Barry Thomas Hoonan

Barry Hoonan is a long-time classroom teacher, educational consultant, and writer based in Washington State, known for his work in literacy instruction and small-group reading practices. He has taught a range of grade levels from first through seventh grade and currently teaches fifth and sixth grade in the Odyssey multi-age program in the Bainbridge Island School District, where his work centers on literature, writing, and integrating the arts into instruction. Hoonan holds a master’s degree in teaching from Lesley College in Massachusetts and has received the Christa MacAuliffe Award for teaching excellence in Washington State, as well as NCTE’s Middle School Teacher of Excellence award; he is also a three-time Fulbright scholar and has participated twice in Fulbright Teacher Exchanges to Great Britain.

Hoonan is the co-author of What Are You Grouping For?, Grades 3–8: How to Guide Small Groups Based on Readers – Not the Book and Beyond Reading and Writing, both focused on responsive, reader-centered literacy instruction. His classroom practice and ideas have been featured in professional resources such as Literature Circles and Response and Beyond Reading and Writing, and he consults with school districts nationally and internationally, offering keynotes and workshops on reading, writing, poetry, and arts integration.