Dorothy Barnhouse

Dorothy Barnhouse is an independent literacy consultant and staff developer. She works closely with elementary and secondary teachers in New York City public schools and throughout the US, to elevate student reading, writing, and thinking. A frequent presenter at national conferences, Dorothy is the coauthor of What Readers Really Do with Vicki Vinton.

Dorothy received her bachelor's degree in history from Oberlin College and her MFA in writing from Columbia University. Her specialties include the teaching of reading, with an emphasis on close reading of complex texts, and teaching through inquiry.

While studying at Columbia, Dorothy responded to an ad for a teaching assistant at the Teachers College Writing Project. "I was immediately drawn to what felt like a truth; that writing is a process and needs to be taught as such," Dorothy says. "I felt compelled to help articulate that process, and I began to teach as a writer-in-the-schools."

When asked about her passion for teaching, Dorothy says: "I think students actually crave opportunities to think and be challenged, to see something in a new light, and to be surprised by what they can do. I live for those moments when [students] say 'Oh!' - and for the chance to work with teachers to ensure that more of those moments happen."

Dorothy believes in the collaborative nature of learning and teaching. Effective professional development allows educators to "study together, look closely at our students, ask questions, and seek answers as we engage in the day-to-day process that is education."

The daughter of a medical missionary, Dorothy was raised in India, which inspired a lifelong love of travel. Dorothy lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.