Literacy Colloquy Speaker Series: Sheila Valencia

Please join us for a Department of Teacher Education, Literacy Colloquy Speaker Series Zoom presentation given by:

Dr. Sheila W. Valencia titled:

“Shifting Understandings of Complexity”

Abstract: Since Common Core came into view, the issue of text complexity has taken center stage. But this issue of complexity has been the subject of much debate and consternation for researchers and teachers alike. In this talk, Valencia will explore shifting definitions of complexity and strategies for considering its relation to deep comprehension. Using results of a new study, I will suggest that the interaction of task, text and reader is a more powerful predictor of comprehension than most measures of text and complexity alone. Valencia will also explore how text-task-reader alignment has been used in schools to facilitate deeper student learning from text.

About the Speaker: Dr. Sheila W. Valencia is Professor of Language, Literacy and Culture at the University of Washington, Seattle. She teaches and conducts research in the areas of literacy assessment, teacher development and, most recently, learning form text in subject-matter classes. Her work has appeared in numerous journals, including Reading Research Quarterly, Journal of Teacher Education, Elementary School Journal and The Reading Teacher. She serves on several national panels including the National Validity Studies Panel for NAEP. She is also an AERA Fellow, member of the Reading Hall of Fame and recipient of the P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award from the Literacy Research Associaiton.