Who Are Burkins and Yaris?
Burkins and Yaris is the professional collaboration of Kim Yaris and Jan Burkins, two literacy consultants and authors dedicated to helping educators navigate the complexities of teaching reading and writing. Through their work, they synthesize research, classroom experience, and practical wisdom into guidance that supports both teachers and students. Their focus is on making literacy instruction more intentional, humane, and responsive to the real needs of children.
A Shared Mission: Literacy With Heart and Mind
At the center of the Burkins and Yaris partnership is a mission to bring clarity and compassion to literacy education. They aim to demystify complex instructional practices, reduce unnecessary teacher stress, and prioritize students’ identities and agency as readers and writers. Rather than prescribing rigid programs, they advocate for thoughtful decision-making grounded in research, professional judgment, and respect for learners.
Expertise Rooted in Classroom Experience
Both Kim Yaris and Jan Burkins bring extensive classroom and coaching experience to their work. This practical perspective allows them to bridge the gap between theory and daily instruction. They understand the realities of packed schedules, diverse classrooms, and competing initiatives, and they design their guidance to be realistic, actionable, and sustainable for educators.
Responding to the Science of Reading Conversation
Burkins and Yaris are widely recognized for their thoughtful contributions to the ongoing conversation around the science of reading. They call for a balanced, evidence-informed approach that honors what research reveals about how children learn to read while also upholding professional autonomy and the nuanced art of teaching. Their work encourages educators to be critical consumers of research, asking not only, "What does the science say?" but also, "How does this serve the unique children in front of me?"
Centering Students as Readers and Thinkers
A defining characteristic of their approach is a deep commitment to student agency. Burkins and Yaris champion instructional practices that help children see themselves as capable, thoughtful readers and writers. They emphasize:
- Building authentic engagement with texts that matter to students
- Fostering independence through strategic scaffolding
- Supporting productive struggle rather than over-scaffolding
- Honoring students’ backgrounds, languages, and experiences
In their view, effective literacy teaching is not only about raising test scores but about nurturing lifelong readers who read for purpose, curiosity, and joy.
Supporting Teachers as Thoughtful Decision-Makers
Burkins and Yaris position teachers as professionals who must interpret research, respond to data, and adapt instruction in real time. Their guidance is grounded in the belief that teachers need more than scripted lessons; they need a deep understanding of why practices work so they can flex and innovate. Throughout their work, they encourage reflection, professional dialogue, and a willingness to refine practice in light of new learning.
Balancing Instructional Demands With Human Realities
Recognizing that educators often feel pulled in many directions, Burkins and Yaris advocate for balance. They invite schools and teachers to reconsider overloaded initiatives and to streamline literacy practices so that instructional time is used more meaningfully. This includes:
- Focusing on high-impact practices instead of trying to do everything
- Eliminating redundant or ineffective routines
- Designing lessons that are purposeful, not performative
- Making room for teacher judgment and responsiveness
Their work consistently acknowledges the emotional and cognitive load teachers carry and seeks to alleviate, not add to, that burden.
Professional Learning That Respects Educators
Whether they are writing, speaking, or consulting, Burkins and Yaris approach professional learning as a partnership with educators. Their tone is invitational rather than prescriptive, honoring the expertise already present in classrooms. They frame change not as a criticism of past practice but as an ongoing journey of growth, guided by new understandings and evolving evidence.
Key Themes in the Work of Burkins and Yaris
Across their publications and professional learning experiences, several themes consistently emerge:
- Clarity: Helping teachers see the purpose behind practices and distinguish essentials from extras.
- Equity: Ensuring that literacy instruction serves all learners, including those historically marginalized.
- Joy: Keeping reading and writing connected to curiosity, creativity, and personal meaning.
- Agency: Empowering both students and teachers to make informed choices.
- Sustainability: Designing literacy practices that teachers can maintain over time without burnout.
Reimagining Rigor in Literacy Instruction
For Burkins and Yaris, rigor is not about more worksheets or faster pacing. Instead, they define rigorous literacy instruction as work that is intellectually engaging, developmentally appropriate, and emotionally safe. They encourage educators to consider whether tasks invite deep thinking, invite conversation, and help students transfer what they learn across contexts, rather than simply practicing isolated skills.
A Vision for Classrooms Where Readers Thrive
The vision that drives Burkins and Yaris is one in which every classroom is a place where readers can truly thrive. This means classrooms where texts are diverse and compelling, where students have time to read and talk about books, and where instruction is both systematic and responsive. It also means classrooms where teachers feel supported, trusted, and equipped to make decisions that honor both research and relationships.
Why Their Work Matters Now
In a time when literacy debates can feel polarized and overwhelming, the perspective of Burkins and Yaris offers a steadying influence. They help educators make sense of competing messages, encouraging careful analysis instead of quick fixes. By emphasizing nuance, collaboration, and context, they support schools in building literacy practices that are coherent, evidence-informed, and deeply humane.