Heidi Anne E. Mesmer 2807 Tall Oaks Dr School of Education Blacksburg, VA 24060 Virginia Tech 540/951-0083 318 War Memorial Hall haemesmer@hotmail Blacksburg, VA 24060 540/231-8343 hamesmer@vt.edu EDUCATION University of South Florida College of Education December 1999 Doctor of Philosophy in Reading, December, 1999 Dissertation Interfacing texts and Instruction: The effects of decodable text and matching instruction on the word recognition skills of first grade readers. University of Virginia May 1992 Master of Education, Elementary Education Curry School of Education College of William and Mary in Virginia School of Education May 1991 Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education Virginia Certification NK-6, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2007-present Assistant Professor Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 2002-2007 Assistant Professor Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 1999-2002 Assistant Professor Virginia Commonwealth Richmond, VA University 1998-July 1999 Research Assistant WESTAT Rockville, MD 1998 Research Assistant University of South Florida Tampa, FL 1997-1998 Graduate Teaching University of South Florida Tampa, FL Assistant 1996-1997 Graduate Assistant University of South Florida Tampa, FL 1992-1996 Elementary School Teacher MD & VA REFEREED PUBLICATIONS Mesmer, H. A. (2007). Beginning reading materials: A national survey of primary teachers reported uses and beliefs. Journal of Literacy Research 38 (4).
Mesmer, H. A. & Griffith, P. (2005/2006). Everybody s selling it, but just what is explicit, systematic phonics instruction? Reading Teacher. 366-376. Mesmer, H. A. (2005). Decodable text and the first grade reader. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 2, (1), 61-86. Mesmer 2 Mesmer, H. A. (2004). The art of balancing instructional materials for beginning readers: Becoming a wise consumer. Balanced Reading Instruction.10. 1 11. Mesmer, H.A. & Karchmer, (2003). REAlity: How the Reading Excellence Act took form in two schools. The Reading Teacher, 56, (7), 636-645. Mesmer, H. A. & Hutchins, E. (2002). A Twist on Question/Answer Relationships: Using them as a framework to analyze tables, charts, and graphs. The Reading Teacher, 56, (1). 21-28. Mesmer, H.A. (2001). Examining the Theoretical Claims about Decodable Text: Does Text Decodability Lead to Greater Application of Letter/Sound Knowledge in First Grade Readers? The Yearbook of the National Reading Conference. 40, 462-483 Mesmer, H.A. (2001). Decodable text: A review of what we know. Reading Research and Instruction, 40, 462-483. Mesmer, H.A. (1999) Scaffolding a crucial transition using texts with some decodability. The Reading Teacher, 53, (130-142). Mesmer, H.A. (1998). Goosebumps: The appeal of violence and predictability. The New Advocate, 11, 107-118. Mesmer, H.A. (1997). What is the standard for standards? An investigation of the English language arts standards for Colorado, Florida, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Reading Horizons, 37, 281-298. BOOKS Mesmer, H. A. (2007). Tools for Matching Readers to Texts: Research-based Practices. New York: Guilford Press. OTHER PUBLICATIONS Mesmer, H. A. (in press). Flexibility and developmental coordination: Keys to negotiating beginning reading materials. In K. Cartwright (Ed.). Cognitive Flexibility in Reading. New York: Guilford Press. Mesmer, H. A. & Cumming, S. (in press). Text-reader matching: Meeting the needs of struggling readers, In E. Hiebert & M. Sailors (Eds). Finding the Right Texts for Beginning and Struggling Readers. New York: Guilford Press. Hiebert, E. H. & Mesmer, H. A. (2006). Perspectives on the difficulty of beginning reading texts. In D. Dickinson & S. Neuman (Eds). Handbook of Early Literacy 2nd Edition. pp. 395-409. PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Mesmer 3 Mesmer, H. A., & Lake, K. (December, 2007). Concept of Word: The Role of Syllable Awareness and Syllablesensitive Instruction. A paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, Austin, Texas. Mesmer, H. A. (2006). Patterns of growth in reading different text types across the first grade year. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, California. Mesmer, H. A. (2006). When easy texts remain difficult: Profiles of good and poor readers across the first grade year. A session presented at the Preconference Institute entitled Text leveling and beginning and struggling readers at the Annual Meeting of the International Reading Association, Chicago, Illinois. Mesmer, H. A. (April, 2005). The caliber of books in subsidized childcare centers and its influence on voluntary book interactions. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada. Mesmer, H. A. & Griffith, P. (May, 2005).Extending phonics instruction for intermediate readers. A session presented at the Preconference Institute entitled Reconceptualizing Phonics Instruction at the Annual Meeting of the International Reading Association, San Antonio, Texas. Mesmer, H. A. & Mesmer, E. (April, 2005). Examining the barriers to collaboration: The case for school psychologists and reading specialists to join forces. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada. Mesmer, H. A. (December, 2004). The influence of text characteristics on the reading behaviors of first graders: Results of a longitudinal study. A paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, San Antonio, Texas. Mesmer, H.A. (December, 2003). How are beginning reading materials being used in K-3 classrooms: Results of a National Survey. A paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona. Mesmer, H. A. (April, 2004) Choices in beginning reading materials: Results of a national survey of K- teachers. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA. Nomura, J., Mattingly, L., Mesmer E., & Mesmer, H.A. (April, 2004) Text characteristics and fluency. A poster presentation to be presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Dallas, TX. Mesmer, H. A. (December, 2002). How it came to be: The perceptions of parents about the emergence of a state-wide high-stakes assessment. A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading conference, Miami, Florida. Mesmer, H. & Karchmer, R. (April, 2001). Starting a Change: A Descriptive Study of the Literacy Practices of K- Teachers in a Rural County. A paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA. Mesmer, H. A. (December, 2001). Decodability, its effects and side-effects on first grade readers: A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
Mesmer 4 Mesmer, H.A. (April, 2001). Text decodability and the first grade reader: How text features and prerequisite skills predict reading performance. A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle Washington. Mesmer, H. (March, 2000). Which books for which kids? Matching beginning readers with instructional reading texts. A presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Reading Association meeting, Richmond, Virginia. Mesmer, H. (Dec. 2000). How and When Might Text Decodability Influence First Grade Readers? A presentation delivered at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, Scottsdale, AR. Mesmer, H. (March, 1999) Text type and first grade readers: Skills predicting success with and the application of letter/sound knowledge in decodable text. A presentation given at the annual conference of the Virginia Educational Research Association, Hampton, Virginia. Mesmer, H.A. (1998, October). Do words make a difference? Text-type and its effect on the strategy use of the selective cue reader, Presented at the annual meeting of the Florida Reading Association, Jacksonville, Florida. GRANTS (FUNDED) 2006 Mesmer, H. A. & Mesmer, E. Co-Principal Investigators. Teach for Achievement: Data-based decision making in literacy education. Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education through No Child Left Behind, Title II $129,546 2003 Mesmer, H.A, Principal Investigator. Examining the caliber of materials used in the three year old rooms of subsidized childcare centers. American Educational Research Association/ Institute of Education Sciences $ 15,000 2001 Mesmer, H.A. & Karchmer, R. A., Co-principal investigators. Virginia's Reading Excellence Act for Bowling Green Primary School, Bowling Green, VA Virginia Department of Education $239,000 2000 Mesmer, H. A. Principal Investigator. Beginning Reading Materials and First Graders. Virginia Commonwealth University Grant-in-Aid $ 5,000 OTHER CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Mesmer, H.A. (October, 2004). Textual scaffolds: Influences across the first grade year. A paper presented at the Fellow s Forum of the Annual meeting of the National Academy of Education. Palo Alto, CA. Mesmer, H. A. (March, 2004). Textual Scaffolds for beginning readers. A paper presented at the NAE Fellows Retreat: South Bend Indiana. Mesmer, H. A. (February, 2001). Books and Kids: Coordinating Developmental Needs with Instructional Materials. A presentation made at the Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Reading Association. Mesmer, H. A. (May, 2001). So many books, so many choices: Using Classroom data to match beginning readers with instructional materials. A presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the International Reading Association.
Mesmer 5 Mesmer, H. (March, 2000). Which books for which kids? Matching beginning readers with instructional reading texts. A presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Reading Association meeting, Richmond, Virginia. Mesmer, H.A. (1998, October). Do words make a difference? Text-type and its effect on the strategy use of the selective cue reader, Presented at the annual meeting of the Florida Reading Association, Jacksonville, Florida. CURRICULUM WRITING PROJECTS Maryland State English Language Arts Standards--Development Team for State English Language Arts Summer, 1996 Virginia State Science Standards of Learning--Revision Team Revised/ Rewrote first grade state science standards Summer, 1994 Alexandria City Public Schools --Differentiation Document Writing Team Co-wrote the city s position paper on differentiation Summer, 1994 Alexandria City Public Schools Wrote Interdisciplinary Curriculum units for QUEST program, Summer, 1992 HONORS 2003 National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow Textual scaffolds for beginning readers: What differences do they make in developing autonomy and specific literacy behaviors? $50,000 1998 Provost s Commendation for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student 1997 University of South Florida/University Graduate Fellowship competitive $7,000 fellowship & tuition waiver for students with competitive GRE scores. 1997 Tampa Campus Library Scholarship--$1,000 scholarship SERVICE Reviewing 2001-present Reviewer Journal of Literacy Research 2001-present Reviewer The Reading Teacher 2003-present Reviewer Balanced Reading Instruction 2001-present Reviewer AERA, Division C, Section 3 2001-present Reviewer National Reading Conference Editorships 2005 Guest Editor Reading and Writing Quarterly, Winter, 2005 2003-2006 Newsletter Editor National Reading Conference
Committees Mesmer 6 2007-2009 Publications Committee International Reading Association 2006-2008 Area 5 Co-Chair National Reading Conference 2007-2010 Albert J. Kingston Award National Reading Conference. 2005-present Field Council Representative National Reading Conference. 2002-present Member, Faculty Research and Development, Oklahoma State University 2002-present Member, Reading Program Group, Oklahoma State University 2002-present Member, Elementary Program Group, Oklahoma State University 2004-present Alternate, Student Affairs Committee, Oklahoma State University 2001-2002 Co-Chair, Research Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University 2001-2002 Chair, Reading Program Group, Virginia Commonwealth University 1999-2000 Member, Mathematics Faculty Search Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University 1999-2000 Member, Cultural Diversity Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University 1999-2002 Member, Early/Elementary Program Group, Virginia Commonwealth University PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS International Reading Association National Reading Conference American Educational Research Association Society for the Scientific Study of Reading Oklahoma Reading Association Oklahoma Higher Education Reading Council