LorrieLBirchall

I began my career as an elementary classroom teacher, primarily in grades 2-4, but later became a reading interventionist, teaching one-on-one and small groups of K-6 students on individualized learning plans. I've been around for some time, so I've taught reading using a wide variety of approaches and I like to think it's given me a broader perspective on literacy instruction. Like most teachers, I pull the best from every approach I've used along the way, whether it's whole language, thematic teaching, phonics driven programmed instruction (ye old basal reader), analyzing running records for Reading Recovery, or using leveled books in Guided Reading groups. Although approaches vary, they have all have become part of my well-stocked teaching arsenal. I'm currently on a mission to encourage today's teachers and homeschooling parents to bring more poetry into their literacy instruction. Even the shortest poem can make a language-rich, yet targeted teaching text. I'm now retired from teaching literacy, but I currently write children's poetry from a highly quirky little beach town in North County San Diego.

I would describe my teaching style as creative, yet highly targeted. I'm a long-time collector of vintage children's poetry and picture books, but I started writing poetry, because as an interventionist, it allowed me to include all five components of reading within a very limited amount of instructional time.

Elementary literacy teacher resource books published by Scholastic Professional Books. Phonics poems featured in the early literacy program, Sounds Make Words by Folens Publishers.

University of Colorado-Boulder

I'm in my happy place at the beach with a kindle in one hand and a hot cup of coffee in the other. My husband and I are the parents of two incredible adult children and now grandparents to two amazing little boys! -Lorrie L. Birchall