Strategies for Early Reading Success with Dr. Heidi Anne Mesmer

Join our conversation with Dr. Heidi Anne Mesmer, a leading literacy expert and professor from Virginia Tech, as we explore advanced early reading strategies, dive into the significance of reader-text matching, and unpack the power of morphology and complex vocabulary acquisition.

We discuss:

• Effective techniques for aligning texts with reader capabilities
• Methods for teaching complex vocabulary to early learners
• Insights into the impact of morphology on word structure comprehension
• Comparative analysis of conveying complex vocabulary in narrative versus informational texts
• Practical advice for educators on translating research into classroom practices

Important Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Heidi Anne Mesmer and her focus areas
• 02:23 Dr. Mesmer shares amusing back-to-school anecdotes.
• 06:06 Discussion on the significance of morphology in literacy
• 14:15 How translational science bridges research and classroom practice
• 22:16 Analyzing the unique challenges of teaching complex vocabulary through narrative and informational texts
• 31:02 Advice for educators to apply this research to classroom instruction 

Connect with Dr. Heidi Anne Mesmer

X: https://x.com/haemesmer

Just Right Reader Science of Reading Instructional Materials and Resources: https://justrightreader.com/