Penny Silvers

Penny Silvers is a professor of teacher education and literacy at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. A former elementary teacher and reading specialist, she has written numerous articles and book chapters about language arts and reading. Her research interests include multiliteracies, critical literacy, authentic assessment, and professional development.

In her long career as a teacher, Penny taught elementary grades for many years in Chicago, Evanston (Illinois), Cincinnati, Dallas, and New Orleans. When she moved back to Chicago with her husband and two sons she worked as a reading specialist at Pritchett School in nearby Buffalo Grove. She later retired from public school teaching and became the director of elementary education at Barat College (Lake Forest, Illinois); she also served as assistant professor at DePaul University in Chicago and associate professor at Dominican University. She is now a professor of literacy and teaches courses in children's literature, language arts, and reading.  Summers find her directing the Dominican Reading Academy for children from underserved urban communities in the Chicago area.

Penny says that becoming a teacher was an easy decision for her. "My mother was a teacher, and it was just something that came naturally to me. I was always telling others what to do and learned as a teacher that it's not about telling but rather about engaging students in exciting, meaningful, relevant learning experiences." She is involved in professional organizations including NCTE and ILA, and is passionate about advocacy for children and excellence in schools.

Penny has lived and taught in many cities in the United States and has been to many countries to give professional presentations. She has two grown sons and nine grandchildren.