
Joanne Larson
Michael W. Scandling Professor of Education & Associate Director of Research, Center for Urban Education SuccessTeaching & Curriculum
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles (curriculum)
BA, University of California, Los Angeles (fine arts)
Joanne Larson joined the Warner School faculty in 1995 and teaches master’s level literacy courses, as well as doctoral level courses on curriculum, teaching and change, and introductory and advanced qualitative research methods.
Larson serves as the director of the Genesee Valley Writing Project where she leads the Annual Summer Institute, a Young Writers Summer Camp, and all follow-up school year programs focused on improving the quality of student writing and learning in urban, suburban, and rural PK-16 schools across Monroe County and surrounding counties. She serves on the editorial board of several peer-review journals, including Research in the Teaching of English, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, and Reading Research Quarterly. She was appointed by Kris Gutierrez to serve as AERA program chair for the 2011 conference in New Orleans. She is chair of the UR/East High School Collaboration’s Family and Community Partnership Committee, which is part of the University’s effort to help transform East High School.
Larson’s ethnographic research examines how language and literacy practices mediate social and power relations in literacy events in schools and communities. Since 2014, she has been conducting a long-term participatory ethnography with teachers, administrators, and students at East High School as part of the historic UR East Educational Partnership Organization. She collaborated with Rochester community residents on participatory action research that examined changes associated with transforming a local corner store into a cornerstone of the community. Community literacies as shared resources for transformation (Routledge, 2018) narrates how this transformation occurred for the research team and the community in the dialogic spaces of on the ground collaboration. Her book, Radical Equality in Education: Starting Over in U.S. Schooling (Routledge, 2014), chronicles how the United States has reached a crisis point in public education and offers suggestions for a complete reboot of the current K-12 educational system. She is the editor of Literacy as Snake Oil: Beyond the Quick Fix, Second Edition (Lang, 2007) and co-editor of Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy, Second Edition (Sage, 2014). Her book, Making Literacy Real: Theories and Practices in Learning and Teaching, Second Edition (2015), co-authored with Jackie Marsh, explores the breadth of the complex and important field of literacy studies, orientating literacy as a social practice grounded in social, cultural, historical, and political contexts. Larson's journal publications include research articles in Literacy Research: Theory, Method, and Practice, Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Pedagogies: An International Journal, Research in the Teaching of English, Written Communication, Linguistics and Education, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, and Discourse and Society.
Larson has branched out from traditional publication venues to collaboratively produce documentary films with filmmaker David Smith. The first was a professional development film that focused on teaching literacy in the current reductionist pedagogical context. The second, entitled A Life Outside, was a film documenting the teaching life of Lynn Astarita Gatto, 2004 New York State Teacher of the Year. They are currently documenting the corner store transformation project.
Visit the Center for Urban Education Success.
In the News
- 12/02/2020Wednesday Lunch Talk: A Professor Goes to High School—With Video Recording
- 10/27/2020Understanding the Role of the Center for Urban Education Success
- 3/23/2020Joanne Larson on Children Learning at Home During the COVID-19 Crisis in Democrat & Chronicle
- 8/05/2019Young Writers Summer Camp 2019
- 5/16/2019From Passion to Purpose: Genesee Valley Writing Project Awarded a Grant via the 2019 LRNG Innovators Challenge
- 5/10/2019Joanne Larson on Housing, Education Crisis in the Democrat & Chronicle
- 4/04/2019Warner School Takes Part in the 2019 AERA Annual Meeting in Toronto
- 4/02/2019Joanne Larson on the Use of Sarcasm in the Classroom
- 4/01/2019New Study Lays Out the Benefits of Using Sarcasm in Urban High School Classrooms
- 5/23/2018Joanne Larson’s 2018 Commencement Speech
- 5/21/2018Celebrating the Class of 2018
- 5/11/2018Joanne Larson to Receive William H. Riker University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
- 2/02/2018Joanne Larson on Freedom Market Transformation Project in RBJ
- 1/08/2018New Book Documents Authentic, Collaborative Community Transformation Work in Rochester
- 12/20/2017Joanne Larson Discusses Phenomenon-Based Learning on WXXI Connections
- 11/15/2017Valerie Marsh & Joanne Larson on Restorative Practices in City Newspaper
- 11/10/2017Joanne Larson on New School Ranking System on WXXI Connections
- 10/11/2017East High: Education Professor Sees an Environment in Transition
- 7/14/2017Larson, Meuwissen on Designing Schools from Scratch on WXXI
- 7/10/2017Genesee Valley Writing Project 2017 Invitational Summer Institute
- 4/14/2017Event Promotes “Excellence Through Equity” in Rochester Area Schools
- 6/16/2016Warner School Names New Chair of Teaching and Curriculum
- 5/26/2016Joanne Larson on Race Relations on 13WHAM-TV
- 4/05/2016Joanne Larson Predicts the Future of Rochester Schools in City Newspaper's 2016 Annual Manual
- 11/04/2015Joanne Larson Comments on Recent Racial Incidents on 13WHAM-TV
- 9/21/2015Professor Receives National Grant to Study the University of Rochester’s EPO Partnership with East
- 9/21/2015Joanne Larson's Study of Partnership with East Featured in Rochester Business Journal
- 6/15/2015Warner School to Host Summer Camp for Young Writers, Grades 6-12
- 4/01/2015Genesee Valley Writing Project Seeks Teachers for 2015 Summer Institute
- 2/26/2015Joanne Larson Tackles the WHY TEACH? Question on WXXI Connections
- 2/20/2015Larson Coauthors Second Edition of Book on Literacy Theory and Classroom Practice
- 10/07/2014Video Chronicles the Genesee Valley Writing Project
- 8/04/2014Summer Camp Inspires Creativity Among Young Writers
- 7/07/2014Teachers Across Greater Rochester Connect in Summer Learning Opportunities—Focus on Improving Student Writing in the Common Core Era
- 6/08/2014Teaching and Curriculum Chair on Early Learning in Democrat & Chronicle
- 4/29/2014Choice Media's Reform School Show Features Guest Joanne Larson
- 4/16/2014Larson Essay on the First Step to Fixing Our Education System Featured on Pacific Standard
- 4/15/2014Joanne Larson on Equitable Access to Pre-K on WHEC-TV
- 3/31/2014Conversation & Book Signing with Joanne Larson, Educator and Author of Radical Equality in Education: Starting Over in U.S. Schooling
- 3/29/2014Freedom Market Transformation Project Featured in Democrat & Chronicle
- 3/11/2014Warner Professor Appointed Co-Chair of Mayor’s New Early Learning Council
- 3/09/2014Warner Professor on an Overhaul in K-12 Education in Democrat & Chronicle
- 2/27/2014Joanne Larson on Student Achievement in Democrat & Chronicle
- 2/26/2014Wednesday Lunch Talk — Radical Equality in Education: Starting Over in U.S. Schooling
- 2/17/2014Joanne Larson on Rebooting U.S. Education on WROC-TV
- 2/10/2014Starting Over in U.S. Education: Author of New Book Aims to Flip a Broken K-12 School System
- 1/29/2014Larson and Duckles Appointed to RCSD Advisory Committees
- 9/12/2013Partners in Transforming an Urban Community
- 8/07/2013Genesee Valley Writing Project Young Writers Summer Camp Featured on YNN
- 8/05/2013Local Youth Use Summer Camp to Hone Writing Skills
- 5/04/2013Genesee Valley Writing Project Spring Workshop - How to Survive the Common Core: Getting a Game Plan
- 4/24/2013Larson, Hursh on the Teaching Profession in City Newspaper
- 2/28/2013Joanne Larson on Substitute Teaching as a Career in U.S. News & World Report
- 11/30/2012Larson Edits New Edition of Sage Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy
- 10/20/2012CANCELED - Genesee Valley Writing Project Fall Workshop
- 8/10/2012Local Students Showcase Talent at New Youth Writing Camp
- 7/17/2012Genesee Valley Writing Project Summer Institute Featured on YNN
- 7/09/2012Local Teachers Learn Writing Strategies at Summer Institute
- 4/09/2012New Youth Writing Camp Open to Local Students
- 2/11/2012Writing Workshop for Educators
- 10/15/2011Writing Workshop for Educators - Conformity vs Risk-Taking: Where Does Excellent Writing Come From?
- 9/23/2011Warner School Hosts Writing Workshop for Teachers
- 9/01/2011Social Justice in Action
- 7/07/2011Teachers Are Not the Only Ones Benefiting from Writing Project Invitational Summer Institute
- 6/22/2011Literacy Class Project Featured in Brighton-Pittsford Post
- 2/03/2011Genesee Valley Writing Project Gears Up for 2011 Summer Institute
- 1/23/2011Information Session: Genesee Valley Writing Project 2011 Summer Institute
- 1/06/2011Warner to Host Genesee Valley Writing Project 2011 Summer Institute Info Session for Area Teachers
- 7/22/2010Genesee Valley Writing Project Featured on YNN Rochester
- 7/02/2010Institute Offers Outlet for Local Teachers to Polish Writing Instruction over Summer Vacation
- 2/11/2010Professor Named Program Chair of the American Educational Research Association
- 1/25/2010Professor, Students Collaborate on New Book Examining the Rich Resources Marginalized Youth Bring to the Classroom
- 1/11/2010Genesee Valley Writing Project Sets 2010 Summer Institute Deadline for March 1
- 1/19/2009Larson Authors Chapter on Classroom Literacy Practices in Warner Alumna's Book
- 9/01/2007Larson Appointed to Chair of NCTE Standing Committee on Research
- 8/01/2007Larson Edits Second Edition of Book on Literacy Education
- 3/16/2007Installations of Endowed Professorships
- 1/01/2007Larson Appointed to Endowed Professorship Honoring Michael W. Scandling
- 12/01/2006NCTE Awards Grant to Warner
- 12/01/2006Warner Faculty Members Participate in Mayor's Summit on Literacy
- 10/01/2006Larson and French Promoted to Full Professor
- 8/01/2006Warner Faculty Awarded More than $40,000 in Grants
- 6/22/2006A Life Outside Screening
- 10/01/2005Larson Authors New Book on Literacy
- 1/01/2004Fonzi, Larson Awarded $1.2 Million for Math and Literacy Outreach
- 10/01/2003Larson Edits Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy
Courses
ED527 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
EDU526 Theory and Research in Curriculum and Change
EDU498 Literacy Learning as Social Practice
ED507 Qualitative Research Methods
ED582 Critical Literacy
ED581 Discourse Analysis in Education Research
EDU442 Race, Class, Gender, and Disability in American Education
ED490 Genesee Valley Writing Project
ED594 Research at East
Publications
View UR Researcher Page
- Literacy Research_ Theory, Method, and Practice-2016-Kinloch-94-112.pdf - Kinloch, Larson, Orellana, Lewis 2016 Literacy, Equity, and Imagination
- Analyzing participation frameworks in kindergarten writing activity: The role of overhearer in learning to write.
- Challenging autonomous models of literacy: Street’s call to action.
- Challenging dominant discourses across geographies in early childhood.
- Co-authoring classroom texts: Shifting participant roles in writing activity.
- Community co-authoring: Whose voice remains?
- Connecting language and literacy learning: First graders learning to write in a whole language classroom.
- Cultural tensions in the scripted classroom: The value of the subjugated perspective.
- Discussing expanded spaces for learning.
- Editors for special issue.
- Indexing instruction: The social construction of the participation framework in Kindergarten journal writing activity.
- Introduction to the special issue: Power and positioning in purposeful community change.
- Language borders: Recitation as hegemonic discourse.
- Multiple Literacies, Curriculum, and Instruction in Early Childhood and Elementary School.
- Narrating Identities: Schools as touchstones of endemic marginalization.
- Packaging process: Consequences of commodified pedagogy on students’ participation in literacy events.
- Script, counterscript and underlife in the classroom: James Brown versus Brown v. The Board of Education.
- Speaking truth to policy.
- Tactical underlife: Understanding students’ perspectives.
- Taking a closer look: The challenge of microanalysis.
- Talk matters: The role of pivot in the distribution of literacy knowledge among novice writers.
- The participation framework as a mediating tool in kindergarten journal writing activity.
- “We call him Dr. King”: Reciprocal distancing in urban classrooms.
View UR Researcher Page