Douglas Fisher

Douglas Fisher’s latest book with Heinemann is Background Knowledge, coauthored with Nancy Frey. It continues their exploration of the connection between language and learning. Their previous two Heinemann titles, Word Wise & Content Rich, Grades 7–12 and Learning Words Inside & Out, Grades 1–6, have helped teachers nationwide implement a five-part framework for building students’ vocabulary. With word learning so important to comprehension, Background Knowledge takes the next step toward deeper understanding. In fact, Doug and Nancy are long-time collaborators, and they have focused on supporting deep understanding and improved literacy across the content areas in three other books: Checking for Understanding, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, and Improving Adolescent Literacy. They are both classroom teachers and faculty members at San Diego State University and Health Sciences High & Middle College.