Connie Campbell DierkingConnie Dierking holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in special education, both from Kansas State University. During the past 32 years, Connie Dierking has experienced the joys of teaching kindergarten, second grade third grade, and exceptional education students. She has experience as a reading/writing demonstration teacher, reading coach, and writing staff developer. She also provided guidance for literacy teachers throughout the southwest region of Florida as a Reading Coordinator. She currently writes literacy curriculum and is an instructional staff developer for Pinellas County Schools in Florida. She is the author of several books written for literacy teachers to assist with the teaching of writing and reading in the primary grades, including Linking K-2 Literacy and the Common Core: Mini-Lessons that Work, and co-author of Growing Up Writing: Mini-Lessons for Emergent and Beginning Writers. She conducts professional development in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening throughout the country. Read More Read Less