Mary Jo Fresch, Ph.D.

Professor

Contact Info:

E-mail: fresch.1@osu.edu
Office: Morrill Hall 237C (Marion Campus)
Phone: (614) 292-9133 ext. 5-6237 or (740) 725-6237
Fax: (614) 292-5817

Mailing Address

The Ohio State University at Marion
1465 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Marion, OH 43302

Biographical Information

Dr. Mary Jo Fresch is a Professor at The Ohio State University at Marion, School of Teaching and Learning where she teaches graduate literacy and children's literature 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 aspects of becoming a speller 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 and co-author of The Power of Picture Books, Teaching and Assessing Spelling, The Spelling List and Word Study Resource Book and a grades 1 through 6 classroom spelling series, Spelling for Writers (Great Source).

Education

BS Elem Ed University of Akron
MS (Reading Specialist) University of Akron
Ph D (Reading, Language and Literature) The Ohio State University

Awards and Honors

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

Selected grants history

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

Selected Publications

Fresch, M.J. & Harkins, P. (2009). The power of picture books: Using content area literature in middle school. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English.
Fresch, M.J. (2008). An exploration of university students' spelling ability. Reading Horizons, 49, 53-70.
Fresch, M.J. (Ed.) (2008). An essential history of current reading practices. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Fresch, M.J. (September 2007). Teachers' concerns about spelling instruction: A national survey. Reading Psychology, 28, 301-330.
Fresch, M.J. (April-June 2005). Observing the self-selection of an emerging literacy learner. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 21 (2), 135-149.
Fresch, M.J. & Wheaton, A. (2004). The spelling list and word study resource book. New York: Scholastic.
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. & Wheaton, A. (2002) Teaching and assessing spelling: Striking the balance between whole-class and individualized spelling. New York: Scholastic.
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 http://www.readingonline.org/articles/art_index.asp?HREF=fresch/
Fresch, M.J. (January 2000). What we learned from Josh: Sorting out word sorting. Language Arts, 77 (2), 232-240.

Selected Presentations

Fresch, M.J. (August 2009). So that's why that's spelled that way! Storytelling about words (Grades K-5). Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO.
Fresch, M.J. & Wheaton, A. (May 2008). Making the literacy connection: The intersection of word study and spelling instruction. 53rd International Reading Association Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Fresch, M.J. & Wheaton, A. (May 2007). Three days of spelling instruction: Making the literacy connection. 52nd International Reading Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.
Fresch, M.J. (2007). Literacy in the 21st Century: R U Rdy? Literacy Network of Ohio. Dublin, Ohio. (Keynote)
Fresch, M.J. (February 2007). Word Study: Teaching spelling and vocabulary across the curriculum. Colorado Council of International Reading Association. Denver, CO.
Fresch, M.J. (October 2006). Power up your spelling instruction: Meeting all learners' needs. 33rd Plains IRA Regional Conference. Omaha, NE.
Fresch, M.J. (September 2006). Spelling and word study: Effective practices for teaching every learner. New England Reading Association Conference, Lowell, MA.
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)
Fresch, M.J. (March 2006). The parallel development of spelling, writing and reading. Nassau County Reading Council. Long Island, NY. (Keynote)

Courses

Edu T&L 840 Writing in the elementary classroom
Edu T&L 853 Critical reading and writing in the elementary classroom
Edu T&L 864 Multicultural Literature in the elementary classroom

Activities

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