Interview with Donalyn Miller

Monday, August 24, 2009.

Interview with Donalyn Miller [13:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

She can turn even the most reluctant — or, in her words, dormant — reader into a student who can’t put their books down. With talent and passion like that, it’s a benefit to children that she abandoned her career as an accountant to become a grade six language arts and social studies teacher.

She is The Book Whisperer.

On this edition, Mark speaks with Donalyn Miller about safe territory, books in the classroom and her advice to parents, principals and politicians.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Interview with Francesca Simon

Photo courtesy of Donalyn Miller.

Filed under: Interviews, Literacy Expert/Promoter, Podcast

4 Comments »

Comment by Katje Lehrman

August 24, 2009 @ 11:00 am

Excellent interview! I read to my class EVERYDAY and the students always want more.
Schools used to have DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time daily and teachers were encouraged to model reading for enjoyment, not to re-read parts of books endlessly.
Thank you for promoting not only literacy, but love of literacy!

Comment by Carol Wickstrom

August 25, 2009 @ 10:11 am

Love the response about “finding their love of reading again.” Reminding us all that we need to bring out those positive experiences of reading for our students. Middle grade teachers need to revive those readers — and that is what Donalyn does with her students.
Keep getting the word out!
Love of literacy is the key!

Comment by Debbie Hall

August 27, 2009 @ 11:10 am

I am so glad that Donalyn spoke up for funding libraries. It is so vital that students have access to a broad selection to choose and find their own path in reading. Classroom collections are great but they cannot possibly meet the needs of all students. Libraries can.

Comment by Susan Thomsen

August 30, 2009 @ 9:55 am

Great interview, y’all! As I listened, I kept thinking about how reading and literacy are all about connection. Books always give us something to talk about with another person, as Donalyn pointed out.

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