Laura Robbins has over 25 years of primary-school, junior-high-school, special-education, and early-literacy teaching experience. She holds a master's degree in education, having specialized in literacy. She has been active in the professional development of teachers, having served as an adjunct professor for York University in Toronto, as a professional learning community facilitator at the school and board levels, and as a literacy coach for the Halton District School Board. Together with Heather A. Kenny, she wrote Phonics in Action: A Balanced Early-Literacy Program, published in 1999, and a balanced literacy curriculum for Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Both she and Heather acted as advisors to the Ontario Ministry of Education, where they contributed to the document entitled Helping Your Child Learn to Read: A Parent's Guide, published in 2001. Heather and Laura offer literacy seminars and workshops for educators across North America.