Mary Jo Fresch

Dr. Mary Jo Fresch is a professor at The Ohio State University at Marion, Department of Teaching and Learning where she teaches literacy courses. She has taught at the University of Akron, University of Nebraska, Lincoln and at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Deakin University (both in Melbourne, Australia). She joined the faculty at The Ohio State University at Marion in 1995.

Her research focus is the developmental progress of spelling and its relationship to teaching and learning. Her articles have appeared in The Reading Teacher, Reading Online, Language Arts, Journal of Literacy Research, Reading and Writing Quarterly, Reading Psychology and several International Reading Association state journals. She is editor of An Essential History of Current Reading Practices; co-author of The Power of Picture Books and Spelling for Writers (a grades 1-6 classroom spelling series); and author of Engaging Minds in English Language Arts Classrooms: The Surprising Power of Joy and a five-book series – Learning through Poetry.

• PhD, Reading, Language and Literature, The Ohio State University
• MS, Reading Specialist, University of Akron
• BS, Elementary Education, University of Akron

• 1999 - present. Director of the Study Abroad at The Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile. Students apply to have a 4-week teaching experience in Chile.
• Editorial review boards for peer-reviewed journals
• Committee member of various awards committees for International Reading Association.

Affiliations

• Association of Literacy Educators & Researchers
• Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group of IRA
• Children's Literature Assembly of NCTE
• International Reading Association (IRA)
• Language Experience Special Interest Group of IRA
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
• National Reading Conference
• Ohio Council of IRA
• Ohio Council of NCTE
• Reading, Orthography and Word Perception Special Interest Group of IRA

• 2006 - Recipient, Editor of Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, Honorable mention in national competition among affiliate journals in all 50 states. National Council of Teachers of English.
• 2004 - Recipient, Editor of Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, First place in national competition among affiliate journals in all 50 states. National Council of Teachers of English.
• 1999 - Recipient, College of Education Faculty Teaching Award

• Ohio Literacy Alliance, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. $24,587
• Thinking aloud during word sorting: Observing children's decision making. The Ohio State University Seed Grants. $13,354
• The Thomas Jefferson School Capstone Experience Chile Study Abroad Program, President Holbrook's Outreach/Engagement Grants. $10,000
• Children's Literature Conference, President Holbrook's Outreach/Engagement Grants. $3500

• Fresch, M.J. (2014). Engaging minds in the English Language Arts classrooms: The surprising power of joy. Alexandria, VA: Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.
• Fresch, M.J. & Harrison, D.L. (2013). Learning consonants through poetry. Huntington Beach, CA: Shell Education and Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
• Fresch, M.J. & Harrison, D.L. (2013). Learning consonant blends and digraphs through poetry. Huntington Beach, CA: Shell Education and Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
• Fresch, M.J. & Harrison, D.L. (2013). Learning rimes through poetry. Huntington Beach, CA: Shell Education and Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
• Fresch, M.J. & Harrison, D.L. (2013). Learning long vowels through poetry. Huntington Beach, CA: Shell Education and Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
• Fresch, M.J. & Harrison, D.L. (2013). Learning short vowels through poetry. Huntington Beach, CA: Shell Education and Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
• Fresch, M.J. & Harkins, P. (2009). The power of picture books: Using content area literature in middle schools. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English.
• Fresch, M.J. (Ed.) (2008). An essential history of current reading practices. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
• Fresch, M.J. & Wheaton, A (2005). Spelling for Writers (Grades 1-6 student books and teacher editions; a classroom series). Wilmington, MA: Great Source Education Group.
• Fresch, M.J. (Fall 2003). A national survey of spelling instruction: Investigating teachers' beliefs and practice. Journal of Literacy Research, 35, 819-848.
• Fresch, M.J. (February 2001). Journal entries as a window into spelling knowledge. Reading Teacher, 54 (5), 500-513.
• Fresch, M.J. (December 2000). Using think alouds to analyze decision-making during spelling word sorts. Reading On-line.
• Fresch, M.J. (January 2000). What we learned from Josh: Sorting out word sorting. Language Arts, 77 (2), 232-240.

• Fresch, M.J., (2013). "The word whisperer: Telling secrets about word histories." Presented at National Council of Teachers of English, Peers within Field., Boston, MA (Nov 2013). 

• Fresch, M.J.& Harrison, D.L. (2013). Use Poetry to Connect Language Learning With Early Childhood Content Areas. 58th International Reading Association Convention, San Antonio, TX.,April 2013.

• Fresch, M.J. & Drewry, R. (2013). Active Learning for K-2 Vocabulary Standards.National Reading Recovery and K-6 Classroom Literacy Conference. Columbus, OH., February 2013.

• Fresch, M.J. (2011). Leveling the playing field: Nonfiction picture books for all readers and writers. In Fresch, M.J. (chair), Harkins, P. & Harrison, D.L. Learning with Nonfiction Literature: Writing it, Reading it, Loving it. Annual convention National Council of Teachers of English. Chicago, IL., November 2011.

• Fresch, M.J., (2010). “Meeting the Needs of Adolescent Readers with Content Picture Books and Text Sets “ in Fresch, M.J. (chair), Harkins, P., & Thomas, A. Integrating Middle School Curriculum: Picture Books and Related Text Sets. Annual convention National Middle School. Baltimore, Maryland, November 2010.

• Fresch, M.J. (2007). Literacy in the 21st Century: R U Rdy? Literacy Network of Ohio. Dublin, Ohio. (Keynote)
• Fresch, M.J. (October 2006). Power up your spelling instruction: Meeting all learners' needs. 33rd Plains IRA Regional Conference. Omaha, NE.
• Fresch, M.J. (March 2006). Fostering critical thinking across the curriculum. Seminario: El lenguaje como instrumento para aumenttar el rendimiento en la etapa escolar. Universidad de Concepcion y Thomas Jefferson School. Concepcion, Chile. (Keynote)