Jo Worthy

Terminal Degree

PhD, University of Virginia

Representative Publications

Worthy, J. (In Press). Only the names have been changed: Ability grouping revisited. Urban Review.

Worthy, J. (2009). Tracking and ability grouping. In L. Christenson, R. Bomer, and P.Smagorinsky (Eds.). Handbook of Adolescent Literacy Research. New York: Guilford.

Worthy, J. (2006). "Como si le falta un brazo": Latino immigrant parents and the costs of not knowing English. Journal of Latinos and Education, 5, 139-154.

Worthy, J. (2005). “It didn’t have to be so hard”: The first years of teaching in an urban school. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 18, 379-398.

Worthy, J., Rodríguez, A., Assaf, L., Martínez, L., & Cuero, K. (2003). Fifth grade bilingual students and the precursors to “subtractive” schooling. Bilingual Research Journal, 27, 275-294.    

Worthy, J., Moorman, M., & Turner, M. (1999).  What Johnny likes to read is hard to find in school.  Reading Research Quarterly, 34, 12-27.

Recent Awards

• Elizabeth Shatto Massey Award for Excellence in Teacher Education, 2006-2007
• Fellow, Sid W. Richardson Regents Chair in Community College Leadership. Appointed 2005.

Boards, Committees and Associations

• Co-editor of National Reading Conference (NRC) Yearbook: 2000-2006
• Editorial Review Boards: Reading Research Quarterly, Journal of Literacy Research, Reading Teacher, Educational Researcher
• American Educational Research Association (AERA), Division C Secretary, 2006-2008
• AERA program chair for Division C, Section I, 2005-2006
• McCarthey-Dressman Educational Foundation, 1999-2009

Current Research Projects and Grants

Spencer Foundation small grant for "Ability grouping in first grade classrooms." 2007-2008, $39,000.

Current Courses

Research in Reading

Literacy Acquisition

Methods of Reading Instruction

Reading Challenges

Research Interests and Expertise

Alternatives to Ability Grouping

Reading Interests and Preferences

Students Who Find School Challenging