About Richard Gentry

“Reading, writing, and spelling are brain functions, not just subjects in school.”

J Richard Gentry

One of America’s most recognized literacy experts, Dr. J. Richard Gentry has been making his mark on education for over four decades. Gentry’s expertise in reading, writing, and spelling has impacted thousands of teachers and students across the nation. His popular research based professional books on these subjects are recognized as cutting edge guides to practical and effective classroom techniques.

Gentry is an internationally acclaimed author, researcher, and educational consultant known for his ground-breaking work in education on topics such as early literacy; best-practices for reading, writing, and spelling; and dyslexia. In addition to authoring 16 books, 2 textbook series, and numerous journal and magazine articles, he blogs for the prestigious Psychology Today magazine offering commentary on a range of topics including education and policy, reading and the brain, baby/toddler reading, and educational standards.

Read More About Richard…

“Teachers of reading in kindergarten and first grade must be trained in the science of reading and provided with tools such as reading, writing, and spelling curricula based on the science of reading.”

J Richard Gentry
Introduction to the Brain Words Studio

A New Book!

The missing piece in reading instruction.

Spelling Connections

Spelling Instructions that really works.

Spelling Connections: A Word Study Approach © 2022 provides all the materials educators need to provide explicit spelling instruction—plus opportunities for robust word study work and additional practice opportunities—for students in grades 1–6.

Gentry Books

The Gentry Collection of books.

Reading, Writing, Spelling: The Collection all began with a four letter word! Browse and Purchase all of Dr. Gentry’s books for teachers and parents

Gentry Workshops

Browse Gentry’s Workshop portfolio including his highly attended Kid Writing Workshops, The Science of Reading Workshops, Dyslexia Workshops, and his Spelling Workshops.

Staff Development based on science, research and what works!

About Richard

Learn more about the 40+ year career of Richard Gentry in literacy education as an elementary school teacher, university professor, researcher, author and consultant.

Gentry Developmental Grade Level Spelling Test

Dr. Richard Gentry, a spelling series author and spelling authority, has developed a graded list of spelling words that allows teachers and parents to determine a student’s “spelling grade level” without analyzing the student’s errors or stage of spelling development (Gentry, 1997—2022).

Easy Early Assessment with the Monster Test

The Monster test is a quick way to determine your students’ developmental phases and is an effective way to show progress over time in grades Preschool through Grade 1. The phases are based on Ehri’s work in automatic word reading (2015) and on Gentry & Ouellette’s work in developmental spelling (2019).

Dr. Gentry’s Psychology Today Blog has over a million readers. His posts cover a wide spectrum of issues concerned with literacy. From the Science of Reading, to Dyslexia, to why spelling is important to stories about real people. Teachers, parents, and researchers will find topics of interest on current and provocative educational issues. Contact Dr. Gentry with questions about his post to learn more on the ideas and proven methods he supports and creates.

BrainWords, How the Science of Reading Informs Teaching
Dr. J. Richard Gentry talks about BrainWords, his new book coauthored with Dr. Gene P. Ouellette.and published by Stenhouse Publishers. BrainWords is Gentry’s latest book just released in February 2019. Learn how children’s brains develop as they become readers and discover ways you can take concrete steps to promote this critical development stage. Available now on Amazon.com and on Stenhouse.com. Read the first chapter here…

Dr. Gentry is the author of 17 books for teachers and parents.

Here is The Gentry Collection

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Seeking help to improve Literacy in your School?

Richard Gentry Workshops and Consulting

With over 40 years of conducting teacher workshops and providing consulting to school districts across the nation and internationally, Richard Gentry has been and continues to be one of the most sought after literacy educational experts. Find out how the Gentry’s research based philosophy of literacy education can improve the level of reading competency of your students.



A NOVEL IDEA - The Author's Journey: Join Ms Bella St John and guest,  Dr Richard Gentry