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Siegfried “Zig” Engelmann (1931-2019) was professor emeritus of education at the University of Oregon and the primary architect of the Direct Instruction (DI) programs, an approach based on the principles originated in the Bereiter-Engelmann Preschool in the late 1960s. Engelmann was the senior author of more than 100 curricula using DI principles and numerous other articles and books. He had a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Illinois and an honorary doctorate from the Psychology Department of Western Michigan University. He was the 1994 recipient of the Fred S. Keller Award from the American Psychological Association’s Division of Experimental Analysis of Behavior. In 2000 the journal Remedial and Special Education named him as one of the 54 most influential people in the history of special education, and in 2002 the Council of Scientific Society Presidents awarded him the 2002 Award of Achievement in Education Research.

To learn more about Zig, visit http://zigsite.com/

Dr. Phyllis Haddox, is co-author of Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons with Siegfried Engelmann (1931-2019, originator of the Direct Instruction programs and teaching approach) and Elaine Bruner. Dr. Haddox has fully revised, expanded and updated the book for its second edition. On her website, www.startreading.com, she has made available FREE her VIDEOS (segments for training, demonstration, and information) and printable SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL (sounds cards, word cards, progress chart, and much more) that she created for Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons. (Her videos may also be seen on YouTube.)

Phyllis began her career in education as a classroom teacher and then reading specialist in California. Later at the University of Oregon, she provided hands-on training to undergraduate and graduate students in supervisory, teaching and management techniques. As an educational consultant she worked extensively in the United States (including Hawaii), Canada, and the Caribbean directly with students (preschool through college level), teachers, administrators and parents. She provided needs assessment, evaluated curriculum implementation, and designed management and teacher support systems for schools, districts, and agencies. Nationally and internationally she has been a workshop presenter who trained thousands of teachers and paraprofessionals (including tutors) to use Direct Instruction techniques and programs. Some tutors created their own very successful business after learning from her how to use Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons. In addition to Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons, she co-authored with Engelmann Thinking Basics and Concept Applications (published by McGraw-Hill as part of the Corrective Reading Series). Dr. Haddox assisted in the development of science and mathematics laserdisc series and has produced more than 20 reading training videos. Dr. Haddox has also worked as an instructional design consultant for the Mayo Clinic on training videos and for author, Barbara Sher, for two of her books (Live the Life You Love and It's Never Too Late, If You Start Now).

Dr. Haddox was the Director of the University of Oregon's Direct Instruction Model of the federally-funded Follow Through Project. This project has been called the "largest education experiment ever conducted." It provided a broad range comparison of 13 major educational approaches used in 170 communities with 75,000 children each year. Data was collected by Stanford Research Institute and analyzed by Abt Associates. The result of the comparison was that students in the U of O's Direct Instruction Model achieved the highest performance level in language, reading, math, and spelling as well as emotional well-being. Project sites managed by Phyllis were labeled "exemplary” by the United States Office of Education's Joint Dissemination/Review Panel.

Phyllis is actively retired and lives in Eugene, Oregon. She responds to inquires and testimonials (from her website, www.startreading.com) and volunteers with non-profit organizations. She enjoys interacting with family and friends, learning, reading, and gardening.