Gravity Goldberg is the author of Mindsets and Moves: Strategies That Help Readers Take Charge (Corwin Literacy, 2015) and the author of many articles about reading, writing, and professional development. She is also co-author of Conferring with Readers: Supporting Each Students’ Growth and Independence (Heinemann, 2007) and the What Do I Teach Readers Tomorrow? Series (Corwin Literacy, 2017). In the following video, Gravity tells a bit about herself and talks a bit about her book, Mindsets and Moves.

As she said, Gravity was a special educator and third-grade teacher in Boston. Gravity taught in inclusive elementary classrooms, self-contained special education settings, and worked as a reading specialist for pre-K – grade 12. She then moved to New York City to get her doctorate in education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her focus on educational policy, school reform, and literacy education still guide her work to this day. She is a former staff developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. For four years, she worked at Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, directed by Lucy Calkins, as a staff developer in classrooms across the country. She led workshops, modeled lessons, and created curricula. In addition, she ran a series of workshops for special educators, led literacy coaching courses, and served as a faculty member at the renowned summer institutes. Gravity was also an assistant professor at Iona College’s graduate education program. She now leads a team of literacy consultants in the New York/New Jersey region as founder of Gravity Goldberg, LLC. While based in the New York / New Jersey metro area, Gravity supports school districts across the country. She specializes in literacy, special education, curriculum, assessment, and learning with technology. Her work ranges from demonstrating lessons and leading workshops on balanced literacy to working with administrators developing curriculum and customizing professional development programs. She works in classrooms from pre-kindergarten through college and in a variety of settings, both urban and suburban.

Our 4th and 5th grade Nonfiction Reading teachers at Heritage Intermediate School recently completed a book study of Gravity’s What Do I Teach Readers Tomorrow? Nonfiction. They felt that the book was very teacher friendly and offered lessons they could use in their classroom the next day. I wrote a book review for Middleweb on the What Do I Teach Readers Tomorrow? Series (Corwin Literacy, 2017). You can read that review here.

On a somewhat more personal note, Gravity is a certified yoga instructor, which allows her to bring elements of yoga to students and teachers, helping them find balance and focus in their work and lives. Gravity and her co-author, Renee Houser, have also run several marathons, triathlons and two full Ironmans together.

Guest Writer: PAM HAMILTON is in her 24th year as an educator and her 5th year as an Intermediate Literacy Coach for Middlebury Community Schools. She loves being able to support teachers in their literacy teaching and learning! Most importantly, she is wife to Steve and mama to two beautiful daughters, Allie and Peyton.