When Susie Kelley loaned me her copy of Mosaic of Thought all of those years ago, she put my feet on a path to better teaching. Susie is the most generous person I know, giving freely of her books, her ideas, and her friendship. Watching her teach and talking to her about instruction is like taking a master’s class every day.
I am grateful to Heather Freeman and Mellie Joiner, who snuck me in to meet Janet Allen, and introduced me as an author. Also thanks to Debbie Brooks, assistant principal extraordinaire, who calls me “friend,” and means it. I appreciate the many administrators and teachers of Keller Independent School District who supported the creation of this book.
I never believed I could write a book until I participated in the National Writing Project. Thanks to the leaders of the North Star of Texas chapter at the University of North Texas: Leslie Patterson, Carol Wickstrom, Janelle Mathis, Joan Curtis, and Terisa Pearce. Special thanks to Carol, who read my book and provided advice. A shout-out to my fellow teacher consultants, who cheerfully asked me how the book was going each time we crossed paths, and especially to Audrey Wilson, Kerri Harris, and Jennifer Roberts, who kept me from getting a big head about it. You ladies are the teachers I want to be when I grow up.
Thanks to Alexandra Leavell, who taught me the difference between research-based and research-proven, and who convinced me that I could present at the National Council of Teachers of English conference. I am also grateful to Jeff Anderson, who paid it forward by sharing his experiences as a teacher and writer, and never considered me a stalker.
My husband Don knows more about teaching reading than any spouse should. He read every draft numerous times, ironed my work clothes for eight months, brought me dinner at the computer almost every night, and told me that he wished he could have been in my class. The knowledge that we will totter off into old age together, happily reading our beloved books, makes me smile from ear to ear.
I am blessed with two remarkable daughters, Celeste and Sarah, who reminded me that I needed to spend time playing dominoes and watching movies with them in order to stay sane. Thanks, girls, for sacrificing so much Mom time.
A special thanks to my mother, who taught me how to read and, in doing so, gave me everything—my education, my career, and my life’s passion.
I am indebted to the marvelous students I have taught over the years. Thanks to all of the parents and students who agreed to be in the book, sent me pictures, and cheered me on. Your words and accomplishments deserve to be heard.
About the Author
DONALYN MILLER is a sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School in Keller, Texas. In her quest to spread reading freedom, Donalyn teaches staff development presentations on campuses and in conference rooms across the country. Her articles and essays appear in national publications such as Library Sparks Magazine. In “The Book Whisperer,” her blog for teachermagazine.org, Donalyn shares her ideas and strategies for teaching reading and inspiring students to read.
Donalyn lives atop a dragon’s hoard of unread books she calls “the Miller Mountain” with her husband, two daughters, and granddaughter. In her spare time, Donalyn travels, visits old friends, and daydreams—all inside the pages of her treasured books.
About the Sponsor
EDUCATION WEEK PRESS is the book publishing division of Editorial Projects in Education (EPE), home of the independent newspaper Education Week and other highly regarded print and online products. Among those products is teachermagazine.org, a Web site devoted to news and information for K-12 teachers and the home of Donalyn Miller’s blog “The Book Whisperer.” In addition to her blog, Miller’s popular column “Ask the Mentor” on teachermagazine.org inspired this book. EPE is a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Maryland; its other entities include the EPE Research Center, edweek.org, Digital Directions, the Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook, and TopSchoolJobs.org.
Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer
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