars of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics and word recognition, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as written expression, spelling and handwriting.
Maggie lives in San Rafael with her husband, two daughters, and golden retriever.
Literacy assessments
Direct support for individual literacy learning needs
Lesson plans tailored to each unique student
Multisensory, balanced approach 1:1 intervention
Direct consultation and collaboration with school based teachers and support staff as needed
Literacy tutoring
Supplemental homeschool reading instruction and curriculum
Services
Testimonials
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“Our family cannot recommend Maggie highly enough. Maggie was instrumental in our daughter’s success, not only in reading and writing, but also as a person. Maggie painstakingly worked with our daughter and broke down the fundamentals of reading and writing. She gave our daughter the tools to navigate the English language. Maggie goes above and beyond a typical reading specialist, she deeply invests herself into the child’s happiness and success. Hands down Maggie changed our daughter’s life.”
Sheila M.
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“Maggie changed the trajectory of my son’s life. Her expertise in assessing a child’s reading abilities and then working with them to gain the skills needed to reach their full learning potential is priceless. My son is now a junior in college and still says Mrs. McDermott was one of the best teachers he had ever had.”
Catherine L.
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"If you are seeking a reading specialist who will forge a strong connection with your child, equip your child with lifelong reading skills and strategies, and make learning fun, look no further! Maggie worked with our kindergarten daughter for five months. When our daughter started her sessions, she was still learning to recognize letters. When she finished, she was decoding short books. It was magical to witness the transformational change and our family highly recommends Maggie!!"
Theresa T.
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"The progress my son made with Maggie went way beyond our expectations- he is now one of the strongest readers in his class. Her lessons were clear and well organized with supplemental flash cards and exercises to practice at home. My son also loved his time with her- she is engaging, kind and fun! She let us know he was ready to “graduate” (with an option to stay on) which I really appreciated. We will miss her but feel so lucky to have had this time with her."
Mary B.
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"Maggie is a thoughtful, creative and highly skilled reading specialist who approaches her work in a fun, positive and patient manner. She increased our son’s confidence in his reading abilities and helped him find enjoyment in learning again. Cannot recommend her services highly enough."
Megan D.