Seth Parsons
Dr. Seth A. Parsons is widely recognized for his work in elementary literacy instruction, student engagement and motivation, adaptive teaching, and metacognitive strategy development. His scholarship focuses on how teachers can respond flexibly to students’ needs, promote deep comprehension, and foster inclusive, culturally sustaining literacy practices in K–5 classrooms. His research has been published in many of the field’s top journals, including the Journal of Literacy Research, Review of Educational Research, Educational Researcher, Reading Research Quarterly, Elementary School Journal, The Reading Teacher, and Literacy Research and Instruction. In addition to journal articles, he has co-authored and edited several practitioner-facing books, including Principles of Effective Literacy Instruction, Grades K–5, and Accelerating Learning Recovery for All Students (both co-authored with past Classroom Caffeine guest Margaret Vaughn) and Becoming a Metacognitive Teacher. Seth’s contributions have been recognized through multiple awards and honors, including the Jerry Johns Promising Researcher Award from the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER), the Teacher of Distinction Award at George Mason University, and selection as an Emerging Leader by Phi Delta Kappa. He has also served in key leadership roles, including President of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER), Executive Editor of The Journal of Educational Research, and Co-Editor of the Literacy Research Association’s Journal of Literacy Research, and Associate Editor of Reading and Writing Quarterly— roles which help shape the future of literacy scholarship and practice. Dr. Seth A. Parsons currently serves as a Professor of Literacy in the Sturtevant Center for Literacy at George Mason University, where he teaches, mentors doctoral students, and continues his nationally recognized research on effective literacy instruction and teacher development.
You can connect with Seth on Instagram @sethaparsons.
You can learn more about Seth’s work at:
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PPa2WcoAAAAJ&hl=en
Books mentioned:
To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2025, July 15). A conversation with Seth A. Parsons. (Season 5, No. 12) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/E135-3828-6E19-4385-B8E5-Y