Mark Weakland Mark Weakland is a literacy consultant and coach, author, and musician.Mark holds a master's of education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. His teaching certifications include general science, special education, elementary education, and readng. He studied in Japan under the auspices of the Japanese Fulbright Memorial Fund. During his 23 years in public education, he was a 4th and 5th grade learning support teacher, a reading consultant, and a Title I reading specialist, K-6. His work with struggling learners and students with disabilities has taught him that all children can learn a great deal, and this makes him passionate about best practice literacy instruction.In 2014 Mark founded Mark Weakland Literacy. Through his business, Mark presents nationally, works regionally with school districts to strengthen their literacy programs, and regularly teaches in elementary and middle school classrooms. His model lessons focus on writing instruction, reading strategies and routines, and effective instructional techniques that engage all learners.Mark exercises his creativity through writing and music, as well as teaching. His award-winning books for children include more than fifty informational picture books, a book of poetry (and audio book), and a middle grade novel, The West End Tree House Mystery. His essays and humor pieces for grownups have been published in The Funny Times and Reading Today; his resource books for teachers include The Dramaticaly Different Classroom (with Christine Laitta) and Super Core! Supercharging Your Basal Reading Program (ILA, 2014).Once a full-time starving artist, Mark still performs as a singer, drummer, and guitarist. His original songs and compositions have been finalists in the John Lennon and USA Songwriting contests, he co-composed the symphonic piece Child of Wonder, and his collections of kids' songs have won multiple Parents' Choice awards.Mark's extended family lives in Seattle, but for the past 24 years he has lived at Springwater Farm in the hills of western Pennsylvania with his wife, Beth. He hikes, bikes, and tries to live lightly on Earth. Read More Read Less