RISNER, Gregory P., Ed.D.
Professor of Elementary Education
Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty
Appointed 1988

Professional and Personal Interests:

Area of Specialty:

• Reading/Language Arts (Middle/Upper Elementary Grades 3-6)
• Teacher Effectiveness/First-Year Teaching
  

Areas of Research Interests:

• Bloom's Taxonomy
• Questioning Skills
• Teacher Questioning, Textbook Questioning

Service to the Community/State:

• Appointed Member of the Florence Planning Commission (1992 - Present)
• Appointed Member to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee
• Volunteer, Children's Museum (Florence)

Hobbies:

• Weight Lifting & Running
• Computer Technology
• Reading for Pleasure
• Enjoying My Family
• Sports Collectibles & Autographs

Other Interests:

• Co-teacher -- Adult Couples' Sunday School Class Highland Baptist Church
• Building Committee (Highland Baptist Church)

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Professional Resume

1. Academic Degrees

Ed.D. George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University, Elementary Education; Area of Concentration: Educational Leadership 1987

Ed.S. University of North Alabama, Elementary Education 1984

M.S. Samford University, Elementary Education 1982

AA Samford University, Administration Certification 1982

B.S. University of North Alabama, Elementary Education 1981

2. Professional Experience

1988-Present, Professor of Education, University of North Alabama

1987-88 University of North Alabama, part time instructor, elementary education

1987-88 Harlan Elementary School, fifth grade classroom teacher

1987 Weeden Elementary School, sixth grade classroom teacher

1986 Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, graduate teaching assistant

1986 Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, student teaching seminar coordinator

1981-1986 Harlan Elementary School, fifth grade classroom teacher

3. Faculty and Administrative Load

Spring
EED 377 Teaching of Reading, 3 semester hours
EED 374 Teaching and Learning in the Elementary School, 3 semester hours
EED 472 Student Interns, 6 semester hours

Summer
EED 377 Teaching of Reading, 3 semester hours
EED 613 Advanced Studies in Language Arts, 3 semester hours

Fall
EED 377 Teaching of Reading (3-6), 6 semester hours
EED 374 First-Year Teacher, 3 semester hours
EED 472 Student Interns, 3 semester hours

Other Collegiate Assignments

• University Committee for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, 1999-2000/2000-2001
• University SACS Sub-Committee (2000-2001): Student Development Services and Intercollegiate Athletics
• NCATE Committee: College of Education Report for Continuing Accreditation, 1998-1999
• Selection Committee (College of Education Representative) Vice-President for Academic Affairs, 1998-1999
  
• University Faculty Affairs Committee, 1997-present
  
• University Financial Aide Committee, 1994-1997
  
• University Curriculum Committee, 1994-Present
  
• University Sub-Committee on New Programs, 1994
  
• University Selection Committee for Student
  
• School of Education Committee on Student Teaching, 1994
• University Research Committee, 1993-94; 1995-96
  
• University Selection Committees:
  - University Selection Committee for Vice President of Academic Affairs, 1999-2000
  - University Search Committee - Director of Student Life
  - University Search Committee - Director of Public Safety
  
• UNA Graduate Council, 1990-93, 1993-96; 1996-1999
• Athletic Committee, 1992-93, 1993-94; 1994-1997
  
• Selection Committee for the following School/Department positions:
  - Associate Professor of Elementary Education
  - Secretary for Department of Elementary Education
  - Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education
  - Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
  - Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
  - Associate Professor of Secondary Education

4. Current Professional and Academic Association Memberships

*Kappa Delta Pi - Counselor/Advisor 1993-98

*Alabama Reading Association International Reading Association

*Mid-South Educational Research Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

*Phi Kappa Phi

*Northwest Alabama Reading Council

*K-6 Organization, UNA

*Northwest Alabama Reading Council - Advisor, 1994.

5. Current Professional Assignments and Activities

Geography Workshop, "Geography: Understanding Relationships Between People, Places, & Environments." Workshop for area public school teachers. Fall 2000.

Workshop for L. E. Willson School (Sheffield). "How To Improve Homework and Study Skills." January 2001.

Alabama Reading Association. "Facilitating Comprehension Skills in the Upper Elementary Grades." Presentation at Annual Conference. Fall 2001.

Participated in Read Across America, Florence City Schools. 2001.

Workshops for Florence City Schools, "Integrating Technology in the Reading Program." March, April 2000.

Workshop for Powell School Parenting Program, "Making Homework Work." January 2000.

Workshop for Challenger Elementary School (Huntsville City), "Improving Reading Comprehension Strategies." February, 2000.

Participated in "Read Across America" program, Florence City Schools. 2000.

Workshop, "Grouping Strategies in the Upper Elementary Grades." Presented at Northwest Alabama Reading Conference. September 1999.

Presentation, "Reading Comprehension in the Upper Elementary Grades."

Presented at the Alabama Reading Association, Mobile, Alabama. October 1998.

Co-Coordinator: Teacher Inservice, "How To Be An Effective Teacher." Dr. Harry Wong, Presenter. Sponsored by Kappa Delta Pi. Summer 1997.

Workshop, "Developing Reading Comprehension Skills. Presented for Huntsville Inservice. Summer 1997

Presentation, "Comprehension Levels Included in the New Basal Readers."
Presented at the Annual Meeting of Mid-South Educational Research Association. (Paper accepted 9/22/96). Presented in November, 1996.

Presentation, "Local KDPi Chapters Making a Difference in the Community." Presented at the 40th International Conference of Kappa Delta Pi, Birmingham, AL. Fall, 1995.

Presentation, "Enhancing Literacy Through Active Comprehension Strategies." Presented at the 40th International Conference of Kappa Delta Pi, Birmingham, AL. Fall 1995.

State Textbook Committee for Adoption of Reading and Literature. Appointed by State Board of Education, Montgomery, AL. 1994-95.

6. Publications (select from most recent and most important)

"Integrating Language Arts and Social Studies Through the Production of a Television Newscast." Article published in the National Association of Laboratory Schools Journal, Spring 1998.

"The New Basal Readers: What Levels of Comprehension Do They Promote?" Research paper published in ERIC (1997). ERIC Document No. ED 403 546.

"Levels of Comprehension Promoted by the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Comprehension (CIRC) Program." Research paper published in ERIC (1995). ERIC Document No. ED 381 751. Refereed.

"Reflection on Practice: The Expert and Novice Teacher Reflect on Learner Needs and Their Decisions." Case study included in Educational Psychology: Learning to be a Problem Solver, 1995, page 38. Refereed.

"Geography Content in Television Network News," Louisiana Educational Research Journal, Fall 1994.

7. Papers Presented

"Levels of Thinking Promoted by the New Social Studies Textbooks." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of Mid-South Educational Research Association, Bowling Green, KY. Fall 2000.

"Improving Reading Comprehension Strategies." 31st Annual Fall Conference of the Alabama Reading Association, 1999.

"Comprehension Levels Included in the New Basal Readers." Mid-South Educational Research Association, 1996.

"Strategies to Enhance Reading Comprehension." Alabama Reading Association, 1996.

"Improving Reading and Study Skills." Harlan Elementary School, 1996.

"Local KDPi Chapters Making a Difference in the Community." 40th International Conference of Kappa Delta Pi, 1995.

"Enhancing Literacy Through Active Comprehension Strategies." 40th International Conference of KDPi, 1995.

"Motivating the Reluctant and Non-Reader With Environmental Print." Combined (Great Lakes & Southeast Conference Regional) International Reading Association, 1995.

8. Research

Levels of Questioning Promoted in the New Social Studies Textbooks, 2000-2001. Research grant - study completed January 2001.

Levels of Questioning Promoted in the New Social Studies Textbooks, 1999-2000. Research grant obtained for year 1998-99.

Comprehension Levels Promoted in Story-Related Activities in the New Basal Readers, 1996.

Grant Application to School of Education Research Committee: Analysis of the Levels of Questions Included in CIRC Materials. Research period January 1994 to January 1995.