Jennifer Berne, PhD is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Reading and Language at National Louis University. Dr. Berne teaches courses in the teaching of writing and the teaching of comprehension. She is also an active staff developer, working in K-12 classrooms in implementing best practices in contemporary reading and writing. Sophie Degener, EdD is an assistant professor in the reading and language department at National Louis University, where she teaches literacy methods to pre-service teachers as well as courses in beginning reading and reading research. She works with many school districts around the Chicago area on the topics of balanced literacy and differentiated instruction.