Dr. Mary Jo Fresch is an Academy Professor and Professor Emerita in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. She began her teaching career as a 3rd-grade teacher in Kent, Ohio; worked with adults with challenging literacy needs at the University of Akron; and spent the last 30 years teaching a range of literacy methods courses for pre-service and in-service teachers at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), The Royal Melbourne Institute and Deakin University (both in Melbourne, Australia) and The Ohio State University. Mary Jo's research focuses on the developmental aspects of literacy learning. Her articles appear in peer reviewed research journals. Her previous 20 professional books include Essentials Strategies for Effective Balanced Literacy (Shell), Learning Through Poetry (Shell; a five book series for developing phonemic and phonological awareness), 7 Keys to Research for Writing Success (Scholastic), and Empowering Students' Knowledge of Vocabulary (NCTE). Mary Jo speaks nationally and internationally about literacy related topics and provides professional learning workshops for teachers across the United States.