Literacy/dyslexia specialist; Latin language teacher
My name is Dr. Karen Wieland. I have been a literacy specialist for 25+ years. Ten of those years were devoted to being a full-time literacy teacher educator and university reading center director. I started teaching Latin as part of my private practice five years ago.
I hold permanent certification from New York State in Reading (grades K-12). I am also a credentialed Wilson Reading System (WRS) Dyslexia Practitioner. I have extensive experience with Orton-Gow methods for literacy re/mediation; the foundation for that work was the introductory training I received in the Orton-Gillingham (O-G) approach 25+ years ago, through the Gow Teacher Training Institute
My professional life story
Private Practice
I transitioned to full-time private practice in 2017. Since then, I have worked individually with many dozens of literacy learners of all ages, many of whom have worked with me for five or more years. Through the Outschool platform, I also teach small-group classes related to English morphology and etymology as well as Latin language courses, spelling bee preparation courses, and book study courses.
Academia
I joined the St. Bonaventure University School of Education faculty in the fall of 2010. Between 2014 – 2017, I was the director of the Graduate Literacy Education program and between 2010 — 2017, I served as the director/coordinator of the St. Bonaventure Reading Center in Olean and its satellite location in South Buffalo. Prior to joining the Bona community, I was on the graduate faculty at the University at Pittsburgh School of Education.
Community Service
I served on the Board of Directors of Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County 2012-2017, supporting LV-CC tutors and providing services to adult clients through Saturday programs at Olean Public Library.
Education
I completed my undergraduate degree at The Catholic University of America School of Music. My master’s and doctoral degrees were earned at the University at Buffalo School of Education, under the advisement of Dr. Michael W. Kibby, a nationally known diagnostician and scholar. At UB, I served as a graduate assistant and clinical supervisor in Center for Literacy and Reading Instruction, and as a research assistant to Dr. Kibby and Dr. William J. Rapaport on an NSF-funded project. During my doctoral program years at the UB Graduate School of Education, I also taught master’s level courses as an adjunct instructor
K-12 Teaching
Before transitioning to full-time college teaching and then into private practice, I taught for 16 years at the high school level. Between 1991-2002, I was on the faculty of The Gow School in South Wales, teaching both Vocal Music and Reconstructive Language. I also taught for The Gow School Summer Program for six summers. Between 1990 and 2007, I served as vocal coach for the St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Swing Choir and the school’s spring musical productions along with maintaining a thriving vocal studio practice. Between 2002-2006, while working on my doctorate, I taught vocal music at Nichols [Upper] School in Buffalo.
Past and Present Research
My dissertation research concerned the processes used by adolescent readers to learn new words and word meanings from multiple print contexts. Much of my research with high school and college age readers has concerned vocabulary acquisition and development as these relate to reading comprehension. I am also studying the impact that professional book study groups have on teachers’ social justice dispositions and teaching practices. I have presented my research at dozens of national and international conferences, including those of the Literacy Research Association, National Reading Conference, International Reading Association, American Educational Research Association, International Dyslexia Association, American Association of Applied Linguistics, and International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry.