Parsons, Seth

Dr. Seth A. Parsons
PhD, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Professor
Elizabeth G. Sturtevant, PhD, Center for Literacy
Elementary Education PK-6
Literacy
Teaching and Teacher Education
Phone: (703) 993-6559
Fax: (703) 993-2013
Email: sparson5 (@gmu.edu)
George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Thompson Hall 1405
4400 University Dr.
MS 4B3
Fairfax, VA 22030
Seth Parsons is a Professor in the College of Education and Human Development. He joined the faculty in the fall of 2008 and teaches courses in the Elementary Education, Literacy, Research Methods, and Educational Psychology program areas. His current projects include the following, which he conducts in close collaboration with colleagues and doctoral students: (a) a comprehensive resesarch synthesis of motivation and engagement in reading and writing; (b) an investigation of elementary students' motivation to read different genres; (c) the development and validation of an observation tool for capturing adaptive teaching; (d) the development and validation of an adaptive teaching inventory for teachers; and (e) a study of preservice teachers' metacognition. Before beginning his doctoral studies, which he completed in May 2008, he was a classroom teacher in North Carolina. Dr. Parsons is currently the president of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) and co-senior editor of School-University Partnerships, the journal of the National Association for Professional Development Schools. He is past president of the Greater Washington Reading Council (GWRC), and he was a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education's (AACTE) Clinical Practice Commision. Dr. Parsons and colleagues recently received AERA's Review of Research Award (2019) for their review of adaptive teaching that was published in Review of Educational Research. In 2018, he and his colleagues received the ATE Distinguished Research in Teacher Education Award for their longitudinal study of teachers' visions, which was published in Teaching and Teacher Education. He was previously selected as a 2014-2015 Emerging Leader by Phi Delta Kappa International and a 2015 Clinical Practice Fellow by the Association of Teacher Educators. In 2016, Dr. Parsons was recognized by George Mason University as a Teacher of Distinction, and in 2012, he received the Jerry Johns Promising Researcher Award from ALER.
- Motivation to read
- Student engagement
- Adaptive teaching
- Teacher metacognition
- Teacher education and development
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Parsons, S. A., Gallagher, M. A., Leggett, A. B., Ives, S. T., Lague, M., & the George Mason University Content Analysis Team. (in press). An analysis of 15 journals’ literacy content, 2007-2016. Journal of Literacy Research.
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Parsons, S. A. (in press). Foreword. In N. L. Duke, & M. Mallette (Eds.), Literacy research methodologies (3rd ed.). Guilford. (invited)
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Ives, S. T., Parsons, S. A., Parsons, A. W., Robertson, D. A., Young, C., Polk, L., & Daoud, N. (in press). Students’ reading motivation and genre preferences: Validating two scales. Reading Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2020.1783143
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Gallagher, M. A., Parsons, S. A., & Vaughn, M. (in press). Adaptive teaching in mathematics: A review of the literature. Educational Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2020.1722065
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Ankrum, J., Morewood, A., Parsons, S. A., Vaughn, M., & Parsons, A. W. (2020). Development and implementation of the Adaptive Teaching Observation Protocol (ATOP). Reading Psychology, 41(2), 71-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2020.1726845
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Parsons, S. A., Hutchison, A. C., Hall, L., Parsons, A. W., Leggett, A. B., & Ives, S. T. (2019). Teachers’ perspectives of online professional development: A national survey. Teaching and Teacher Education 83, 33-42. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2019.03.006
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Parsons, A. W., Parsons, S. A., Dodman, S. L., Nuland, L. R., Pierczynski, M., & Ramirez, E. (2019). A literacy professional development initiative in an urban elementary school: Year 2 of a longitudinal design-based study. The Journal of Educational Research, 112(4), 447-462. doi:10.1080/00220671.2018.1552915
Parsons, S. A., Vaughn, M., Scales, R. Q., Gallagher, M. A., Parsons, A. W., Davis, S. D., Pierczynski, M., & Allen, M. (2018). Teachers’ instructional adaptations: A research synthesis. Review of Educational Research, 82(2), 205-242. doi:10.3102/0034654317743198 -
Parsons, S. A., Malloy, J. A., Parsons, A. W., Peters-Burton, E., & Burrowbridge, S. C. (2018). Sixth-grade students’ engagement in academic tasks. The Journal of Educational Research, 111(2), 232-245. doi:10/1080.00220671.2016.1246408
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Parsons, A. W., Parsons, S. A., Malloy, J. A., Marinak, B. A., Reutzel, D. R., Applegate, M. D., Applegate, A. J., Fawson, P. C., & Gambrell, L. B. (2018). Upper elementary students’ motivation to read fiction and nonfiction. Elementary School Journal, 118, 505-523.
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Malloy, J. A., Parsons, A. W., Marinak, B. A., Applegate, A. J., Applegate, M. D.., Reutzel, D. R., Parsons, S. A., Fawson, P. C., Roberts, L. D., & Gambrell, L. B. (2017). Assessing (and addressing!) motivation to read fiction and non-fiction. The Reading Teacher, 71, 309-325. doi:10.1001/trtr.1633
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Parsons, S. A., Vaughn, M., Malloy, J. A., & Pierczynski, M. (2017). The development of teachers’ visions from pre-service to their first years teaching: A longitudinal study. Teaching and Teacher Education, 64, 12-25. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2017.01.018
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Vaughn, M., Parsons, S. A., Scales, R. Q., & Wall, A. (2017). Envisioning our practice: Examining and interpreting pedagogical visions of four early career teacher educators. The New Educator, 13(3), 251-270. doi:10.1080/1547688X.2015.1063177
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Vaughn, M., Parsons, S. A., Keyes, C., Puzio, K., & Allen, M. (2017). Contextualizing teacher visioning: A multiple case study of visions and practices. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 18(4). doi:10.1080/14623943.2017.1323731
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Parsons, S. A., Gallagher, M. A., and the George Mason University Content Analysis Team. (2016). A content analysis of nine literacy journals, 2009-2014. Journal of Literacy Research. doi:10.1177/1086296X16680053
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Parsons, S. A., Vaughn, M., Bruyning, A., & Daoud, N. (in press). Teaching, visioning, and hope: A longitudinal study of one teacher’s vision. Teacher Education Yearbook XXVI.
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Parsons, A. W., Parsons, S. A., Ankrum, J. W., & Morewood, A. (2016). Barriers to change: Findings from three professional development initiatives. Literacy Research and Instruction, 55, 331-352. doi:10.1080/19088071.2016.1193575
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Irish, C. K., & Parsons, S. A. (2016). Sharing a reading technique with families. The Reading Teacher, 69(6), 607-610. doi:10.1002/trtr.1411
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Vaughn, M., Parsons, S. A., Gallagher, M., & Branen, J. (2016). Teachers’ adaptive instruction supporting students’ literacy learning. The Reading Teacher, 69, 539-547. doi:10.1002/trtr.1426
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Vaughn, M., & Parsons, S. A. (guest editors). (2016). This issue: Adaptive teaching: Theoretical implications for practice [themed journal issue]. Theory Into Practice, 55(3), 169-171. doi:10.1080.00405841.2016.1184956
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Vaughn, M., Parsons, S. A., Burrowbridge, S. C., Weesner, J., & Taylor, L. (2016). In their own words: Teachers’ reflections on adaptability. Theory Into Practice, 55(3), 259-266. doi:10.1080.00405841.2016.1173993
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Parsons, S. A., & Vaughn, M. (2016). Toward adaptability: Where to from here? Theory Into Practice, 55(3). doi:10.1080.00405841.2016.1173998
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Parsons, S. A., Malloy, J. A., Vaughn, M., & La Croix, L. (2014). A longitudinal study of literacy teacher visioning: Traditional program graduates and Teach For America corps members. Literacy Research and Instruction, 53, 134-161. doi:10.1080/19388071.2013.868561
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Parsons, S. A., Parsons, A. W., Richey, L. N., Dodman, S. L., & Scales, W. D. (2014). Year 1 of a longitudinal literacy professional development initiative in an urban school. Journal of School Connections, 5, 29-57.
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Vaughn, M., Parsons, S. A., Kologi, S., & Saul, M., (2014). Action research as a reflective tool: A multiple case study of eight rural educators’ understandings of instructional practice. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives. doi:10.1080/14623943.2014.900030
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Parsons, S. A., Nuland, L. R., & Parsons, A. W. (2014). The ABCs of student engagement. Phi Delta Kappan, 95(8), 23-27.
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Parsons, S. A., & Vaughn, M. (2013). A multiple case study of two teachers’ instructional adaptations. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 59(2), 299-318.
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Vaughn, M., & Parsons, S. A. (2013). Adaptive teachers as innovators: Instructional adaptations opening spaces for enhanced literacy learning. Language Arts, 91, 81-93.
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Parsons, S. A., Dodman, S. L., & Burrowbridge, S. C. (2013). Broadening the view of differentiated instruction. Phi Delta Kappan, 95(1), 38-42.
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Malloy, J. A., Parsons, S. A., & Parsons, A. W. (2013). Methods for evaluating literacy engagement as a fluid construct. 62nd Yearbook of the Literacy Research Association, 124-139.
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Parsons, S. A., & Scales, R. Q. (2013). What are we asking kids to do? An investigation of the literacy tasks teachers assign students. 35th Yearbook of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, 143-156.
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Parsons, A. W., Richey, L. N., Parsons, S. A., & Dodman, S. L. (2013). How do teachers change their practice? Case studies of two teachers in a literacy professional development initiative. 35th Yearbook of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, 127-141.
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Allen, M. H., Matthews, C. E., & Parsons, S. A. (2013). A second-grade teacher’s adaptive teaching during an integrated science-literacy unit. Teaching and Teacher Education, 35, 114-125. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2013.06.002
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Parsons, S. A., Richey, L. N., Malloy, J. A., & Miller, S. D. (2013). Are we giving students the high-level literacy skills they need in the 21st century? Reading in Virginia, 35, 6-14.
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Parsons, S. A., & La Croix, L. (2013). A vision within a classroom of her own: The case of Ann. The Teacher Educators’ Journal, 20, 57-73.
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Parsons, S. A. (2012). Adaptive teaching in literacy instruction: Case studies of two teachers. Journal of Literacy Research, 44,149-170. Podcast discussing this article: http://www.voiceofliteracy.org/posts/47567
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Parsons, S. A., Malloy, J. A., Parsons, A. W., & Burrowbridge, S. C. (2012). Students affective engagement in literacy tasks: Observations of and interviews with sixth-grade students. In S. Szabo, T. Morrison, M. Boggs, & L. Martin (Eds.), 34th Yearbook of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (pp. 137-147). Commerce, TX: ALER.
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Vaughn, M., & Parsons S. A. (2012). Visions, enactment, obstacles, and negotiations: Case studies of two novices teachers enrolled in a graduate literacy course. Journal of Reading Education, 38(1), 18-25.
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Parsons, A. W., Parsons, S. A., & Dodman, S. L. (2012). Lessons learned from a longitudinal literacy professional development initiative. Making Literacy Connections, 27, 6-11.
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Parsons, S. A., Williams, J. B., Burrowbridge, S. C., & Mauk, G. (2011). The case for adaptability as an aspect of reading teacher effectiveness. Voices from the Middle, 19, 19-23. Podcast discussing this article: http://www.ncte.org/journals/vm/podcasts
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Parsons, S. A., Massey, D. D., Vaughn, M., Scales, R. Q., Faircloth, B. S., Howerton, W. S., Griffith, R. R., Atkinson, T. S. (2011). Developing teachers reflective thinking and adaptability in graduate courses. Journal of School Connections, 3, 93-111.
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Parsons, S. A., & Ward, A. E. (2011). The case for authentic tasks in content literacy. The Reading Teacher, 64, 462-465.
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Parsons, S. A., Metzger, S. R., Askew, J., & Carswell, A. (2011). Teaching against the grain: One Title I schools journey toward project-based literacy instruction. Literacy Research and Instruction, 50, 1-14.
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Parsons, S. A. (2010). Adaptive teaching: A case study of one third-grade teachers literacy instruction. The 32nd Yearbook of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, 135-147.
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Parsons, S. A., Davis, S. G., Scales, R. Q., Williams, J. B., & Kear, K. (2010). How and why teachers adapt their literacy instruction. The 31st Yearbook of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, 221-236.
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Mascarenhas, A., Parsons, S. A., & Burrowbridge, S. C. (2010). Preparing teachers for high needs schools: A focus on thoughtfully adaptive teaching. Bank Street Occasional Papers, 25, 28-43.
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Duffy, G. G., Miller, S. D., Parsons, S. A., & Meloth, M. (2009). Teachers as metacognitive professionals. In D. J. Hacker, J. Dunlosky, & A. C. Graesser (Eds.), Handbook of metacognition in education (pp. 240-256). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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Parsons, S. A., & Harrington, A. D. (2009). Reading the script. Phi Delta Kappan, 90, 748-750.
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Parsons, S. A. (2008). Providing all students ACCESS to self-regulated literacy learning. The Reading Teacher, 61, 628-635.
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Duffy, G. G., Miller, S. D., Kear, K. A., Parsons, S. A., Davis, S. G., & Williams, J. B. (2008). Teachers instructional adaptations during literacy instruction. 57th Yearbook of the National Reading Conference, 160-171.
- Assessment and Differentiation (EDCI 545)
- Integrating Technology in Elementary Classrooms: Literacy (EDCI 546)
- Literacy Teaching and Learning in Diverse Elementary Classrooms I (EDCI 555)
- Literacy Teaching and Learning in Diverse Elementary Classrooms II (EDCI 556)
- Research and Assessment in Elementary Education (EDCI 559)
- Internship in Education (EDCI 790)
- Directed Inquiry in Educational Psychology (EDEP 798)
- Teaching, Learning, and Cognition (EDEP 820)
- Research Project in Educational Psychology: Sequence II (EDEP 824)
- Professional Development in Elementary, Literacy, and Secondary Education (EDPD 502)
- Literacy Assessments and Interventions for Individuals (EDRD 633)
- School-Based Inquiry in Literacy (EDRD 635)
- Supervised Literacy Practicum (EDRD 637)
- Advanced Topics in Education (EDRD 797)
- Theory, Research, and Practice in Literacy: Birth through Middle Childhood (EDRD 830)
- Research Methodologies and Trends in Literacy (EDRD 832)
- Research in Reading Motivation (EDRD 834)
- Problems and Methods in Education Research (EDRS 810)
- Foundations of Education (EDUC 542)
- Special Topics in Education (EDUC 896)
- Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (EDUC 897)
- Advanced Internship in Education (EDUC 994)
- Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (EDUC 998)
- Doctoral Dissertation Research (EDUC 999)
- Writing Development, Processes and Pedagogy (ELED 412)
- Literacy Teaching and Learning in Diverse Elementary Classrooms II (ELED 556)