Faculty Profile: Dr. Michael Ford, Ph.D., Professor

 

Since 1978, teaching has consumed my life. From 1987 - 1999, I had primary responsibility for teaching preservice and inservice reading education courses. During the 1997- 98 school year, I was on personal leave from the university to return to the classroom teaching full-time in a first grade classroom. This allowed me to reconnect with my previous K-12 teaching experience as a primary Title I Reading Teacher and First Grade classroom teacher. During the 1999-2000 school year, I served as the acting associate dean for the College of Education and Human Services. The following year, I began my official term as associate dean. In 2006, I returned to my full-time faculty position in the Reading Department.

My commitment to scholarship stems from my belief that teachers can best create learning communities within their own classrooms when they are inside players in other learning communities. I also believe that I am my best experiment and much of my eighteen year record of scholarship focuses on my work as a teacher educator. I have been recognized for my work with the

• 2003 Wright Group-McGraw Hill Seeing the Learner in Every Child National Award
• 2003 Oshkosh Area School District Friend of Education Award
• 1993 Endowment for Excellence Award
• 1991 University Distinguished Teaching Award.

I have published over 40 manuscripts in a variety of forums including:

• The Reading Teacher
• Language Arts
• The Learning Disabilities Forum
• Journal of Reading Education
• New Era in Education Childhood Education
• monographs from The College Reading Association
• National Reading Conference yearbook

I have:

• served as a columnist for Reading Today (1988-89)
• edited Wisconsin Reading Update (1991-1995) and The Whole Idea (1990-1996)
• co-edited the WSRA monograph "Where Have All the Bluebirds Gone? Transforming Ability Based Reading Classrooms"
• served as consulting author for Reading 2000 (Scott Foreman-Addison Wesley)
• co-authored of "Reaching Readers: Flexible and Innovative Strategies for Guided Reading." and "Where Have All the Bluebirds Gone: How to Soar with Flexible Grouping" both from Heinemann.

I have recently made 15 presentations at 13 different national, regional, state and local conferences. My service to my institution, organizations and local schools allows me to engage in dialogue with other professionals. This keeps my teaching rooted in current theory and the reality of frontline contexts. It impacts on how I prepare my students for their future classrooms. I am a former President and current Advocacy Liaison of the Wisconsin State Reading Association which awarded me the 2001 Outstanding Service Award. I have also served as a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association. I have recently made 30 presentations in working with 12 different school districts and education al agencies on reading related issues.