Erika Christakis I am an early childhood educator, reading teacher, and New York Times bestselling author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need From Grownups. A former preschool director with teaching licensure in Massachusetts and Vermont (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. I was a faculty member 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. But if I had to define myself in only one word, it would be “mother” (I have four children, three grown up and one still at home with me and my husband). I love traveling with my family, playing with my high-maintenance dogs, and…needless to say… reading. 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)