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About the Author

Robert Rockwell has many years of experience as a teacher and administrator at preschool, elementary, and college levels. He is in demand as a speaker and has traveled and conducted workshops throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. He has been a frequent guest on radio and television programs advocating for young children and their caregivers. Currently, Robert is professor emeritus and former program director of the early childhood education program at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He has experience as a speech pathologist, teacher of the hearing impaired, and as an administrator. He has been a research consultant for the University of Chicago and has also served as a Head Start director. Robert is a prolific writer with many published articles and books available throughout the world. He is currently the science section contributor for Children and Families, a quarterly magazine published by the National Head Start Association. Debra Reichert Hoge was an associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. She taught courses in the areas of language acquisition, child language disorders, early childhood special education, family involvement, and augmentative communication. Gryphon House is saddened by her death in the fall of 2003. Bill Searcy is Chair of the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He teaches an early literacy and reading course, and his main interest is in early writing development.