Jenny Bender

After attending Vassar College and Teachers College, Columbia University, Jenny Bender taught 2nd grade and then 7th grade English in New York City public schools. When she left the classroom, she worked for several years as a staff developer with Lucy Calkins at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. She also taught the teaching of writing to graduate students at Teachers College.

Jenny is an experienced staff developer, presenter and curriculum writer. She currently supports K-8 teachers, literacy coaches and administrators across the country, helping them acquire and hone the skills they need to lead effective reading and writing workshops and improve the quality of their literacy programs. Through demonstration teaching, gentle coaching and content development, teachers learn how to differentiate their instruction, make their teaching more explicit and create assessment-based curriculum.

Jenny's first book, The Resourceful Writing Teacher: A Handbook of Essential Skills and Strategies, was published through Heinemann in 2007. It offers elementary and middle school teachers the information they need to successfully teach the qualities of good writing.