Posts in ELA
Coffee Break with Dr. Doug Fisher

Doug Fisher, Ph.D. is a professor and Department Chair in the Department of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University. He co-founded the charter school, Health Sciences High and Middle College, where he is also Dean of Faculty Affairs. Doug is a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University (SDSU). In 2017, he received the SDSU Outstanding Faculty Monty Award. He was past president of the International Literacy Association (2017-2018). While he’s a prolific author and a renowned educational leader, he’s down to earth, inspiring and easy to talk to.

Grab a cuppa and enjoy the interview.

Read More
Coffee Break with Dr. Nancy Frey

Nancy is kind, patient, insightful, and incredibly knowledgeable about all things literacy. She cultivates an environment that supports her students academic and emotional well-being. These qualities are what make her an effective practitioner, researcher, and a highly influential literacy leader.

Since I’ve known her from the early 2000s, she has advocated for quality instruction and equity for all students. Nancy has helped in my personal growth and development as a literacy educator, and I was fortunate enough to have her co-chair my dissertation.

Read More
Coffee Break with... Dr. Tim Rasinski

Having worked with struggling readers for many years, I have often referred and recommended Dr. Tim Rasinski’s work on fluency.  He’s been my go-to researcher for all things fluency, from his books, The Fluent Reader,  Increasing Fluency with High Frequency Word Phrases Grades 1-5, and Fluency through Practice and Performance, to his countless articles, a few of which can be found here, here and here.  Much of his work has attributed to my students finding success in reading.


Read More
Coffee Break...with Ralph Fletcher

Having devoted his life to writing, Ralph Fletcher has strived to improve the quality of the teaching of writing for young people.  A prolific author and inspiring presenter, he’s written books both for teachers and aspiring young writers on the art of writing. His other works encompass poetry, picture books, chapter books, and young adult novels. I grabbed a coffee break with him and found him generous, funny, and his drive to pass on to children the love of writing was strongly evident.

Read More
Coffee Break with Cornelius Minor - Part Two

Part Two

Cornelius Minor is an avid proponent of change, a disrupter for good in my view, and an energetic educator-driven by students rights for access to learning.  If you haven’t heard him speak, then I would strongly encourage you to do so.  This is Part Two of our Coffee Break, continuing our fascinating discussion...  

Read More
Coffee Break with... Dr. Diane Lapp

Dr. Diane Lapp, Distinguished Professor of Education in the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State University, has been an incredible mentor of mine for over 16 years.  She has encouraged and supported my journey, stretched my thinking and consistently provided the best advice. Her intellect, support and encouragement are traits of great role models.  

I had the pleasure to spend time with Diane at ILA West, and fire a few questions.  She was as engaging as ever. 

Let’s hear some of her thoughts...

 

Read More