Judy Keen

Judy Keen

Judy has worked for many years as a school psychologist, with particular interests in reading delay, and in the processes of children’s thinking. She has also taught Philosophy for Children in classes from Grade 1 to university, encouraging students to think more deeply and analytically.

Her experience as a school psychologist and her research on studies of reading delay showed strong evidence that the majority of students who have difficulty learning to read, have poor phonic understanding. Even if they were involved in catch up literacy groups, the books these students were given to read did not support the program. In order to fill this gap, she wrote the Rip Rap Series of novels. The appearance and subject matter of the two sets of 12 novels (Rip Rap A and B) are suitable for older students, while the controlled and cumulative vocabulary enhances readability and skill development.