Brief bio

	Constance Weaver
Brief Bio Dr. Connie Weaver is a professor of English at Western Michigan University, where she specializes in teaching teachers of the language arts (reading, writing, and grammar). Highlights of her background include: Nationally and internationally known as an author, teacher educator, and speaker Author or editor of several books, including Practicing What We Know: Informed Reading Instruction (edited, 1998; National Council of Teachers of English) Reconsidering a Balanced Approach to Reading (edited, 1998; National Council of Teachers of English) Lessons to Share: On Teaching Grammar in Context (edited, 1998; Boynton/Cook - Heinemann) Creating Support for Effective Literacy Education (co-authored with Lorraine Gillmeister-Krause and Grace Vento-Zogby, 1996; Heinemann) Teaching Grammar in Context (1996: Boynton/Cook -Heinemann) Reading Process and Practice (2nd ed., 1994; Heinemann) Success at last! Helping Students with Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorders Achieve Their Potential (edited, 1994; Heinemann) Theme Exploration: A Voyage of Discovery(co-authored with Joel Chaston and Scott Peterson, 1993; Heinemann) Supporting Whole Language (co-edited with Linda Henke, 1992; Heinemann) Understanding Whole Language (1990; Heinemann) Grammar for Teachers (1979; National Council of Teachers of English) Author of more than fifteen fact sheets on such topics as phonics, whole language, teaching grammar, teaching spelling, and more. For an index to the web pages of these, see fact sheet index, which is at the bottom of the web page for Creating Support for Effective Literacy Education. Author of two videotapes: A Balanced Approach to Reading: Learning to Read Joyfully and Successfully (1998; Wright Group) Reading Skills and Strategies (with Margaret Moustafa; 1998; Wright group) Author of various articles on topics such as the reading process; dyslexia; a balanced approach to reading; teaching phonics in the context of reading and writing; the politics of phonics instruction; phonics, whole language, and the religious and political Right; organizing to support public education; teaching grammar in the context of writing; parallels between new paradigms in science and in reading and literary theories. Articles have appeared in the following recent publications: In Defense of Good Teaching, edited by Ken Goodman (1998) (includes my articles coauthored with Ellen Brinkley on phonics, whole language, and the religious and political Right, and on organizing to support public education) Theoretical Models and Processes of Reading (4th ed., edited by Ruddell) (includes my paradigms article) Co-chair of the National Congress for Public Education, a conference bringing together diverse organizations and individuals in support of public education Co-founder and President of Michigan for Public Education, a nonprofit grassroots organization for supporting and strengthening public education Director of the Commission on Reading of the National Council of Teachers of English from 1987-1990 Member of the Michigan English Language Arts Framework team from 1994-1995 Honors Recipient of the Charles C. Fries award from the Michigan Council of Teachers of English for distinguished leadership in the profession (1996) Recognized for teaching, scholarship, and service by the Michigan Association of Governing Boards of State Universities (1998) Elected a fellow of the National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy (1998)

English My home page

Contact information:  connie.weaver@wmich.edu

Department of English
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5092

Fax:  (616) 372-7225

http://unix.cc.wmich.edu/~cweaver
last revised:  8/7/00

Brief Bio