Kathy H. Barclay

Kathy H. Barclay, Ed.D., is professor emeritus of reading at Western Illinois University, where she previously served as a professor of reading and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Over more than twenty years at Western Illinois University, she has taught courses in emergent literacy and family and community involvement and authored numerous professional publications, including multiple textbooks. She has also served as co-director of the Head Start Emergent Literacy Project (ELIPSS) and as editor of the Illinois Reading Council Journal.

Barclay is co-author of The Everything Guide to Informational Texts, K–2: Best Texts, Best Practices (Corwin, 2014), along with Laura D. Stewart and Deborah M. Lee. Her other work includes publications on emergent literacy such as “Using Nursery Rhymes and Song Lyrics With Emergent Readers” and contributions to professional development materials for Illinois Reading First and Head Start.