Tanya S. Wright

Tanya S. Wright is an associate professor of language and literacy in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. She is a former kindergarten teacher, and her research and teaching focus on early childhood and elementary language and literacy curriculum and instruction, with particular attention to instructional practices that support young children’s oral language, vocabulary, and knowledge development. She has received recognition for her work in teacher education, including the Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award from the International Literacy Association.

Wright is the author of A Teacher’s Guide to Vocabulary Development Across the Day: The Classroom Essentials Series, which provides practical guidance for integrating meaningful vocabulary instruction throughout the school day. She has also coauthored other works on early literacy and vocabulary, including resources on increasing vocabulary in PreK–2 classrooms and on literacy learning for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.