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Vanessa B. Morrison

Vanessa B. Morrison, (517) 264-3952

Associate Professor, Teacher Education

Office: Valade 209 - vmorrison@adrian.edu

Degrees

  • Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Ph.D., Reading and Language Arts
  • University of Detroit-Mercy, Teacher Certification Program
  • Oakland University, Rochester Hills, M.A., Teaching
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, B.A., Communication Studies

Specialties

  • reading and language arts education

Biography

    Title of Dissertation: Meaning-Making During Small Group, Peer-Led Discussions of Narrative and Informational Texts: A Case Study.

    Courses Taught at Adrian College 

    • TED 204 -- Education Psychology 
    • TED 320 -- Creative Programs for Young Children
    • TED 346 -- Literacy in the Content Area
    • TED 399 -- Profesional Internship (ZS)
    • TED 401 -- Child Care Administration
    • TED 365 -- Teaching of Reading I 
    • TED 366 -- Teaching of Reading II
    • TED 376 -- Teaching Social Studies and Language Arts in the Elementary School
    • TED 400 -- Associate Teaching Supervision
    • TED 444 -- Associate Teaching Seminar
    • ENGL 347 -- Children's Literature
    • ENGL 348 -- Adolescent Literature

    Editorial Advisory Board 

    September 2008 -- Present, Reading Horizons

    Peer-Reviewed Publications

    • Morrison, V., Wiedyk, S., & Cornelius, R. (2012). Scaffolds for content literacy. Michigan Reading Journal, 44(3), 8-21.
    • Morrison, V., & Okonkowski, S. (2010). Using read-alouds to develop vocabulary: Components of a balanced word diet. Michigan Reading Journal, 42(3), 18-28. 
    • Morrison, V., & Wlodarczyk, L. (2009). Revisiting read aloud: Instructional strategies that encourage students' engagement with texts. The Reading Teacher, 63(2), 110-118. 
    • Personal Prospectives and students' writing pieces are featured in Cramer, L. R. (2004). The Language Arts: A balanced approach to teaching reading, writing, listening, talking, and thinking. New York: Pearson. 

    Conference Presentations

    • Making the Connection: Literacy in support of science. Michigan Reading Conference, Grand Rapids, MI., March 8, 2013. 
    • SMARTTIS: Strategies Modeling and Reading Together Through Integrating Science. NWO Symposium 2012, BGSU, OH., October 27, 2012. 
    • Interconnected Knowledge Links: Science and Literacy. Brown Bag Presentation at Adrian College, April 20, 2012.
    • Scaffolds for Content Literacy. Michigan Reading Conference, Grand Rapids, MI., March 10, 2012. 
    • Cross-curricular integration: Developing comprehension strategies during science instruction. Michigan Reading Conference, Grand Rapids, MI., March 13, 2011. 
    • Community volunteers as reading tutors. Michigan Reading Conference, Detroit, MI., March 21, 2010. 
    • Promoting an appetite for vocabulary: Using research to inform instructional practice. Michigan Reading Conference, Grand Rapids, MI., March 16, 2009. 
    • Making Meaning: Teaching students how to make connections to enhance their understanding of texts. Michigan Reading Conference, Detroit, MI., March 15, 2008.
    • Meaning-making during small group, peer-led discussions of narrative and informational texts: A case study. National Reading Conference, Miami, Florida, November 30, 2005. 
    • Teaching writing in the lower elementary grades. Michigan Reading Conference, Detroit, MI., March 22, 2004. 

    Research

    Co-researcher with Dr. Andrea R. Milner on SMARTTIS Project with the Adrian Public Schools and Adrian College (2010-2015). 

    Areas of Interest

    Emerging literacy, cross-curricular integration, instructional approaches for diverse learners, social constructivist approaches to teaching, ways students make meaning of various types of text and research-based best practices in teacher education. 

    College Service

    • Academic Planning (Chair)
    • Academic Status and Review
    • Collegium III (Secretary)
    • Library Advisory Committee
    • Writing Across the Curriculum
    • Ribbons of Excellence in Co-Curriculars (Chair)
    • IB Committee -- Partnership with Adrian Public Schools
    • MDE Trainee and Reviewer for Elementary Programs
    • TEAC -- National Accreditation Committee
    • Professional Learning Community -- Lincoln Elementary School