Jan Richardson is a literacy consultant and author who earned her Ph.D. studying struggling readers.  She has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, Reading Recovery® teacher leader, and staff developer. Her most recent book, The Next Step in Guided Reading, provides teachers with practical suggestions and lesson plans for increasing the power and impact of guided reading. Participants leave her workshops with a new awareness of what can be done to motivate, engage, and accelerate every student – especially struggling readers. Jan conducts customized in-services on balanced literacy, guided reading, and writing.