Transformative Literacy Solutions
Empowering Educators. Advancing Outcomes. Elevating Literacy.
Eight Strands Literacy provides evidence-based tools for schools to achieve reading success. We offer expert training and a flexible K–3 curriculum to support teachers and leaders in developing skilled readers.
Proven Solutions for Lasting Literacy Gains
Our training, leadership, and curriculum offerings equip schools to achieve measurable impact.
Our Credentials
Tennessee-Approved Educator Preparation Provider (EPP)
CERI-Certified Coaches & Trainers
KPEERI Exam–Ready
Training Materials
CERI Certification Pathways (SLCT, SLDI, SLDS)
Resource for Educators & Schools
Limited Science of Reading Training
Most certification programs don't cover the Science of Reading in depth, leaving teachers underprepared to support struggling readers.
Fragmented Implementation Across Classrooms
Schools often rely on a few highly-trained teachers to carry literacy practices forward—but that doesn't scale.
Lack of Ongoing Support After Training
Teachers are often left on their own after PD sessions, without guidance for real-life classroom application.
Inconsistent Dyslexia
SupportMany educators lack specialized tools to identify and intervene with dyslexic learners.
For Districts & Administrators
Inconsistent Literacy Instruction Across Schools
Variability in teacher knowledge and approach leads to inconsistent outcomes.
Overburdened Leaders Without Literacy Expertise
Leaders are asked to drive reading gains without a roadmap.
Pressure to Meet State Literacy Standards
Many states now mandate evidence-based instruction and measurable progress, but implementation is complex.
…curriculum is rigorous on both us and the students. So I think it's the most rewarding and impactful part of my day when I'm working with that small group…that's also where I have the most impact.
Laney Lund
City Year Corps Member
Proven Strategies to
Teach, Inspire, and Achieve
Evidence-Based Approach
Built on Orton-Gillingham and the Science of Reading with IDA accreditation.
Flexible Delivery
Live, hybrid, or asynchronous options to fit your schedule and staff needs.
Built for Scale
Whether you serve 1 school or 100, our model supports sustainable, school-wide literacy transformation.
Comprehensive Support
We stay engaged from training to implementation — coaching, mentoring, & troubleshooting along the way.
Latest From the Blog
Research, strategies, and stories from our team of literacy coaches.
Encoding vs. Decoding: How Spelling and Reading Build Each Other
Decoding turns letters into sounds, and encoding turns sounds into letters. Why reading and spelling share one sound-letter map, what the research says, and how to teach both in one K–3 lesson.
November 10, 202612 min read
What Is Orthographic Mapping? How Students Turn Words into Sight Words
Orthographic mapping is how a printed word becomes a sight word: readers connect its letters, sounds and meaning. What the research says, what children need first, and how to teach toward it in K–3.
November 9, 202611 min read
What Are Heart Words? How to Teach Irregular High-Frequency Words
Heart words are the irregular parts of words that children learn by heart, while they sound out the rest. What counts as a heart word, why the method works, and a step-by-step routine for K–3.
November 6, 202612 min read
Phonological Awareness vs. Phonemic Awareness: What's the Difference?
Phonological awareness covers all the sounds of spoken language. Phonemic awareness is its smallest part: individual sounds. How the two differ, and how to teach both in K–3.
November 5, 202610 min read
IDA Accreditation vs. IDA Plus: What the Difference Means for Your Training Provider
Both signal a quality, standards-aligned program, but only one requires an intensive supervised practicum, and that distinction matters most if you are building toward the dyslexia specialist level.
September 24, 2026
Eight Strands Literacy vs. Heggerty
How a targeted foundational-skills curriculum and a whole-school literacy partnership compare on coverage, grade band, model, credentials, and evidence, so you can tell which one your school actually needs.
September 23, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What grade levels does Eight Strands Literacy serve?
Our K–3 curriculum is focused on early literacy instruction, with extensions for upper-elementary intervention. Our training, coaching, endorsements, and leadership programming cover the full K–12 spectrum. Coaching engagements scale from a single classroom to a full district.How long does training and implementation take?
Training cohorts typically run across a school year, with live, remote, and asynchronous components. Most districts see meaningful classroom shifts within a single semester of consistent instructional support.Is the curriculum aligned with the Science of Reading?
Yes. Every lesson and routine is grounded in evidence-based practice, structured literacy, and Orton-Gillingham principles, with IDA-accredited training available to reinforce your teachers' content knowledge.Do you offer ongoing coaching after PD sessions?
Coaching is a core part of our model, but it is not included in training engagements. We offer optional coaching pathways for your educators to stay engaged from training through implementation, including troubleshooting in real classrooms. Ask for more details.How do I bring Eight Strands to my school or district?
Reach out via the contact form and we'll set up a discovery conversation to scope our comprehensive literacy services from systems and leadership all the way into the classroom for training, curriculum, and coaching that fits your context.What services does Eight Strands Literacy offer?
Eight Strands Literacy provides structured literacy teacher training and professional development, literacy curriculum, sustained practice-connected coaching, reading intervention and MTSS support, a literacy landscape analysis (a school-wide literacy snapshot), and a year-long literacy leadership accelerator for school and district leaders.Is Eight Strands Literacy accredited?
Yes. Eight Strands Literacy is IDA accredited on both the Basic and Plus levels, and a Tennessee-approved Educator Preparation Provider (EPP), led by Krista L. Johnson, Ph.D. Our work aligns to the International Dyslexia Association's Knowledge and Practice Standards. Our Eight Strands Literacy Model and our Ditto Literacy Plus intervention curriculum have both been rigorously evaluated, externally validated, and acknowledged for meeting the educational impact criteria of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), warranting a Level 3 for “Promising Evidence.” This recognition is based on proven effectiveness in enhancing literacy skills for K–3 students.Do you work with schools in person or remotely?
We work with schools both on-site and remotely. Training can be delivered live in person, live online, or as recorded asynchronous sessions. Coaching can be in person, live online, or based on teacher-recorded lessons. Our delivery models ensure that all schools can work with us.
Let's Elevate Literacy, Together.
Whether you're a school leader, teacher, or funder—partner with us to deliver powerful reading instruction where it matters most.