ABOUT KATE & MAGGIE

Kate and Maggie are literacy consultants known for their practical approach to reaching ideals in education. They are problem solvers and coaches, ready to work with you, helping your students become the readers and writers they can and want to be.

Kate and Maggie began their teaching careers as middle school teachers in city centers — Kate in Brooklyn, Maggie in Chicago. They both felt a natural fit in the energy, intensity and humor of early adolescence. After their graduate education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, Kate and Maggie became literacy consultants and worked with teachers in classrooms all over the country.

For the last fifteen years, Kate and Maggie have worked across elementary, middle school, and high school grades, focusing on skill and strategy-based literacy instruction, literacy across the content areas, differentiated teaching methods, and optimizing teaching schedules and structures.

Over time, Kate and Maggie have become known for their concrete solutions to tough situations, their humor, and their strong curricular, pedagogical and personal support of teachers, administrators, and students. These strengths shine through during their presentations and social media presence, such as on their blog, Instagram and TikTok accounts, and their video series for their latest book together, DIY Literacy.

  • Kate is a national literacy consultant, best-selling author, and sought-after keynote speaker. She began her career teaching reading and writing in Brooklyn, NY, later transitioning into a literacy coach role before fully dedicating her time to supporting educators across the country as a literacy consultant. Kate’s latest book, The Heart of Fiction: Reading Through Character, Theme & Craft (2023), explores innovative strategies for helping students connect deeply with literature through character analysis, thematic exploration, and craft interpretation. Her previous works, including A Novel Approach, Falling in Love with Close Reading (co-authored with Christopher Lehman), and DIY Literacy (co-authored with Maggie Beattie Roberts), have inspired countless teachers to adopt student-centered approaches in their classrooms.

    Driven by her belief that all students can become insightful, critical thinkers when given the right tools, Kate works both nationally and internationally, helping schools and districts design and implement engaging and effective literacy curricula. Her work continues to be fueled by the conviction that reading and writing should empower students to explore their world and their place within it.

  • Maggie Beattie Roberts began her teaching career in the heart of Chicago before moving to New York City and completing graduate studies as a Literacy Specialist at Teachers College, Columbia University. Today, she is a national literacy consultant, author, and highly sought-after professional learning facilitator. Known for her ability to build strong relationships with teachers and school leaders, Maggie thrives working side-by-side with educators.

    Maggie is passionate about supporting teachers in creating inclusive classrooms that meet the needs of all students. She has post-baccalaureate certification in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity with specialization in Executive Function from Landmark College. Her work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals, such as the National Council of Teachers of English’s journal, Voices From the Middle, and the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts’s journal, English in Texas. As coauthor of DIY Literacy: Teaching Tools for Differentiation, Rigor, and Independence (with Kate Roberts), Maggie continues to empower educators with tools that enhance student learning and independence. 

    Her forthcoming books include Foundational Skills for Writing (with Melanie Meehan), a brain-based guide that helps teachers strengthen executive functions, language, and foundational writing skills like handwriting and spelling, and Unboxing the Curriculum (with Kate Roberts), which helps educators and school leaders navigate prepackaged curricula and tailor them to their students’ needs.