Dr. Ricki Korey Birnbaum, Ed.D.,
is a learning specialist and reading researcher. She is the founder and director of Effective Literacy Methods which is devoted to the development and testing of research-based reading programs and materials.

Dr. Birnbaum is the developer of the highly effective and scientifically proven NewPhonics-Kindergarten Program, a program which teaches the foundations of literacy. NewPhonics-Kindergarten is being used in kindergartens across the country.

Dr. Birnbaum has conducted research in the area of early literacy acquisition and has written and presented papers on the topic. She is affiliated withe the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education at the University of Rochester. Dr. Birnbaum lectures in schools nationwide.

Dr. Birnbaum now has made available to parents and other caregivers the well-designed, fun, researched based early literacy materials that previously have only been offered to teachers.

Dr. Birnbaum lives in Rochester, New York with her husband Jay and their two sons, Bernard and Jonathan.