Heidi Anne E. Mesmer
2807 Tall Oaks Dr
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540/951-0083
haemesmer@hotmail
School of Education
Virginia Tech
318 War Memorial Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540/231-8343
hamesmer@vt.edu
EDUCATION
University of South Florida
College of Education
December 1999
Doctor of Philosophy in Reading, December, 1999
Dissertation—Interfacing texts and Instruction: The effects of decodable text and
matching instruction on the word recognition skills of first grade readers.
University of Virginia
May 1992
Master of Education, Elementary Education
Curry School of Education
College of William and Mary in Virginia
School of Education
May 1991
Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education
Virginia Certification NK-6, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007-present
Assistant Professor Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
2002- 2007
Assistant Professor Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
1999-2002
Assistant Professor Virginia Commonwealth
University
Richmond, VA
1998-July 1999
Research Assistant
WESTAT
Rockville, MD
1998
Research Assistant
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
1997-1998
Graduate Teaching University of South Florida
Assistant
Tampa, FL
1996-1997
Graduate Assistant University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
1992-1996
Elementary School Teacher
MD & VA
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
Mesmer, H. A. (2007). Beginning reading materials: A national survey of primary teachers’ reported uses
and beliefs. Journal of Literacy Research 38 (4).
Mesmer 2
Mesmer, H. A. & Griffith, P. (2005/2006). Everybody’s selling it, but just what is explicit, systematic
phonics instruction? Reading Teacher. 366-376.
Mesmer, H. A. (2005). Decodable text and the first grade reader. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 2, (1),
61-86.
Mesmer, H. A. (2004). The art of balancing instructional materials for beginning readers: Becoming a wise
consumer. Balanced Reading Instruction.10. 1—11.
Mesmer, H.A. & Karchmer, (2003). REAlity: How the Reading Excellence Act took form in two schools.
The Reading Teacher, 56, (7), 636-645.
Mesmer, H. A. & Hutchins, E. (2002). A Twist on Question/Answer Relationships: Using them as a
framework to analyze tables, charts, and graphs. The Reading Teacher, 56, (1). 21-28.
Mesmer, H.A. (2001). Examining the Theoretical Claims about Decodable Text: Does Text Decodability
Lead to Greater Application of Letter/Sound Knowledge in First Grade Readers? The Yearbook of
the National Reading Conference. 40, 462-483
Mesmer, H.A. (2001). Decodable text: A review of what we know. Reading Research and Instruction, 40, 462483.
Mesmer, H.A. (1999) Scaffolding a crucial transition using texts with some decodability. The Reading
Teacher, 53, (130-142).
Mesmer, H.A. (1998). Goosebumps: The appeal of violence and predictability. The New Advocate, 11, 107118.
Mesmer, H.A. (1997). What is the standard for standards? An investigation of the English language arts
standards for Colorado, Florida, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Reading Horizons, 37, 281-298.
BOOKS
Mesmer, H. A. (2007). Tools for Matching Readers to Texts: Research-based Practices. New York: Guilford Press.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Mesmer, H. A. (in press). Flexibility and developmental coordination: Keys to negotiating beginning
reading materials. In K. Cartwright (Ed.). Cognitive Flexibility in Reading. New York: Guilford Press.
Mesmer, H. A. & Cumming, S. (in press). Text-reader matching: Meeting the needs of struggling readers,
In E. Hiebert & M. Sailors (Eds). Finding the Right Texts for Beginning and Struggling Readers.
New York: Guilford Press.
Hiebert, E. H. & Mesmer, H. A. (2006). Perspectives on the difficulty of beginning reading texts. In
D. Dickinson & S. Neuman (Eds). Handbook of Early Literacy 2nd Edition. pp. 395-409.
PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Mesmer 3
Mesmer, H. A., & Lake, K. (December, 2007). Concept of Word: The Role of Syllable Awareness and Syllablesensitive Instruction. A paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading
Conference, Austin, Texas.
Mesmer, H. A. (2006). Patterns of growth in reading different text types across the first grade year. A paper
presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San
Francisco, California.
Mesmer, H. A. (2006). When easy texts remain difficult: Profiles of good and poor readers
across the first grade year. A session presented at the Preconference Institute entitled Text leveling
and beginning and struggling readers at the Annual Meeting of the International Reading
Association, Chicago, Illinois.
Mesmer, H. A. (April, 2005). The caliber of books in subsidized childcare centers and its influence on
voluntary book interactions. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational
Research Association, Montreal, Canada.
Mesmer, H. A. & Griffith, P. (May, 2005).Extending phonics instruction for intermediate readers. A session
presented at the Preconference Institute entitled Reconceptualizing Phonics Instruction at the
Annual Meeting of the International Reading Association, San Antonio, Texas.
Mesmer, H. A. & Mesmer, E. (April, 2005). Examining the barriers to collaboration: The case for school
psychologists and reading specialists to join forces. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the
American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada.
Mesmer, H. A. (December, 2004). The influence of text characteristics on the reading behaviors of first
graders: Results of a longitudinal study. A paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National
Reading Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
Mesmer, H.A. (December, 2003). How are beginning reading materials being used in K-3 classrooms:
Results of a National Survey. A paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading
Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mesmer, H. A. (April, 2004) Choices in beginning reading materials: Results of a national survey of Kteachers. A paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Educational Research
Association, San Diego, CA.
Nomura, J., Mattingly, L., Mesmer E., & Mesmer, H.A. (April, 2004) Text characteristics and fluency. A poster
presentation to be presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School
Psychologists, Dallas, TX.
Mesmer, H. A. (December, 2002). How it came to be: The perceptions of parents about the emergence of a state-wide
high-stakes assessment. A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading conference,
Miami, Florida.
Mesmer, H. & Karchmer, R. (April, 2001). Starting a Change: A Descriptive Study of the Literacy Practices of KTeachers in a Rural County. A paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational
Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
Mesmer, H. A. (December, 2001). Decodability, its effects and side-effects on first grade readers: A paper presented
at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
Mesmer 4
Mesmer, H.A. (April, 2001). Text decodability and the first grade reader: How text features and prerequisite skills
predict reading performance. A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational
Research Association, Seattle Washington.
Mesmer, H. (March, 2000). Which books for which kids? Matching beginning readers with instructional reading texts.
A presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Reading Association meeting,
Richmond, Virginia.
Mesmer, H. (Dec. 2000). How and When Might Text Decodability Influence First Grade Readers? A presentation
delivered at the Annual Meeting of the National Reading Conference, Scottsdale, AR.
Mesmer, H. (March, 1999) Text type and first grade readers: Skills predicting success with and the application of
letter/sound knowledge in decodable text. A presentation given at the annual conference of the Virginia
Educational Research Association, Hampton, Virginia.
Mesmer, H.A. (1998, October). Do words make a difference? Text-type and its effect on the strategy use of the selective
cue reader, Presented at the annual meeting of the Florida Reading Association, Jacksonville, Florida.
GRANTS (FUNDED)
2006
Mesmer, H. A. & Mesmer, E. Co-Principal Investigators. Teach for Achievement: Data-based decision
making in literacy education. Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education through No Child Left
Behind, Title II
$129,546
2003
Mesmer, H.A, Principal Investigator. Examining the caliber of materials used in the three year old rooms of
subsidized childcare centers.
American Educational Research Association/ Institute of Education Sciences
$ 15,000
2001
Mesmer, H.A. & Karchmer, R. A., Co-principal investigators. Virginia's Reading Excellence Act for
Bowling Green Primary School, Bowling Green, VA
Virginia Department of Education
$239,000
2000
Mesmer, H. A. Principal Investigator. Beginning Reading Materials and First Graders.
Virginia Commonwealth University Grant-in-Aid
$ 5,000
OTHER CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Mesmer, H.A. (October, 2004). Textual scaffolds: Influences across the first grade year. A paper
presented at the Fellow’s Forum of the Annual meeting of the National Academy of Education.
Palo Alto, CA.
Mesmer, H. A. (March, 2004). Textual Scaffolds for beginning readers. A paper presented at the NAE Fellows
Retreat: South Bend Indiana.
Mesmer, H. A. (February, 2001). Books and Kids: Coordinating Developmental Needs with Instructional Materials.
A presentation made at the Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Reading Association.
Mesmer, H. A. (May, 2001). So many books, so many choices: Using Classroom data to match beginning readers with
instructional materials. A presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the International Reading
Association.
Mesmer 5
Mesmer, H. (March, 2000). Which books for which kids? Matching beginning readers with instructional
reading texts. A presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Reading Association
meeting, Richmond, Virginia.
Mesmer, H.A. (1998, October). Do words make a difference? Text-type and its effect on the strategy use of the selective
cue reader, Presented at the annual meeting of the Florida Reading Association, Jacksonville, Florida.
CURRICULUM WRITING PROJECTS
Maryland State English Language Arts Standards--Development Team for State English
Language Arts
Summer, 1996
Virginia State Science Standards of Learning--Revision Team
Revised/ Rewrote first grade state science standards
Summer, 1994
Alexandria City Public Schools --Differentiation Document Writing Team
Co-wrote the city’s position paper on differentiation
Summer, 1994
Alexandria City Public Schools—
Wrote Interdisciplinary Curriculum units for QUEST program,
Summer, 1992
HONORS
2003
National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow
Textual scaffolds for beginning readers: What differences do they make in developing autonomy and specific literacy
behaviors?
$50,000
1998
Provost’s Commendation for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student
1997
University of South Florida/University Graduate Fellowship—competitive $7,000 fellowship
& tuition waiver for students with competitive GRE scores.
1997
Tampa Campus Library Scholarship--$1,000 scholarship
SERVICE
Reviewing
2001-present
2001-present
2003-present
2001-present
2001-present
Reviewer
Reviewer
Reviewer
Reviewer
Reviewer
Editorships
2005
2003-2006
Guest Editor
Newsletter Editor
Journal of Literacy Research
The Reading Teacher
Balanced Reading Instruction
AERA, Division C, Section 3
National Reading Conference
Reading and Writing Quarterly, Winter, 2005
National Reading Conference
Mesmer 6
Committees
2007-2009
2006-2008
2007-2010
2005-present
2002-present
2002-present
2002-present
2004-present
2001-2002
2001-2002
1999-2000
1999-2000
1999-2002
Publications Committee
International Reading Association
Area 5 Co-Chair
National Reading Conference
Albert J. Kingston Award
National Reading Conference.
Field Council Representative
National Reading Conference.
Member, Faculty Research and Development, Oklahoma State University
Member, Reading Program Group, Oklahoma State University
Member, Elementary Program Group, Oklahoma State University
Alternate, Student Affairs Committee, Oklahoma State University
Co-Chair, Research Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University
Chair, Reading Program Group, Virginia Commonwealth University
Member, Mathematics Faculty Search Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University
Member, Cultural Diversity Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University
Member, Early/Elementary Program Group, Virginia Commonwealth University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
International Reading Association
National Reading Conference
American Educational Research Association
Society for the Scientific Study of Reading
Oklahoma Reading Association
Oklahoma Higher Education Reading Council