Dr. Irene Fountas is the Marie M. Clay Endowed Chair in Early Literacy and Reading Recovery and is the author of many books. She is director of the Center for Reading Recovery in the Graduate School of Education at Lesley University. She has been a classroom teacher, language arts specialist, and consultant in school districts across the nation and abroad.

Irene and co-author Gay Su Pinnell have published numerous books and resources with Heinemann. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to literacy.

Education

BS, Boston University
M.Ed. Boston University
CAGS, Boston University
Ed.D., Boston University

Selected Publications

  • Fountas, I. and Pinnell, G.S., (2021). Sounds, Letters and Words in PreK. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Fountas, I. and Pinnell, G.S., (2021).
  • Joyful Writing in PreK. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. and Pinnell, G.S., (2021).
  • Literacy Beginnings: A Prekindergarten Handbook, Third Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. and Pinnell, G.S., (2020). Literacy Leadership From the Classroom: Learning From teacher Leaders. The Reading Teacher, 74 (2).
  • Fountas, I. and Pinnell, G.S., (2020.) Facilitative Talk: Shaping a Culture of Professional Learning Over Time. The Reading Teacher, 74 (5).
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G.S. (2018) Every Child, Every Classroom, Every Day: From Vision to Action in Literacy Learning. The Reading Teacher, 72 (1). 7-19.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G.S. (2018) The Literacy Quick Guide: A Reference Tool for Responsive Literacy Teaching. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G.S. (2018) Fountas and Pinnell Classroom. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. S. (2017). The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum, Expanded Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. S. (2017). Guided Reading: Responsive Teaching, Second Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. S. (2017). The Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 1, Third Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. S. (2017). The Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2012). Leveled Literacy Intervention: Red System. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2012). Genre Study: Teaching with Fiction and Nonfiction Books. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. S. (2009). When Readers Struggle: Teaching That Works. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
  • Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. S. (2009). Keys to Effective Coaching: Cultivating Self-Extending Teachers in a Professional Learning Community. Journal of Reading Recovery, 8 (2).

Selected Presentations

  • With G. Pinnell: Examining Craft Decisions in the Teaching of Nonfiction Reading and Writing. Literacy for All, Cambridge, MA, 2021
  • With G. Pinnell: Leading Literacy Forward with Shared Reading. International Literacy Association, Austin, Texas, 2018
  • With G. Pinnell: Teaching for Coherence: A Design for Literacy Instruction and Responsive Teaching: Four Keys to Effective Decision Making Within the Guided Reading Lesson. International Literacy Association, Orlando, Florida, 2017
  • With G. Pinnell: Celebrating the Twentieth Anniversary of Guided Reading: Elevating Teacher Expertise in Differentiated Instruction. 27th Annual Literacy for All Conference, Providence, R.I., 2016
  • With G. Pinnell: Digging Deep: Teaching for Reading Power in Guided Reading Lessons. 27th Annual Literacy for All Conference, Providence, RI, 2016
  • With G. Pinnell: Effective Professional Development for Elementary Literacy Instruction. 61st Annual International Literacy Association Conference, Boston, MA, 2016
  • With G. Pinnell: Honing Teacher Expertise in Guided Reading: The Science and Craft of Differentiated Instruction. 61st Annual International Literacy Association Conference, Boston, MA, 2016
  • With G. Pinnell: Teach the Child, NOT the Book or Program: Maximizing the Power of The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum. 61st Annual International Literacy Association Conference, Boston, MA, 2016
  • With G. Pinnell: When Readers Struggle in the Intermediate Grades: Teaching That Works [Teaching edge speaker series]. 57th Annual International Reading Association conference, Chicago, 2012
  • With G. Pinnell: Text Complexity: Its critical Role in Reading Development. 57th Annual International Reading Association conference, Chicago, 2012.
  • With G. Pinnell: Coaching for Expert Teaching in Guided Reading Lessons, 22nd Annual Literacy for All Conference, Providence, R.I., 2011
  • With G. Pinnell, Genre Study in a Reader's Workshop (Grades 1-8). Pre-conference all-day workshop presented at the 22nd Annual Literacy for All Conference, Providence, R.I., 2011
  • Fountas, I.C., Teacher Expertise: Key to Student Achievement. Keystone State Reading Association 44th Annual Conference, Lancaster, Pa., 2011
  • Effective Literacy Interventions: What Will it Take? Minority School Achievement Network Conference, Cambridge, Mass., 2010
  • Teacher Expertise: Key to Improving Literacy Achievement. 38th Annual Conference, State of Maryland International Reading Association Council, Baltimore, 2010
  • With G. Pinnell: Expert Teaching in Literacy Lessons: Teaching, Prompting, and Reinforcing Problem-solving Behaviors. Presented at the 55th Annual Convention, International Reading Association, Chicago, 2010.
  • With G. Pinnell: When Readers Struggle: Teaching that Works (K-3). Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools, Cairo, Egypt. 2009

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