Dr. Sam Bommarito (@doctorsam7)
Dr. Bommarito is retired from full-time teaching after a 51-year career in education. That career included teaching at almost every grade from K through graduate school. He taught reading courses to teachers at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He’s made numerous presentations at ILA (formally IRA) conferences, including national conferences. In spring 2022, he was a featured speaker at the LitCon conference. Most of his career was spent working in Title 1 buildings as a reading specialist and/or staff developer. Those buildings were often highly successful, as demonstrated by national awards from the Secretary of Education In addition, He twitters daily about his various literacy endeavors (@DoctorSam7). He writes a weekly blog about literacy
Opinions expressed in this blog are solely the responsibility of Dr. Sam Bommarito and in no way reflect any endorsement of any organizations or individuals
Dr. William Kerns (@Dr_WilliamKerns)
William Kerns is an Assistant Professor of Education with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework. Prior to entering higher education, William worked as an English teacher as well as a reading teacher and reading specialist. He earned his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in English Language Arts from Clemson University. Dr. Kerns taught was an Asst. Professor of English Education at Harris-Stowe State University from August 2015 to August 2019. His university teaching specialties are in the areas of English language arts, literacy, assessment, and philosophical foundations of education.
Dear Dr. Bommarito:
David Harrison suggested that I should follow your blog. Having read your bio, I wondered if you might give me some advice.
I am a former elementary language arts teacher (grades 3,4,5) who trained in the summers at Columbia University Teachers College with Lucy Calkins in Writers Workshop. I have used this approach to writing in my own classrooms for many years. I now volunteer in the 4th grade writing program at a local elementary school and am mentoring teachers there as they watch me implement Writers Workshop in class.
I live in Bowling Green, KY –the home of Western Kentucky University. As I have come into contact with student teachers and first year teachers here, I have learned that they have never heard of Reading and Writing Project, Writers Workshop, Lucy Calkins, Georgia Heard, Ralph Fletcher…and have not been exposed to this pedagogy in their education classes. I would like to change this. Do you have advice for me?
I have applied to teach at WKU (my master’s degree would allow me to teach undergrad courses). I have sent emails to the dean of education. I have left phone messages for professors in the school of education. I am open to any ideas you might have.
Sincerely,
Patricia Nesbitt
Happy you decided to follow the blog. I would be happy to help. My responses will be much longer than WordPress would accommodate. Please e-mail me at sam.bommarito.2@gmail.com P.S. I have done similar things during my “retirement” (I think I am flunking retirement). I just spent last year pushing into a 4th grade room all year. Can tell you things I learned from that experience. Hoping to hear from you soon. Dr. Sam
Please let me know if you’d like a PDF reviewer’s copy of my new book READ CURSIVE FAST. As I recall, on your Twitter channel you showed some interest.
I would be more than interested. I would love to blog interview about you and your book. For the moment I’m putting interviews on hold Because I lost my front tooth. Long story but it involves an old injury from high school and a capped front tooth that literally fell off. Once this is under control I will Resume interviews. Probably 2 to 3 weeks. In the meantime please do correspond via my gmail. sam.bommarito.2@gmail.com.
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