Gay Su Pinnell is Professor  Emeritus  in the School of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. She has extensive experience in classroom teaching and field-based research, and has developed and implemented comprehensive approaches to literacy education. She received her Ph.D. in literacy education from The Ohio State University in 1975.  She has worked extensively in clinical tutoring and early intervention for young struggling readers.  She has been Principle Investigator for two large-scale research projects, one utilizing a randomized design. She received the International Reading Association’s Albert J. Harris Award for research in reading difficulties.  She also received  the Ohio Governor’s Award for contributions to literacy education.  She received the Charles A. Dana Foundation Award, given for pioneering contributions in the fields of health and education. She is a member of the Reading Hall of Fame.  With Irene Fountas , she is co-author of Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children (1996), Matching Books to Readers: Using Leveled Books in Guided Reading, K-3 (1999), Word Matters: Teaching Phonics and Spelling in the Reading/Writing classroom  (1998), Help America Read: A Handbook for Volunteers  (1997), Interactive Writing: How Language & Literacy come Together, K-2 (2000); and Guiding Readers & Writers,  Grades 3-6 (2000).  She also has co-authored Systems for Change: A Guide to Professional Development, with Carol Lyons .  Recently she has published a four-volume set, Phonics Lessons:  Letters, Words, and How They Work, for kindergarten, first, second, and third grades.  Recently, with Irene Fountas , she has published Teaching for Comprehending  and Fluency, Grades K-8: Thinking, Talking, and Writing about Reading and the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 1 and 2.