I am early childhood educator, reading teacher, and New York Times bestselling author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need From Grownups. I’ve been a preschool teacher and preschool director, and I am currently licensed in the states of Massachusetts and Vermont to teach children in pre-K through 2nd grade. I am also certified as a structured literacy teacher through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction and the International Dyslexia Association. For several years I was on the faculty of the Yale Child Study Center, where I taught undergraduate courses in child development and education policy. I’m passionate about supporting families to give their children the best start in life, and I am especially committed to improving language and literacy outcomes in children who are at high risk for reading difficulty, including children with a history of trauma. In addition to my private practice as a reading tutor, I offer professional coaching and program evaluations in preschool and child care settings. I’ve published in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, TIME.com, CNN, and The Boston Globe. I am a Harvard College graduate and have master’s degrees in early childhood education and public health. If you are interested in arranging a reading tutor for your child or professional development in your school, please contact me at Erika.Christakis@gmail.com.
Read an interview with Erika Christakis on NPR: What Kids Need From Grown-Ups (But Aren’t Getting)