Frank is currently an Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Arizona State University. He teaches courses in Children’s Literature and Literacy Instruction. Frank was an elementary school teacher for nine years in Phoenix, AZ, and spent three years as a literacy specialist in K-6 classrooms. Frank received his Masters degree in Elementary Education and his Ph.D in Reading Education at Arizona State University. In 2003, he received the Distinguished New Faculty Award at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and in 2007 he received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. Frank spends a great deal of time in elementary and middle school classrooms providing staff development workshops and conducting research focusing on reading instruction and children’s literature.
Frank has published five books with Heinemann, including: The Reading Workshop: Creating Space for Readers, Reading Aloud and Beyond, Lessons in Comprehension, More (Advanced) Lessons in Comprehension, and Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days. Frank’s books from Heinemann offer novice and experienced teachers practical advice for implementing a workshop approach to literacy instruction in their intermediate and middle school classrooms. Frank has also been published in such prominent educational journals as The Reading Teacher, Journal of Children’s Literature, Reading Research Quarterly, Journal of Teacher Education, and Reading Research and Instruction.
Frank has been a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on such topics as the Role of Children’s Literature in the Elementary Curriculum, The Reading Workshop, Building Capacity for Literacy Instruction, and Using Literature in the Writing Workshop.
Frank has a great sense of humor and is an invigorating and dynamic speaker. His workshops are loaded with practical ideas grounded in a solid foundation of literacy theory and research. Frank’s experience as a classroom teacher keeps him grounded in the challenges and realities of the lives of teachers and students in contemporary educational settings.
