Yetta Trachtman Goodman
Yetta M. Goodman is Regents Professor Emerita of Language Reading and Culture at the University of Arizona. Her Ed.D (1967) in Curriculum is from Wayne State University in Detroit. She taught at the University of Michigan Dearborn before her 30+ years at UA. She says she is not retired but reengaged since she remains active as a professional. She speaks and consults throughout the United States and in many nations of the world on language teaching and learning. Her research has led the way to major insights on early literacy development. She has shown that there is a natural movement into literacy often before children enter school. She uses miscue analysis to explore reading and writing processes and sponsors a research laboratory that combines eye tracking with miscue analysis. She often collaborates in research and writing with her husband Prof. Ken Goodman. They were married in 1952. She has popularized the term kidwatching encouraging teachers to be professional observers of the language and learning development of their students. She is a major spokesperson for whole language a grassroots movement that involves children in authentic reading and writing from the beginning. Yetta Goodman's extensive publications show a focus on classrooms students and teachers. Her most recent books include Valuing Language Study (2003) NCTE ; Kidwatching with Gretchen Owocki.(2002) Heinemann: Critical Issues in Early Literacy with Prisca Martens (2007) Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers; Reading Miscue Inventory with Dorothy Watson and Caroline Burke 2 Edition (2005) Richard C Owen and Publishers. She is Past President of the National Council of Teachers of English and the Center for Expansion of Language and Thinking. She was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame and served as its President. Professor Goodman served on the Board of the International Reading Association. She has received many honors including an honorary doctorate from Hofstra University. And with all this she raised three daughters and has seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Her many doctoral graduates often refer to her as MetaYetta.