Speaker Biographies

Linda Hoyt Author, Teacher Consultant

Linda Hoyt has many years of experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, staff developer and curriculum developer. Her special love is creating environments where fiction and non-fiction literacy thrive and children are empowered as readers, thinkers and decision makers. She is currently working as a full-time author/consulting teacher supporting staff development in districts across the US where she has the opportunity to support teachers, readers and writers at work in their own classrooms. Ms. Hoyt has created numerous professional books and video programs which include Revisit, Reflect, Retell (Heinemann, 2008); Snapshots (Heinemann, 2000); Make It Real (Heinemann, 2002); Exploring Informational Texts (Heinemann, 2003); Spotlight on Comprehension (Heinemann, 2004); Navigating Informational Texts (Heinemann, 2007); Mastering the Mechanics (Scholastic, 2008); and Interactive Read Alouds (Heinemann, 2009).

Linda’s energetic presentation style and practical strategies have made her one of the most requested literacy speakers across North America.

Marc Prensky Author, Training Visionary

Marc Prensky is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and designer in the critical areas of education and learning. He is the author of Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001),and Don't Bother Me Mom -- I'm Learning (Paragon House 2005), the founder and CEO of Games2train (whose clients include IBM, Nokia, Pfizer, the US Department of Defense and the LA and Florida Virtual Schools) and creator of the sites www.dodgamecommunity.com and www.socialimpactgames.com .

Marc has created over 50 software games for learning, including the world's first fast-action videogame-based training tools and world-wide, multi-player, multi-team on-line competitions. He has also taught at all levels. Marc has been featured in articles in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and the BBC, and was named one of the top 10 "visionaries" by Training magazine.  

Ellin Oliver Keene Author, School/District Consultant

Ellin Oliver Keene has been a classroom teacher, staff developer and adjunct professor of reading and writing.  For sixteen years she directed staff development initiatives at the Denver-based Public Education & Business Coalition.  She served as Deputy Director and Director of Literacy and Staff Development for the Cornerstone Project at the University of Pennsylvania for 4 years and now consults with schools and districts around the country.  Ellin is author of To Understand (Heinemann, 2008), co-author of Mosaic of Thought (2nd Edition, Heinemann, 2007), and Assessing Comprehension Thinking Strategies (Shell, 2006)  as well as numerous chapters for Reading textbooks,  journals and education policy journals.

Harvey (Smokey) Daniels Author, Literacy Education Consultant

Harvey Daniels has been a city and suburban classroom teacher and a college professor, and now works as a national consultant and author on literacy education. In language arts, Smokey is known for his pioneering work on student book clubs and literature circles. His most recent book, Comprehension and Collaboration: Inquiry Circles in Action (Heinemann, 2009) was co-authored with Stephanie Harvey. Smokey also co-authored two bestselling books on content-area literacy: Subjects Matter: Every Teacher's Guide to Content-Area Reading (Heinemann, 2004), and the companion volume, Content-Area Writing: Every Teacher's Guide (Heinemann, 2007). He is also coauthor of Best Practice: Today's Standards for Teaching and Learning in America's Schools (Heinemann, 2005). 

Daniels works with elementary and secondary teachers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, offering demonstration lessons, workshops, and consulting, with a special focus on creating, sustaining, and renewing student-centered inquiries and discussions of all kinds. Smokey shows colleagues how to simultaneously build students' reading strategies, balance their reading diets, and strengthen the social skills they need to become genuine lifelong readers.