Marsha Grace
Professor, College of Education
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Faculty Center 233
6300 Ocean Dr. Unit 5818
Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5818
(361) 825-2443
marsha.grace@tamucc.edu
Marsha Grace, Ed.D., professor of Curriculum and Instruction, has been at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi since the summer of 1999. Her teaching focuses on concepts of best practice and authenticity while including the use of literature for children and adolescents. She is also engaged in service learning projects through the region's Boys and Girls Club and the area public schools as well. Her scholarly interests include developmentally appropriate practice, authentic assessment in the classroom, and encouraging teachers to become familiar with those scholars and activists in the field who are establishing avenues for political action and social justice.
Before coming to TAMUCC, Dr. Grace served on the faculties of Texas Tech University and Eastern Washington University. She has taught elementary and middle school for four and a half years in Stillwater and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her degrees are from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with post-doctoral study in school administration at University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.
Publications
Zipprich, M., Grace, M., &Grote-Garcia, S. (2009). "Building Story Schema: Using Patterned Books as a Means of Instruction for Students with Special Needs." Intervention in School and Clinic. Vol. 44, n5.
Grace, M. & Tierce, M. (2008). [Review of the book Mastering the Mechanics: Ready-to-Use Lessons for Modeled, Guided, and Independent Editing Grades K-1]. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from Arizona State University, Web site: http://edrev.asu.edu/brief/sept08.html
Grace, M., Elwood, S., &Tierce, M. (2008). "Critical Literacy and Technology: An Essential Intersection for our Nation's Schools." Encyclopedia of Information Technology Curriculum Integration. New York: IGI Publishing.
Elwood, S., Grace, M., & Lichtenberger, C. (2008). "Technologies in the cities." Encyclopedia of Information Technology Curriculum Integration. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Grace, M. (2007). [Review of the book Content-Area Writing: Every Teacher's Guide]. Retrieved July 1, 2007, from Arizona State University, Web site: http://edrev.asu.edu/brief/july07.html.
Grace, M. (2005). "Alternatives to the Accelerated Reader Program." Retrieved October 11, 2005, from http://www.ncte.org/middle/topics/content/117486.htm.
Grace, M. (2003). "Poster Sessions." Teaching PreK-8. Vol. 33, n6, 54-55.
Grace, M. (2002). "Science Books and LEA: Enhancing Reading Ability." Oklahoma Reader. Spring, 14-16.
Grace, M. (1999). "When Students Create Curriculum." Educational Leadership Vol. 57, n3, 49-52.
Grace, M. (1999). "Be a Better Writer, Be a Better Teacher." Journal of Adult and Adolescent Literacy Vol. 43, n1, 60-62.
Professional Presentations: Papers and Inservice
National
Grace, M. & Tierce, M.B. (2009). "The LEA Process at the Boys and Girls Club: Five Years and Going Strong in South Texas." International Reading Association, Minneapolis, MN.
Grace, M. & Tierce, M.B. (2008). "Using Historical Fiction with Read-Alouds, Quickwrites, and LEA." International Reading Association, Atlanta, GA.
Grace, M. & Ybarra, C.C. (2007). "Recommendations for Combining Best Practices in Literacy with Cultural and Social Interactions for the Enhanced Academic Achievement of Hispanic Students." International Reading Association, Toronto, Canada.
Grace, M. (2006). "Including Multicultural Children's Literature in a Kindergarten Curriculum that Values Language-Rich Activities and Student-Centered Engagements." International Reading Association, Chicago, IL.
Grace, M. & Tierce, M.B. (2005). "Beginning and New Teachers Conference." International Reading Association, San Antonio, TX.
Grace, M. & Zunker, N. (2005). "The Development of Two Courses Designed to Prepare Pre-Service Teachers to Teach Holistically and with Children's Literature." International Reading Association, San Antonio, TX.
Grace, M. (2004, May). "LEA in a World of Decoding and Skills." International Reading Association, Reno, NV.
Grace, M. & Fisher, D. (2003, October). "Reinventing the Language Experience Approach for Beginning Reading Instruction." College Reading Association, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M. (2002, November). "Using the Web to Create an Interactive Dialogue among Readers of Children's and Adolescent Literature." College Reading Association, Philadelphia, PA.
Grace, M. (2002, March). "Saying NO! to the Testing Industry." Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, San Antonio, TX.
Grace, M. (2002, February). "The Unintended Consequences of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) on Elementary Teachers' Attitudes on Their Instruction of Science and Social Studies in Texas' Elementary Schools." American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, New York, NY.
Regional, State, and Local
Grace, M. (October, 2008). "Joyful Literacy for Young Children." Annual Conference Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M. (2007, August). "The World Revolves Around Great Kindergarten Teachers." Inservice, Corpus Christi Independent School District, Corpus Christi, TX
Grace, M. (2006, June). "Democracy and Education: How the Testing Industry is Putting our Nation at Risk." 2nd International Conference on Youth and Education for the 21st Century, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M. & Tierce, M.B. (2006 , March). "Jerry Pallotta and Patricia Polacco: Great Authors, Wonderful Books, and Hands-on Reading Activities." Tenth Annual Reading Conference, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. & Zunker, N. (2006, February). "Using Children's Literature to Support the Social and Emotional Growth of Young Children: Selected Titles and Recommended Activities." Third Annual CEDER Conference, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M. (2005, November). "Roadmap II English Conversation." Del Mar Community College, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M. (2005, August). "End of Year Report: Boys and Girls Club." Coastal Bend Community Foundation Annual Meeting, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M., Zunker, N., & Schaum, A. (2005, April). "I Want Something Fun to Do: Reading and Writing in Kindergarten." Ninth Annual Reading Conference, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Leavell, J. & Grace, M. (2004, March). "Beginning and New Teachers Conference." Texas State Reading Association, Corpus Christi, TX.
Grace, M. & Jones, M. (2004, February). "Including Great Social Studies Trade Books in a Readers and Writers Workshop." Second Annual CEDER Mini-Conference.
Grace, M. & Tierce, M.B. (2003, April). "Eric Carle: His Art, Your Students, and the Language Experience Approach to Beginning Reading." Eighth Annual Reading Conference, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. & Fisher, D. (2003, March). "The Language Experience Approach: A Beginning Approach to Teaching Reading." First Annual CEDER Conference, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. (2002, April). "Literature Circles: Plan, Implement, Enjoy." Seventh Annual Reading Conference, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. (March 2002). "Poster Sessions: Integrating Curriculum with Middle School Readers and Writers." 29th Regional Conference, IRA, Arlington, TX.
Grace, M. (2002, February). "The Unintended Consequences of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) on Elementary Teachers' Attitudes on Their Instruction of Science and Social Studies in Texas' Elementary Schools." Southern Educational Research Association, Austin, TX.
Grace, M. (2001, April). "Connecting Art, Science, and Library Books for Elementary Students: Why and How?" Sixth Annual Reading Conference, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Funded Grants
Grace, M. (2008). "Bringing Books and Readers Together." Funded by a $2,000 grant from Target Corporation.
Grace, M. (2007). "Books for Readers and Writers. Funded by a $5,000 grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation.
Grace, M. (2007). "Read, Write, and Grow." Funded by a $2,000 grant from Target Corporation.
Grace, M. (2006). "Encouraging Young Readers to Read, Write, and Grow." Funded by a $2,000 grant from Target Corporation.
Grace, M. (2006). "Books for Boys and Girls." Funded by a $5,000 grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation.
Grace, M. (2005). "Supporting Grades 4–8 Literacy at the Boys and Girls Club." Funded by a $5,000 grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation.
Grace, M. (2004). "Supporting Literacy at the Boys and Girls Club." Funded by a $5,000 grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation.
Grace, M. (2004). "Including Great Social Studies Trade Books in a Readers and Writers Workshop." Funded by a $1,500 grant from CEDER through Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. (2004). "Celebrating Books for Children." Funded by a $1,000 grant from the Title V Co–Curricular Grant through Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. (2003). "Supporting Literacy at the Boys and Girls Club." Funded by a $5,000 grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation.
Grace, M. (2002). "Implementing a Language Experience Approach as a Beginning Reading Approach for Four Emergent Readers." Funded by a $6,270 grant from the University Research Enhancement Fund, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. (2002). "Using the Web to Create an Interactive Dialogue Among Readers of Children's and Adolescent Literature." Funded by a $3,000 grant from the Title V Innovative Pedagogies Grant through the Center for Teaching Excellence, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Grace, M. (2000). "The Unintended Consequences of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Testing on Elementary Teachers' Attitudes and On Their Instruction of Science and Social Studies in Texas' Elementary Schools." Funded by a $2,422 grant through the College Faculty Research Enhancement Grant, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Honors and Awards
Recipient of 2008 Alumni Hall of Fame, Cushing, Oklahoma, May 24, 2008 Awarded to an outstanding alum of Cushing High School
Student Reading Council Fifth Annual Literacy Award, January, 2008 Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas State Reading Association, State Literacy Award, November, 2007 Awarded to a Texan for contributions to literacy
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, May, 2003 and 2007 Recognized for Teaching Excellence
Additional Activities
PDM Member, Windsor Park Elementary School, Corpus Christi, TX
Corpus Christi Area Council of IRA, Member and Hospitality Officer
Member of University Scholarship Committee and College Technology Committee
Member of Review Board for The State of Reading, the TSRA journal of reading
Member of Technology Committee for TSRA
Member of IRA, NCTE, CRA, AERA, PDK, ASCD
Dr. Grace's Additional Sites
http://falcon.tamucc.edu/~mgrace/m_grace/LiteracyMatters.html
http://marshagrace.com