FOR-PD Interview with Dr. Donna Alvermann

Introduction: Dr. Donna Alvermann is the Distinguished Research Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia. She is a former classroom teacher and assistant principal. Dr. Alverman has studied the influence of various social contexts on adolescent’s interpretations of what they read, how their interpretations are mediated by race, class, and gender, and the implications of focusing on students’, rather than the teachers’, perspectives. Her current work is centered around literacy practices in the secondary classrooms and in community settings. Her books include Content Reading and Literacy: Succeeding in Today's Diverse Classrooms(4th ed.); Reconceptualizing the Literacies in Adolescents' Lives; Bridging the Literacy Achievement Gap, Grades 4-12; and Adolescents and Literacies in a Digital World. Dr. Alverman has been president of the National Reading Conference (NRC), co-chair of the International Reading Association's Commission on Adolescent Literacy, associate editor of the Journal of Literacy Research, and a member of the Rand Reading Study Group.

Interview Instructions:  The interview has been provided in both text and audio formats.  Click on Text under each heading to read the part of the interview that it corresponds with, or Audio to hear the same part of the interview.  The Audio is in MP3 format and the length and size is listed next to the link.   If you wish to download the entire interview in PDF format see the link under the headings.

• Summary of My Background
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 4 min 18 sec, 3.94 MB)
   
• Comprehension Instruction in the Content-area Classroom
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 3 min 03 sec, 2.79 MB)
   
• Adolescent Literacy
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 3 min 41 sec, 3.37 MB)
   
• Motivation Strategies
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 10 min 31 sec, 9.63 MB)
   
• Critical Literacy
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 3 min 46 sec, 3.45 MB)
   
• Changes in Literacy Instruction, Assessment, and Staff Development
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 6 min 21 sec, 5.81 MB)
   
• Professional Development
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 2 min 08 sec, 1.95 MB)
   
• Message to Teachers
  Text  |  Audio (MP3: 7 min 03 sec, 6.45 MB)
   

Download the entire interview [PDF - 8 pages / 44.8k]