Centering inclusive literature and shared stories to inspire belonging, empathy, and joy in every place of learning.

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hello!

I’m Jillian

Jillian Heise {Hi-Z} is a National Board Certified Teacher with one Masters degree in Reading/Language Arts + another Masters in Library & Information Science. As founder of #ClassroomBookADay (inspired by Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday) in 2014, Jillian is a passionate advocate for the value of read alouds and the power of shared stories to build classroom community and student engagement. She dedicates her practice to the right to read, ABAR teaching, and supporting all students by honoring their identities and lived experiences through access to inclusive literature. She also presents at conferences and provides professional development workshops to share her literacy expertise and picture book knowledge to inspire other educators.

more about me

Featured Resources

Happy Readers

  • I discovered the #classroombookaday challenge and decided to implement it in my fourth grade classroom. They were a very challenging group, and I was ready to quit after the 2nd week of school, but prioritizing read-alouds and starting every literacy block with a picture book is what saved my sanity and eventually built a community of readers and writers in my classroom. I savored every minute of our read-alouds because of it. I know I’m not the only teacher whose life changed because of your (and Donalyn’s) thoughtful ideas to encourage teachers and students to share more joyful reading experiences. THANK YOU for everything you do! 
    Jane Doe