Feinberg Publishes 2 New Books – One for Academics, the Other for Children

There are few skills more important in today’s world than literacy. Not only is it foundational for academic and social success, it is critical for economic advancement.

Ultimately, “It’s an equity issue,” says RIC Associate Professor of Elementary Education Natasha Feinberg. “Literacy opens doors, giving individuals access to opportunities, voice and agency,” which is why she has dedicated her life to teaching educators how to support students in mastering this skill.

Her latest book, written with former RIC faculty member Susan Zoll, is titled “Effective Literacy Assessment in the Montessori Classroom: Using Data to Inform Instruction” (Teachers College Press, 2025). It is a follow-up to their first book, “Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom: Aligning Reading Research and Practice” (Teachers College Press, 2023).

The new book focuses on the practical implementation of Montessori teaching and assessment methods in pre-K–6th grade classrooms. Already, it has received accolades from professionals in the field.

Kari Kurto, project director for the National Science of Reading, states, “[This book] is a valuable resource for educators across both public and private schools who seek to align their instructional practices with research on how children learn to read. The authors provide a clear pathway for implementation, guiding educators on where to begin, how to utilize assessment data effectively, and how to support students throughout the literacy development process. Through practical examples, this book bridges the gap between research and practice, making it a valuable resource for the field of education.”

Feinberg is also bridging the gap between theory and practice through her Pickle and Pumpkin book series for children. She recently independently published the third book in the series, “Pigs are Pals” (2025), with her husband Daniel Feinberg. 

Feinberg says, “I started the series so that beginner readers can put into practice what I talk about in my first academic book about the science of reading.”

“Pigs are Pals” follows the adventures of two rag doll cats, Pickle and Pumpkin. It focuses on words with the short “i” vowel sound.

Feinberg says beginner readers will be able to easily decode the words in the story because of the use of CVC words. CVC words are three-letter, one-syllable words with a consonant followed by a vowel followed by another consonant, such as the words “cat” and “dog.”

With over 17 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, reading specialist and literacy coach in the public school system, Feinberg now instructs preservice teachers at Rhode Island College in the areas of reading and writing and directs RIC’s Master of Education in reading program. She is also founder of Axelson Academy, an online platform with a coinciding YouTube Channel that provides practical video examples of the implementation of evidence-based literacy instruction.

Learn more about RIC’s elementary education programs.