Jeanne Sternlicht Chall (January 1, 1921 – November 27, 1999), a Harvard Graduate School of Education psychologist, writer, and literacy researcher for over 50 years, believed in the importance of direct, systematic instruction in reading in spite of other reading trends throughout her career.
Chall became deeply committed to teaching, to the importance of children's successful reading acquisition and the need to address failing readers, to the power of research to answer practical questions, and to the merit of understanding the historical background of research questions.
Her conclusions about the best way to approach beginning reading were unpopular when she first presented them, though they have subsequently gained acceptance in the literacy community.
Chall's professional life was committed to children's successful reading acquisition, especially low S.E.S.
Later, in 1996, she and three of her graduate students developed the Qualitative Assessment of Text Difficulty: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Writers.
[2] Born in Poland in 1921 to Jewish parents, her family immigrated to New York City when she was seven; Chall's native language was Yiddish.
[3] Although there were no bilingual programs in the New York City public schools she attended, she quickly learned English.
[3] Unlike her older siblings, Chall began her schooling in the US and ultimately helped to teach her parents English so that they could pass their citizenship exams.
In 1965 Chall moved to Harvard University to create and direct graduate programs in reading for master's and doctoral candidates.
A study in depth of first grade reading: An analysis of the interactions of professed methods, teacher implementation and child background.