You’re So Fly: Meagan Beam

From a hands-on classroom solution built with PVC pipes to a growing mission grounded in the belief that literacy is a civil right, OTTER Reading is changing the way children learn to read. This month’s Flywheel Member Highlight features Meagan Beam, founder of OTTER Reading, who shares how a simple idea sparked an innovative, multi-sensory approach to literacy—supporting students, empowering teachers, and equipping parents along the way. Read Meagan’s Q&A to learn how OTTER Reading is expanding its impact and what’s next for this purpose-driven venture.

1. What inspired you to launch OTTER Reading and focus on literacy as a civil right?

OTTER Reading began when I was teaching my third graders the spelling pattern, change the y to i. My students were struggling, so I started looking for a hands-on tool that would make their learning more concrete! I couldn’t find what I was looking for, so I decided to make it. I walked into Lowe’s and came out with PVC pipes and couplings, and my business blossomed from there! But it was always more than my 3rd graders. I have always had a passion for supporting students and ensuring they all learned to read and experienced success, and that every child deserves access to research and evidence-aligned reading instruction. It includes tools for every phonics skill that students will be exposed to as they learn to read. But, not only do I do it for the students, but for the teachers as well. Everything is durable and easily organized so that teachers are not having to spend their hard-earned money or time replacing, making, or digging for pieces.

2. How do your multi-sensory, Orton-Gillingham–based tools keep students engaged while learning?

OTTER Reading tools increase attention and memory by ensuring that students experience a hands-on approach to learning to read, which is something that can be pretty abstract. It reduces the cognitive load (amount of mental effort your brain has to use to understand, process, and remember information) for our students during spelling so that they don’t have to hold on to the many, many steps of writing a word onto a sheet of paper. Because it reduces cognitive load, students are not as likely to become frustrated or leave a task. Because of this, the tools can become a motivator for students to practice the reading and spelling skills that they might have resisted in the past.

3. What key differences have you seen in how children learn at home versus in the classroom?

The home learning environment is a powerful place for students to learn and grow, and often looks different depending on the needs of the family and their child(ren). OTTER Reading desires to not only support schools, but also parents who are trying to support their children as best they can at home. There are times that parents have to advocate for their children at home, and it is my hope that my tools play a small part in supporting parents in that journey.

4. What challenges have you faced in making OTTER’s tools effective for teachers, parents, and administrators alike?

The biggest challenge that I have faced is communication. I have learned that I have to use specific language when talking to parents vs teachers, vs administrators. Parents are looking for tools that will have the highest impact on their child(ren) to succeed in the classroom, and aren’t looking for that ‘classroom-driven’ communication. Teachers want tools that are durable, easily stored, aligned to their curriculum and standards, liked by students, and are increasing student mastery. Teachers are looking for language that includes evidence and research-based, science of reading, standards-aligned, curriculum-agnostic, etc. Administrators often defer to the teacher for purchases based on available funds (if it is indeed aligned with standards and research).

5. What’s next for OTTER Reading, and how do you plan to measure its impact?

Next up for OTTER Reading – My last day for my part-time job was TODAY (12/5)! I am working on bringing on a couple of salespeople to help broaden the impact of OTTER Reading. I am also in various stages of bringing on new products to support the individual needs of our students and their teachers, including Braille, Spanish (other languages), math, and reading fidgets. I am also working on building out resources to support students as they use the tool, like VR or NFC tags, so that students are able to master different skills without needing the full support of a teacher. I am so excited about the future of OTTER Reading and chasing the mission of every child learning to read.