Angela Falter Thomas

Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2009

M.A., Heidelberg University, 1993

B.S., Bowling Green State University, 1989

My research agenda focuses on improving teacher content knowledge and pedagogy to improve student learning. Specifically, my focus has been in increasing content knowledge in English language arts at the middle childhood level. I approach this through teacher inquiry, teacher professional development and teacher preparation.

Angela Falter Thomas has been a School of Teaching and Learning faculty member since August, 2009.

• Introduction to the Teaching of Middle Childhood Language Arts
• Literacy for Middle Childhood Educators
  
• Middle Childhood Phonics, Fluency & Word Study
  
• Practicum in the Middle School Setting
  
• Upper Level Language Arts Instruction
  
• The Role of Phonics and Word Recognition in Reading and Instruction
  
• Methods and Materials for Teaching Reading
  
• Issues and Trends in Curriculum and Instruction

PUBLICATIONS: 
Dr. Angela Thomas has published in the following referred journals: Voices from the Middle, Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research; In the Middle; Middle Ground; School Science Review; The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies; California Reader; Association for Middle Level Educators Magazine; Journal of Instructional Pedagogies; Middle Level Learning; and in the Illinois Reading Council Journal.

She has also published referred conference proceedings in the: Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) yearbooks, and the American Reading Forum yearbook. 

PRESENTATIONS:
Bostic, J. & Falter Thomas, A. (November 2015). Developing Writing in Mathematics via an Electronic Pen Pals Project,National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Regional Conference, Minneapolis, MN.  

Falter Thomas, A. (April 2015). Investigating the Impact of Feedback Instruction, International Conference on College Teaching and Learning, Ponte Verde Beach, Florida. 

Falter Thomas, A.; Bugner, S.; & Powell, C. (May 2014). A Tale of Two Teachers: Embracing Teachable Moments and Utilizing Reading Workshop to Create Passionate Middle School Readers, International Reading Association (IRA) national & international conference, New Orleans, LA. 

Falter Thomas, A. (February 2014) The Change in Perceptions of Pre-Service Educators in their Professional Year, American Association of Behavioral and Social Science Conference (AABSS), Las Vegas, NV.

Falter Thomas, A. (February 2014) Motivating Middle School Students’ Learning through Online Literature Circles, Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Conference (EQRC), Las Vegas, NV.

Lenox, J. & Falter Thomas, A. (April 2013). Revisualizing Vocabulary Instruction to Make a Positive Difference for Struggling Third Grade Readers, International Reading Association, San Antonio, TX.

Hendricks, C., Soboleski, P. & Falter Thomas, A. (December 2012). Transitions and Reflections: Two Perspectives on Transitioning our Teaching and Learning to Make the Most of E-Reading Technologies, American Reading Forum Annual Meeting, Sanibel Island, FL. 

Falter Thomas, A.; Bugner, S.; Powell, C.; & Fial, K. (November 2012). A Tale of Two Teachers: Dreamers who Connected and Ignited Students’ Learning with Reader’s Workshop, National Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (NCTE) national conference, Las Vegas, NV. 

Fordham, N.; Murnen, T.; & Falter Thomas, A. (Nov. 2012) Reinvigorating Reading: Teachers & Students in Book Clubs/Literature Circles, Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, Grand Rapids, MI.

Falter Thomas, A.; Soboleski, P.; Hendricks, C.; & Thomas, S. (Nov. 2012) I Wanna Read a Real Book and Other Tales: A transformation from print to electronic text, Assn. of Literacy Educators & Researchers, Grand Rapids, MI.

Fordham, N. & Falter Thomas, A. (May 2012) Powerful, Playful Approaches to Poetry, International Reading Association, Chicago, IL.

Falter Thomas, A. (March 2012) Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of their Instruction utilizing Reader’s Workshop, Academic and Business Research Institute, San Antonio, TX.

FUNDED GRANTS: 
Falter Thomas, A., Patterson, N., & Ross, C. (2015) Going to the Sources: Interdisciplinary Planning and Teaching with Primary Materials, Library of Congress, ($20,000) (Principal Investigator & Grant Coordinator) 

Soboleski, P., Falter Thomas, A., & Hendricks, C. (2012) The Big Read, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) ($7,500)  (Co-Investigator)

International Reading Association (IRA) Committee of Adolescent and Adult Literacy

Manuscript Reviewer: Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literature (JAAL), a publication of the International Reading Association (IRA)

Manuscript Reviewer: Voices from the Middle, (VM) a publication of the National Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (NCTE)

National Board Certified Teacher (2007) Early Adolescent English Language Arts

National Board Certified Teacher (2004) Early Childhood Generalist

In memory of her deceased nine year old daughter (Christi Thomas), Dr. Angela Thomas is involved in raising awareness about childhood cancers, and money for pediatric cancer research to hopefully one day find a cure for all children and their families everywhere.

Her motto is: Those who love teaching teach others to love learning!