Blythe E. Anderson (she/her)

Blythe E. Anderson is an Assistant Professor of Literacy Education in the Department of Learning and Instruction in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Anderson earned her PhD in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from Michigan State University, with a specialization in Language and Literacy Education. A former first-grade teacher and district literacy coordinator, her research investigates instructional practices and curricular materials that promote vocabulary development. Specifically, she’s interested in generative approaches to vocabulary instruction that build curiosity for and interest in words and support students with developing tools for independent word learning.

• PhD, Michigan State University, Curriculum, Instruction, & Teacher Education; Specialization: Language and Literacy Education (2020)
• Graduate Certificate, Minnesota State University-Mankato, K-12 Reading Teacher (2013)
• MS, Winona State University, K-12 Education (2010)
• BA, Wartburg College, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Reading Education (2009)

• Reading Hall of Fame Emerging Scholars Fellow; Literacy Research Association; 2021-12-02;
• 2021 Timothy & Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award Finalist; International Literacy Association; 2021-07-01;
• 2019 Steven A. Stahl Research Grant; International Literacy Association; 2019-10-12;

• Gotwals, A. W., Wright, T. S., Pikus, A., Anderson, B. E., & Domke, L. (2025). Supporting science talk from the start of school: Development of a formative observation tool. The Elementary School Journal, 125(3), 468-489. https://doi.org/10.1086/734340
• Strong, J. Z., Tortorelli, L. S., & Anderson, B. E. (2025). Read STOP Write: Teaching foundational skills in a multicomponent informational reading and writing intervention. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 68(4), 339-352. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaal.1389
• Tortorelli, L. S., Strong, J. Z., & Anderson, B. E. (2024). Multisyllabic decoding at the end of elementary school: Measurement, achievement, and relation to vocabulary. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 246, 106018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106018.
• Strong, J. Z., & Anderson, B. E. (2023). Effects of a summer reading intervention on reading attitudes and achievement in grades K-5. Reading & Writing Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1080/10573569.2023.2266807

• Anderson, B. E. (2024). Vocabulary talk moves: Using language to promote word learning. The Reading Teacher, 77(4), 439-452. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2263

• Anderson, B. E. Strong, J. Z., Fronczak, D., & Walpole, S. (2024, July). Effects of a summer tutoring program on word reading and vocabulary in primary grades. Spoken paper presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading 31st Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark.;
• Anderson, B. E., & Wise, C. Word consciousness: mapping a constellation of constructs. (2024, December). Mapping a constellation of constructs. In L. S. Tortorelli, & D. R. Townsend (Chairs), Word Study: Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Study Group. Study group session conducted at the Literacy Research Association 74th Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.;
• Anderson, B. E., Strong, J., & Fronczak, D. (2024, December). Effects of a summer reading intervention on students’ foundational skills and vocabulary in grades K-2. In K. Conradi Smith (Chair), Empowering teachers with effective instruction: Research on interventions, routines, and texts in the elementary classroom. Symposium conducted at the Literacy Research Association 74th Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.;
• Tortorelli, L. S., Strong, J. Z., Anderson, B. E. (2024, July). Multisyllabic decoding achievement and relation to vocabulary in fourth and fifth grade. Poster session presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading 31st Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark.;
• Strong, J., Anderson, B. E., & Tortorelli, L. S. (2023, July). Effects of a summer tutoring program on reading skills in elementary grades. In E. Washburn (Chair), Bridging instructional opportunity gaps in reading and literacy through out-of-school instruction. Symposium conducted at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading 30th Annual Meeting, Port Douglas, Australia.;

• Member of Editorial Review Board for Journal of Literacy Research
  01/01/2024-12/31/2025
• Member of Editorial Review Board for The Elementary School Journal
  01/01/2024-12/31/2024

• Committee Member, Jeanne S. Chall Research Fellowship/ Helen M. Robinson Grant/ Steven A. Stahl Research Grant/ Elva Knight Research Grant Committee, International Literacy Association (ILA)
  03/01/2023-05/30/2024
• Board Member and Social Media Chair for Niagara Frontier Reading Association
  05/03/2022-06/17/2025
• Program Chair (Elect/Chair/Advisor) for Vocabulary Special Interest Group (SIG #133) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA)
  04/09/2021-05/30/2024