Words Their Way Classroom is based on the best-selling resource book, Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction, By Donald R. Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, Francine Johnston.
Donald Bear is a professor in literacy education at Iowa State University where he teaches doctoral, Master’s, and preservice teachers, and directs the Duffelmeyer Reading Clinic. He is also professor emeritus from the University of Nevada, Reno. Donald is involved in innovative professional development grants, and his work in assessment and word study is used widely. He is an author and co-author of numerous articles, book chapters, and 12 books, including Words Their Way, Words Their Way with English Learners, Vocabulary Their Way and Words Their Way with Struggling Readers, 4 – 12. He has received several awards for teaching and service. Donald is involved in numerous studies that examine literacy learning including studies of orthographic development in different and second languages.
Word Study to Teach Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling White Paper
Marcia Invernizzi is the Henderson Professor of Reading Education at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education where she teachers graduate courses in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education. She is the primary author of Phonological Literacy Screening (PALS), a founder of Book Buddies, and a co-author of Words Their Way and Vocabulary Their Way series of books. Her research interests explore relationships between orthographic knowledge and reading achievement, literacy assessment, and instruction.
Francine Johnston is a former first-grade teacher and reading specialist. She is retired from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she was an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education. At UNCG she taught courses in reading, language arts, and children's literature and directed a Clinic for Struggling Readers. She is one of the authors of the Words Their Way and Vocabulary Their Way series of books.
Shane Templeton is Foundation Professor Emeritus of Literacy Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. A former classroom teacher at the primary and secondary levels, Shane’s research has focused on developmental word knowledge in elementary, middle, and high school students. He has published in a number of research and practitioner journals, and is co-author of Vocabulary Their Way: Word Study for Middle and Secondary Students; Words Their Way; Words Their Way with Struggling Readers, Grades 4-12, and Words Their Way with English Learners. With Kristin Gehsmann, he is co-author of the recently-published Teaching Reading and Writing: The Developmental Approach. Since 1987, Shane has been a member of the Usage Panel of the American Heritage Dictionary. He is educational consultant on The American Heritage Children’s Dictionary and was consultant and wrote the foreword to Curious George’s Dictionary.
Lori is professor of Literacy Education and director of the Minnesota Center for Reading Research at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She researches and teaches classes in literacy development and effective teaching practices for multilingual students at the elementary school level and works with literacy professionals to implement school-wide systems of support. She was a bilingual elementary school teacher for sixteen years.
