Marcia A. Invernizzi
Encyclopedia
Marcia Invernizzi is a professor, author, and researcher in the field of Reading Education. At the University of Virginia Curry School of Education
, she conducts seminars and mentors masters and doctoral students in reading education. As founder of the Reading Buddies program, she is known across the United States as a leader in early literacy
intervention.
in 1972 with a B.A. in English. She then taught English and Reading in various schools in Virginia and Maryland. During that time, she earned her M.Ed. in Reading Education from the University of Virginia
. In 1985 she earned her PhD. in Reading Education, also from the University of Virginia
. She then became an assistant professor there in 1985. She became an associate professor in 1993 and then a full professor in 2001. Dr. Invernizzi was awarded the Thomas G. Jewell professorship in 2002 and the Henderson professorship in 2004.
Dr. Marcia Invernizzi is currently the Henderson Professor of Reading Education at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education
. She teaches in the department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education. Additionally, Dr. Invernizzi has been the director of the McGuffey Reading Center since 1990. She is co-creator of the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) tool used in the state of Virginia for assessing students' literacy skills.
At Washington College's annual George Washington's birthday convocation on February 25, 2011, Maricia was awarded an honorary degree
, Doctor of Letters. Dr. Invernizzi elaborates on her brief acceptance speech in "Contradictory Truths" published in the Washington College's online magazine. Marcia reflects on her feelings toward academia
as an undergraduate and her pursuit of increasing access for all to such institutions since her graduation.
, alphabet knowledge, knowledge of letter sounds, spelling, concept of word, word recognition in isolation, and oral passage reading) to identify struggling readers in order to provide interventions as early as possible. While this tool is considered reliable, and having good construct, concurrent, and predictive validity, educators should consider data from a variety of sources when making high-stakes decisions. The results may also be used in the Response to Intervention
(RtI) process.
The screening is mandated in Virginia in kindergarten, although a pre-K version is available. The development process took years of rigorous analysis to develop. The Virginia Department of Education
supported the development through Virginia's Early Intervention Reading Initiative which was established with the 1997 Virginia Acts of Assembly, chapter 924, item 140.
Literacy
Instruction in phonics, spelling, and vocabulary is termed word study. Word study instruction involves word sort
s and other hands-on activities to investigate words.
The Words Their Way series of instructional resources for literacy educators was co-authored by Donald R. Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, and Francine Johnston. The books provide screening tools to assess students' skills in various areas of literacy. It provides lessons teachers can use based on the assessment to specifically address areas of weakness and move students forward in the development. Companion websites, reproducibles, and materials on CD-ROM are useful resources for educators. Special attention to addressing the special needs of English language learners(ELL) are incorporated as well. Some of the books in the series are specifically designed for ELL students. Reviews of Words Their Way are available at www.K12.com
Books in the Words Their Way series:
In Talking Tutoring, a four-part series of webcasts produced by WETA/Reading Rockets, a panel of experts including Marcia Invernizzi, Carole Prest, and Ann Hoover, discuss struggling readers, the need for tutors, various tutoring models and the effect of tutors on reading success. Marcia refers to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
report indicating American students are in need of intervention. The panel discusses reading research, various models of tutoring from small group to one-on-one, tutoring training, and responds to audience questions.
, comprehension
, phonics
, spelling
and vocabulary
, as well as writing. Reading Specialists supervise the tutors in providing intensive individualized plans.
Selected Publications (Invited):
Selected Book Chapters
Curry School of Education
The Curry School of Education is a public school of education in the U.S. Located on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, the Curry School offers professional programs designed to prepare individuals for a variety of careers related to the practice of education...
, she conducts seminars and mentors masters and doctoral students in reading education. As founder of the Reading Buddies program, she is known across the United States as a leader in early literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
intervention.
Marcia A. Invernizzi
Marcia Invernizzi graduated from Washington CollegeWashington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
in 1972 with a B.A. in English. She then taught English and Reading in various schools in Virginia and Maryland. During that time, she earned her M.Ed. in Reading Education from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. In 1985 she earned her PhD. in Reading Education, also from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. She then became an assistant professor there in 1985. She became an associate professor in 1993 and then a full professor in 2001. Dr. Invernizzi was awarded the Thomas G. Jewell professorship in 2002 and the Henderson professorship in 2004.
Dr. Marcia Invernizzi is currently the Henderson Professor of Reading Education at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education
Curry School of Education
The Curry School of Education is a public school of education in the U.S. Located on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, the Curry School offers professional programs designed to prepare individuals for a variety of careers related to the practice of education...
. She teaches in the department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education. Additionally, Dr. Invernizzi has been the director of the McGuffey Reading Center since 1990. She is co-creator of the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) tool used in the state of Virginia for assessing students' literacy skills.
At Washington College's annual George Washington's birthday convocation on February 25, 2011, Maricia was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
, Doctor of Letters. Dr. Invernizzi elaborates on her brief acceptance speech in "Contradictory Truths" published in the Washington College's online magazine. Marcia reflects on her feelings toward academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
as an undergraduate and her pursuit of increasing access for all to such institutions since her graduation.
Literacy Assessment
Dr. Invernizzi co-created the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) tool. PALS is provided by the state of Virginia for their schools' use. This tool is designed to measure specific components of literacy (phonological awarenessPhonological awareness
Phonological awareness refers to an individual's awareness of the phonological structure, or sound structure, of spoken words. Phonological awareness is an important and reliable predictor of later reading ability and has, therefore, been the focus of much research.- Overview :Phonological...
, alphabet knowledge, knowledge of letter sounds, spelling, concept of word, word recognition in isolation, and oral passage reading) to identify struggling readers in order to provide interventions as early as possible. While this tool is considered reliable, and having good construct, concurrent, and predictive validity, educators should consider data from a variety of sources when making high-stakes decisions. The results may also be used in the Response to Intervention
Response to intervention
In education, Response To Intervention is a method of academic intervention used in the United States which is designed to provide early, effective assistance to children who are having difficulty learning. Response to intervention was also designed to function as one part of a data-based process...
(RtI) process.
The screening is mandated in Virginia in kindergarten, although a pre-K version is available. The development process took years of rigorous analysis to develop. The Virginia Department of Education
Virginia Department of Education
The Virginia Department of Education is the state education agency of The Commonwealth of Virginia. It is headquartered in the James Monroe Building in Richmond. The department is headed by the Virginia Secretary of Education, a position that is appointed by the Governor of Virginia...
supported the development through Virginia's Early Intervention Reading Initiative which was established with the 1997 Virginia Acts of Assembly, chapter 924, item 140.
- Invernizzi, M., Meir, J., & Juel, C. (2007). PALS 1-3: Phonological awareness literacy screening 1-3 (6th ed). Charlottesville, VA: University Printing Services.
- Invernizzi, M., Swank, L. & Juel, C. (2007). PALS-K: Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening-Kindergarten, 6th edition). Charlottesville: University Printing Services.
- Invernizzi, M., Sullivan, A., Swank, L., & Meier, J. (2004). PALS Pre-K: Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening for Preschoolers (2nd edition). Charlottesville, VA:University Printing Services.
- Invernizzi, M., Swank, L., & Juel, C. (1997). PALS I & II: Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening I & II. Charlottesville: University Printing Services.
LiteracyLiteracyLiteracy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
Instruction
Instruction in phonics, spelling, and vocabulary is termed word study. Word study instruction involves word sortWord sort
A word sort is a developmental word study activity espoused by the Words Their Way curriculum as written by Donald R. Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, and Francine Johnston...
s and other hands-on activities to investigate words.
The Words Their Way series of instructional resources for literacy educators was co-authored by Donald R. Bear, Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, and Francine Johnston. The books provide screening tools to assess students' skills in various areas of literacy. It provides lessons teachers can use based on the assessment to specifically address areas of weakness and move students forward in the development. Companion websites, reproducibles, and materials on CD-ROM are useful resources for educators. Special attention to addressing the special needs of English language learners(ELL) are incorporated as well. Some of the books in the series are specifically designed for ELL students. Reviews of Words Their Way are available at www.K12.com
Books in the Words Their Way series:
- Templeton, S., Johnston, F., Bear, D.R., & Invernizzi, M. (2009). Vocabulary Their Way. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
- Templeton, S., Johnston, F., Bear, D.R., & Invernizzi, M. (2009). Word Sorts for Derivational Spellers (2nd edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.
- Invernizzi, M., Johnston, F., & Bear, D. (2009). Word sorts for within word pattern spellers (2nd edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.
- Johnston, F., Invernizzi, M., & Bear, D. (2009). Word sorts for syllables and affixes spellers (2nd edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.
- Johnston, F., Invernizzi, M., Bear, D., & Templeton, S. (2009). Word sorts for letter name-alphabetic spelling (2nd edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.
- Bear, D., Invernizzi, M., Johnston, F., & Templeton, S. (2009). Letter and picture Sorts for emergent spellers (2nd edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
- Bear, D., Invernizzi, M., Templeton, S., & Johnston, F. (2008). Words their way: Word study for phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction (4th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice Hall.
- Bear, D., Helman, L., Templeton, S., Invernizzi, M., & Johnston, F. ( 2007). Words their way for English learners. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Reading Interventions
Book Buddies is a program for providing one-on-one reading interventions for struggling elementary school students. Recognizing the positive effects of individualized instruction and the fiscal limitations for schools to provide this, Dr. Invernizzi set out to devise a program that would benefit students without burdening the schools. In the Book Buddies program, volunteers receive training and follow the lessons that are provided. The lessons are developed by reading educators who use the PALS tool to assess the student and design appropriate instruction. Charlottesville City Schools has been using the program since 1993.In Talking Tutoring, a four-part series of webcasts produced by WETA/Reading Rockets, a panel of experts including Marcia Invernizzi, Carole Prest, and Ann Hoover, discuss struggling readers, the need for tutors, various tutoring models and the effect of tutors on reading success. Marcia refers to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
National Assessment of Educational Progress
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in core subjects. NAEP is a congressionally mandated project administered by the National Center for Education Statistics , within the ...
report indicating American students are in need of intervention. The panel discusses reading research, various models of tutoring from small group to one-on-one, tutoring training, and responds to audience questions.
- Johnston, F., Invernizzi, M., Juel, C., & Lewis-Wagner, D. (2009). Book buddies: A tutoring framework for struggling readers (2nd edition). New York: The Guilford Press
McGuffey Reading Center
The McGuffey Reading Center offers diagnostics and tutoring. This is the oldest university-based reading program still in operation in the United States. Students (K-12) attend one-hour sessions twice a week. Graduate students in reading education provide instruction in fluencyFluency
Fluency is the property of a person or of a system that delivers information quickly and with expertise.-Speech:...
, comprehension
Understanding
Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object....
, phonics
Phonics
Phonics refers to a method for teaching speakers of English to read and write that language. Phonics involves teaching how to connect the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters and teaching them to blend the sounds of letters together to produce approximate pronunciations...
, spelling
Spelling
Spelling is the writing of one or more words with letters and diacritics. In addition, the term often, but not always, means an accepted standard spelling or the process of naming the letters...
and vocabulary
Vocabulary
A person's vocabulary is the set of words within a language that are familiar to that person. A vocabulary usually develops with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge...
, as well as writing. Reading Specialists supervise the tutors in providing intensive individualized plans.
Publications
Selected Publications (refereed)- Invernizzi, M. (2009). Virginia’s Early Intervention Reading Initiative (EIRI) and Response to Intervention (RtI). Reading in Virginia.
- Zucker, T. A., & Invernizzi, M.A. (2008). My eSorts and digital extensions of word study. The Reading Teacher, 61, 8, 654-658.
- Picard, M., & Invernizzi, M. (2007). Rebuttal to Roger A. Stewart’s 2005 Book Review. Journal of Literacy Research, 39, 2, 277-280.
- Booker, K., Invernizzi, M., & McCormick, M. (2007). Kiss Your Brain. Reading Research and Instruction, 46, 4, 315-340.
- Warley, H., Landrum, T., Invernizzi, M., & Justice, L. (2005). Prediction of first grade reading achievement. National Reading Conference Yearbook.
- Invernizzi, M., Landrum, T., Howell, J., & Partridge, H. (2005). Toward a peaceful coexistence of test developers, policy makers, and teachers in an era of accountability. The Reading Teacher, 58, 7, 610-618.
- Invernizzi, M., Landrum, T.J., Teichman, A., & Townsend, M. (2010). Increased implementation of emergent literacy screening in pre-kindergarten. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37(6), 437-446.
- Invernizzi, M., Justice, L.M., Landrum, T., & Booker, K. (2005). Early literacy screening in kindergarten: Widespread implementation in *Virginia. Journal of Literacy Research, 36,4,479-500.
- Justice, L.M., Invernizzi, M., & Geller, K., Sullivan, A.K., Welsch, J. (2005). Descriptive-Developmental performance of at-risk preschoolers in early literacy. Reading Psychology.
- Walpole, S., Justice, L. & Invernizzi, M. I. (2004). Closing the gap between research and practice: Case study of school-wide literacy reform. Reading and Writing Research Quarterly, 20, 3, 261-283.
- Howell, J.L., Partridge, H.A., Landrum, T.L., & Invernizzi, M. (2004). A look back on seven years of PALS and Virginia’s EIRI. Reading in Virginia: The Journal of the Virginia State Reading Association.
- Partridge, H., Invernizzi, M., Meier, J. & Sullivan, A. (2004). Linking assessment and instruction via web-based technology: A case-study of a statewide early literacy initiative. Reading On-Line, www.readingonline.org.
- Invernizzi, M. & Hayes, L. (2004). Developmental-spelling research: A systematic imperative. Reading Research Quarterly, 39, 2, 216-228.
- Justice, L., Invernizzi, M., & Meier, J. (April, 2002). Designing and implementing an early literacy screening protocol: Suggestions for the speech-language pathologist. Journal of Language, Hearing and Speech Service. 33(2), 84-101.
- Meier, J. & Invernizzi, M. (2001). Book buddies in the Bronx: Testing a model for America Reads and National Service. Journal for the Education Placement of Students Placed At-Risk. 6(4), 319-333.
- Abouzeid, M., Invernizzi, M., Bear, D., & Ganske, K. (2000). Approaching phonics through spelling. The California Reader, the literacy journal of the California State Literacy Association, 33, (4), 21-28.
- Invernizzi, M., Rosemary, C. Juel, C., & Richards, H. (1997). At-risk readers and community volunteers: A three-year perspective. Scientific Studies of Reading: The official journal of the society for the scientific study of reading, 1 (3), 277-300.
- Invernizzi, M., Abouzeid, M., & Bloodgood, J. (1997). Integrated word study: Spelling, grammar, & meaning in the language arts classroom. Language Arts, 74 (3), 185-192.
- Invernizzi, M., Juel, C., & Rosemary, C. (1996). A community volunteer tutorial that works. The Reading Teacher, 50, (4), 304-311.
- Worthy, J. & Invernizzi, M., (1996). Hyperlexia: A case study in the search for meaning. Journal of Reading Behavior, 27, (4), 585-603.
- Invernizzi, M., & Abouzeid, M. (1995). One story map may not fit all: A cross-cultural analysis of children's written story retellings. Journal of Narrative and Life History, 5, (5), 1-14.
- Invernizzi, M., Abouzeid, M., & Gill, T. (1994). Using students' invented spelling as a guide for spelling instruction that emphasizes word study. The Elementary School Journal, 95, (2), 155-167.
Selected Publications (Invited):
- Hansen, J. & Invernizzi, M. (2003). The teaching of reading. In J. W. Guthrie, (Editor in Chief). The Encyclopedia of Education. 2nd edition. NY: MacMillan Reference.
- Invernizzi, M. (2000). Quality volunteer reading programs. Issue paper for the National Governors' Association, Center for Best Practices.
- Invernizzi, M. & Meier, J. (1999). PALS and Virginia's early intervention reading initiative. Reading in Virginia: The literacy journal of the Virginia State Reading Association, 26-32.
Selected Book Chapters
- Invernizzi, M. & Hayes, L. (2009). Word recognition. In D.Allington & A. McGill-Franzen (Eds.), Handbook of Reading Disabilities. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
- Invernizzi, M., Landrum, T., Howell, J., & Partridge, H. (2007). Toward a peaceful coexistence of test developers, policy makers, and teachers in an era of accountability. In R.D. Robinson & M.C. McKenna (Eds), Issues and Trends in Literacy Education (4th edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
- Invernizzi, M. (2003). Concepts, sound, and the ABCs: A diet for a very young reader. In D.M. Barone & L.M. Morrow (Eds.). Literacy and young children: Research-based practices. New York: The Guilford Press.
- Invernizzi, M. (2001). The complex world of one-on-one tutorials. To appear in S. Neuman & D. Dickinson (Eds.), Handbook of research in early literacy for the 21st century. New York: Guilford Press, 193-214.
- Invernizzi, M. (2000). Book buddies: A community volunteer tutorial. In L. Morrow & D.G. Woo (Eds.), Tutoring programs for struggling readers: The America reads challenge. New York: Guilford Press (need page numbers).
- Invernizzi, M., Juel, C. & Rosemary, C. (1998). A community volunteer tutorial that works. In R. Allington (Ed.), Teaching Struggling Readers. Newark: IRA Press, 276-285.
- Invernizzi, M. (1992). The vowel and what follows: a phonological frame of orthographic analysis. In S. Templeton and D. Bear (Eds.), The Development of Orthographic Knowledge:Foundations of Literacy (pp. 105–136). New York: Erlbaum
Honors
- Honorary degree, Doctor of Letters from her alma mater, Washington CollegeWashington CollegeWashington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
, 2011 - Top 100 Innovations from Academic Research to Real-World Applications, 2008
- Curry School of Education Outstanding Professor Award, 2006
- The Washington College Alumni Citation for Excellence, 2005
- The Henderson Professorship, 2004
- The Samuel B. Miller Award for Community Service, 2004
- Thomas G. Jewell Professorship, 2002-2004.
- The WVTFWVTFWVTF is the flagship National Public Radio station for most of western Virginia. Owned and operated by Virginia Tech through its fundraising arm, the Virginia Tech Foundation, the station is licensed to Roanoke and operates a large satellite and translator network covering much of the western part...
Public Service Award, September, 1999. - The Daily Progress Distinguished Dozen Award, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1998
- The Virginia State Reading Association's Literacy Award, 1997.