In partnership with Classmates Literacy Foundation

“Over the past year and a half, I’ve come to know Heidi Craemer as both a dedicated teacher and a fierce advocate for kids, especially those who carry extra challenges in life and in learning. Her commitment to equity, literacy, and belief that every child deserves a fair chance reflects everything CLF stands for.”
— Kristen Eidson, Classmates Literacy Foundation

Meet Featured Educator: Heidi Craemer

We are honored to highlight Heidi Craemer, a teacher and literacy advocate whose work with the Slant System™, an Orton-Gillingham–aligned structured literacy program, was made possible through a scholarship from Classmates Literacy Foundation (CLF).

With more than 25 years of experience in special education, reading intervention, and science-of-reading–aligned instruction, Heidi has consistently championed students who struggle with reading and writing. Her expertise, paired with her new training in the Slant System™, has transformed literacy outcomes in her district.

“The Slant System™ reignited my passion for teaching.”

Heidi, tell us about your background as an educator and how it prepared you for the Slant System™.

I have 25 years of experience spanning special education, classroom teaching, and literacy interventions. Reading struggles deeply motivate me, and I am passionate about empowering educators with research-based strategies grounded in the Science of Reading.

I am certified in preK–9 Special Education, pK–12 Reading Specialist, and have a Master’s in Educational Leadership. I am currently pursuing Orton-Gillingham Dyslexia Practitioner licensure.

Before discovering the Slant System™, I trained in several other OG-based approaches, including Lindamood-Bell, Barton, Wilson, PRESS, and Sonday. That experience gave me a strong foundation and allowed me to immediately recognize Slant’s effectiveness and intentional design.

“The multisensory pieces finally make sense—to me and the students.”

What initially drew you to the Slant System™ for literacy intervention?

The Slant System™ hooked me right away because it includes all the core components of a high-quality structured literacy intervention:

• A clear scope and sequence

• Diagnostic and prescriptive assessments

• Progress-monitoring tools

• Flashcards, manipulatives, and decodable passages

• Dictation and sound-spelling papers

• Predictable routines with strong instructional pacing

Why Heidi Chose Slant:

• Fully prepared materials

• Systematic and multisensory design

• Templates that guide instructional decisions

• Built for MTSS and small-group intervention

“It has everything a teacher needs to implement with confidence.”

I especially appreciated the lesson templates, which include space for observational notes, helping me plan truly diagnostic and prescriptive instruction.

Did you experience any “lightbulb moments” when implementing the Slant System™?

Absolutely. Before Slant, my multisensory teaching choices were random. In Slant, every sensory component serves a meaningful instructional purpose. Lessons became more predictable and memorable for students.

I also realized the importance of visual scaffolds. My favorite Slant System™ tool is the sound-spelling paper with dots, squares, and lines, it bridges the gap between manipulatives and traditional lined paper beautifully.

“The Slant System™ design has the child in mind.”

What Slant System™ materials or training components have helped you most?

While the ready-to-use materials are phenomenal, the community support stands out even more. The monthly Chat groups and the mentorship provided by Slant trainers, and reinforced by CLF’s generosity, have been invaluable.

Since implementing Slant, what student progress have you noticed?

My students are more confident spellers and blend new words with automaticity much sooner. They no longer rely heavily on letter-by-letter decoding.

The wide spacing in Slant decodable books also reduces visual overwhelm and prevents tracking issues.

 Student Impact at a Glance

• Faster blending and improved automaticity

• Greater spelling confidence

• Stronger engagement

• Nearly double the rate of improvement

“The proof is in both the data and the enthusiasm.”

Compared to similar groups I’ve taught previously, these students are progressing faster, with more joy.

Have you noticed changes in student engagement or confidence?

Yes! Students consistently name their “favorite part” of Slant lessons – often Martian Words, oral routines like “I Say It, You Say It,” or sentence dictation.

Their enthusiasm is noticeably higher than in previous interventions. They feel successful.

How would you describe the Slant System™ to a teacher familiar with OG or structured literacy?

I often say:

“You’ve got to try the Slant System™ because…”

1. It engages both students and teachers.

2. All materials are included.

3. It is diagnostic and prescriptive.

4. The community support is exceptional.

Or, in one sentence:

“It’s easy to implement, truly OG-based, fully equipped, and supported by a warm, encouraging community.”

How has Classmates Literacy Foundation shaped your journey as a literacy leader?

In April 2024, Kristen reached out with a scholarship opportunity. I was exhausted from preparing lessons for another OG program and felt it wasn’t working. My student was disengaged.

Slant reignited everything – my passion, confidence, and instructional clarity.

I shared the program with our EMLSS Coordinator, who monitored my student data and supported a proposal to send more teachers for training. Today, about a dozen teachers have now received Slant Foundations training, and I’m leading a districtwide Collaborative Slant Study Group.

“Interest in the Slant System™ continues to grow—and so does our literacy data.”

“Heidi and I first connected in 2024, and as she learned more about the mission and vision of Classmates Literacy Foundation, she wanted to become more involved. She now volunteers her time to help me raise awareness about our mission and impact often joining me for meetings to share her firsthand perspective on why the work of CLF matters so much.  I’m honored to have Heidi serve as an ambassador for our work and grateful to call her a friend.”
— Kristen Eidson, Classmates Literacy Foundation

Click Here to learn more about the mission of Classmates Literacy Foundation!

What is the Slant System™?

The Slant System™ is an Orton-Gillingham–aligned structured literacy program designed to support struggling readers through systematic, multisensory, diagnostic teaching practices.

How does the Slant System™ support dyslexic learners?

It uses explicit phonics instruction, multisensory routines, scaffolds like sound-spelling paper, and decodable text to build orthographic mapping and fluency.

How is the Slant System™ different from other structured literacy programs?

Slant includes all materials needed for immediate implementation, offers strong prescriptive teaching tools, provides robust community support, and emphasizes instructional simplicity without sacrificing quality.

Why is structured literacy important?

Structured literacy is supported by decades of research and is particularly effective for students with dyslexia or reading challenges because it is explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic.