Carol Booth Olson
Professor Emerita
School of Education
School of Education
Director of the UC Irvine Writing Project
School of Education
School of Education
University of California, Irvine
3000E Education
Mail Code: 5500
Irvine, CA 92697
3000E Education
Mail Code: 5500
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Education, Writing Project
Websites
Academic Distinctions
1999 Outstanding Contribution to Reading Award from the Orange County Reading Association for contributions to literacy instruction
1997 UCI Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Committee on Teaching Quality for excellence in teaching
1996 UCI Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Committee on Teaching Quality for excellence in teaching
1995 California Association of Teachers of English Award of Merit for significant contributions to improving language arts education in California
1994 Caddo Gap Press Award for California Education Research for research on the impact of culturally diverse literature on ethnic and linguistic minority students
1992 University of California Presidential Grants for School Improvement Research Recognition Award for research on Reading, Thinking and Writing About Literature: Implications for Teachers and Students
1981 UCI Career Development Award to edit a book on the teaching of writing
1977 Kappa Kappa Gamma Fellowship Award for research in American Literature
1976 Outstanding Graduate Woman of the Year, University of California, Los Angeles
1976 Patent Fund Dissertation Research Award, University of California, Los Angeles for research on literature and psychology
1997 UCI Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Committee on Teaching Quality for excellence in teaching
1996 UCI Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Committee on Teaching Quality for excellence in teaching
1995 California Association of Teachers of English Award of Merit for significant contributions to improving language arts education in California
1994 Caddo Gap Press Award for California Education Research for research on the impact of culturally diverse literature on ethnic and linguistic minority students
1992 University of California Presidential Grants for School Improvement Research Recognition Award for research on Reading, Thinking and Writing About Literature: Implications for Teachers and Students
1981 UCI Career Development Award to edit a book on the teaching of writing
1977 Kappa Kappa Gamma Fellowship Award for research in American Literature
1976 Outstanding Graduate Woman of the Year, University of California, Los Angeles
1976 Patent Fund Dissertation Research Award, University of California, Los Angeles for research on literature and psychology
Appointments
2011 - present Associate Professor, UC Irvine Department of Education
1997 - 2011 Senior Lecturer SOE (51%) and Academic Coordinator V (49%), Department of Education, University of California, Irvine
1985 - 1997 Academic Coordinator, Department of Education, University of California, Irvine
1996 UCI Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Committee on Teaching Quality for excellence in teaching
1978 - Present Director, University of California, Irvine/California Writing Project, Department of Education, University of California, Irvine
1976 - 1982 Continuing Education Specialist, University Extension, University of California, Irvine
1975 - 1976 UTeaching Assistant Trainer, Department of English, University of California, Los Angeles
1973 - 1976 Teaching Assistant, Teaching Associate, Teaching Fellow, Department of English, University of California, Los Angeles
1997 - 2011 Senior Lecturer SOE (51%) and Academic Coordinator V (49%), Department of Education, University of California, Irvine
1985 - 1997 Academic Coordinator, Department of Education, University of California, Irvine
1996 UCI Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Committee on Teaching Quality for excellence in teaching
1978 - Present Director, University of California, Irvine/California Writing Project, Department of Education, University of California, Irvine
1976 - 1982 Continuing Education Specialist, University Extension, University of California, Irvine
1975 - 1976 UTeaching Assistant Trainer, Department of English, University of California, Los Angeles
1973 - 1976 Teaching Assistant, Teaching Associate, Teaching Fellow, Department of English, University of California, Los Angeles
Research Abstract
Carol Booth Olson is Director of the UCI/National Writing Project and an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at the University of California, Irvine. She received her Ph.D. in American Literature from UCLA in 1977 and was honored as Outstanding Graduate Woman of the Year.
Dr. Olson has edited three books: Practical Ideas for Teaching Writing as Process (1997), the best selling publication of the California Department of Education (1986; 1987); Thinking/Writing: Fostering Critical Thinking Through Writing (Harper Collins, 1992); and Reading, Thinking, and Writing About Multicultural Literature (Scott Foresman Publishers, 1996). In addition, her single-author text, The Reading/Writing Connection, is now in its second edition (Allyn & Bacon/ Longman, 2007). Dr. Olson has also published over thirty journal articles on interactive strategies for teaching writing, fostering critical thinking through writing, applying multiple intelligences theory to language arts instruction, using multicultural literature with students of culturally diverse backgrounds, and more.
In 1994, Dr. Olson and three UCI Writing Project teacher researchers won the first annual Caddo Gap Press Award for California Education Research for a study of the impact of teaching multicultural literature on the writing of ethnic and linguistic minority students. She was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Commitee in Teaching Quality for 1996 and 1997 and received the Outstanding Contribution to Reading Award from the Orange County Reading Assocation in 1999. In 2007, Dr. Olson received the Alan Purves Award from the National Council of Teachers of English for the article in Research in the Teaching of English deemed most like to impact educational practice for an eight-year long study in Santa Ana Unified School District.
"Children are always the only future the human race has; Teach them well."
Teaching
Supervision
Supervise student teachers who are working on obtaining their Single Subject Teaching Credential in English. Conduct student teaching seminars. Provide feedback on student teaching performance via cognitive coaching. Collaborate with Master Teachers on evaluation.
Administration
Direct the UCI/California Writing Project. Conduct the UCI Writing Project Summer Institute on the Teaching of Composition and Literature. Plan and implement all Summer Institute follow-up activities. Oversee the UCIWP Open Program, all inservice courses, and the Young Writers' Project. Write and administer all grants related to the UCIWP.
Research
Conduct school-based research on the impact of curriculum design and staff development on the reading, thinking, and writing ability of K-12 students.
Public Relations
Serve as campus liaison to the California State Department of Education, the Orange County Department of Education, public schools and institutions of higher education on issues related to the UCI Writing Project. Attend local, state and National Writing Project meetings.
Consulting
Work at the district and school site level with administrators, curriculum specialists and resource teachers who wish to reassess their writing programs. Make presentations on Writing Project concepts and strategies as well as on the writing competencies necessary to compete successfully at the university level.
Publications
Write, edit or assist in the creation of various publications directed toward public school personnel including informational pamphlets, curriculum guidelines, newsletters and book-length manuscripts.
Dr. Olson has edited three books: Practical Ideas for Teaching Writing as Process (1997), the best selling publication of the California Department of Education (1986; 1987); Thinking/Writing: Fostering Critical Thinking Through Writing (Harper Collins, 1992); and Reading, Thinking, and Writing About Multicultural Literature (Scott Foresman Publishers, 1996). In addition, her single-author text, The Reading/Writing Connection, is now in its second edition (Allyn & Bacon/ Longman, 2007). Dr. Olson has also published over thirty journal articles on interactive strategies for teaching writing, fostering critical thinking through writing, applying multiple intelligences theory to language arts instruction, using multicultural literature with students of culturally diverse backgrounds, and more.
In 1994, Dr. Olson and three UCI Writing Project teacher researchers won the first annual Caddo Gap Press Award for California Education Research for a study of the impact of teaching multicultural literature on the writing of ethnic and linguistic minority students. She was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCI Commitee in Teaching Quality for 1996 and 1997 and received the Outstanding Contribution to Reading Award from the Orange County Reading Assocation in 1999. In 2007, Dr. Olson received the Alan Purves Award from the National Council of Teachers of English for the article in Research in the Teaching of English deemed most like to impact educational practice for an eight-year long study in Santa Ana Unified School District.
"Children are always the only future the human race has; Teach them well."
Experience
Teaching
- Taught the following courses at UCLA and UC Irvine: Freshman Composition
- Introduction to Literature
- Critical Reading and Writing
- American Literature and Society
- Victorian Literature
- The Divided Self: Madness in the Contemporary American Novel
- Literature and Psychology
- Pedagogy (Teaching Assistant Training)
- Strategies for the Development of Communication and Thinking Skills for the Elementary Child
- Critical Reading and Writing for Returning Students
- UCI Writing Project: Summer Institute on the Teaching of Composition and Literature
- Writing and Critical Thinking
- Methods Advisement for Teaching English in the Secondary School
- Reading, Thinking and Writing About Culturally Diverse Literature
- Research on Implementing Culturally Diverse Literature in the Classroom
- Method of Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary School
- Teaching English in the Secondary School
- Applied Instructional Strategies in the Secondary School
Supervision
Supervise student teachers who are working on obtaining their Single Subject Teaching Credential in English. Conduct student teaching seminars. Provide feedback on student teaching performance via cognitive coaching. Collaborate with Master Teachers on evaluation.
Administration
Direct the UCI/California Writing Project. Conduct the UCI Writing Project Summer Institute on the Teaching of Composition and Literature. Plan and implement all Summer Institute follow-up activities. Oversee the UCIWP Open Program, all inservice courses, and the Young Writers' Project. Write and administer all grants related to the UCIWP.
Research
Conduct school-based research on the impact of curriculum design and staff development on the reading, thinking, and writing ability of K-12 students.
Public Relations
Serve as campus liaison to the California State Department of Education, the Orange County Department of Education, public schools and institutions of higher education on issues related to the UCI Writing Project. Attend local, state and National Writing Project meetings.
Consulting
Work at the district and school site level with administrators, curriculum specialists and resource teachers who wish to reassess their writing programs. Make presentations on Writing Project concepts and strategies as well as on the writing competencies necessary to compete successfully at the university level.
Publications
Write, edit or assist in the creation of various publications directed toward public school personnel including informational pamphlets, curriculum guidelines, newsletters and book-length manuscripts.
Publications
The Reading /Writing Connection: Strategies for Teaching and Learning.
New York : Addison Wesley Longman, 2003
New York : Addison Wesley Longman, 2003
Research on Reading, Thinking and Writing About Literature, Oakland: University of California, Office of the President, 1997.
Senior Consultant, Scott Foresman Literature and Integrated Studies: Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman, 1997.
Senior Consultant, Scott Foresman Literature and Integrated Studies: Forms of Literature (Grade 9); World Literature (Grade 10); American Literature (Grade 11); English Literature (Grade 12), Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman, 1997.
"Professional Commentary: Writing and Thinking Critically." In Scott Foresman Literature and Integrated Studies Annotated Teacher's Edition: Grades 6-12, (28-29). Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman, 1997.
"Reading, Thinking and Writing About Culturally Diverse Literature: An Academic Partnership," On Common Ground, Number 7 (Fall 1996), 22.
"Little Kids Can Think Big: Fostering Critical Thinking Through Writing," Think Magazine, Vol. 6, Number 4 (April 1996), 8-15.
Co-author, "A Multiple Intelligences Approach to Teaching Multicultural Literature," Language Arts Journal ofMichigan, Vol 12, Number 1 (Spring 1996), 1-8.
Editor, Practical Ideas for Teaching Writing as a Process at the High School and College Levels, Sacramento, CA: California State Department of Education, 1996.
Editor, Practical Ideas for Teaching Writing as a Process at the Elementary School and Middle School Levels, Sacramento, CA: California State Department of Education, 1996.
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5605
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5605
Last updated
08/22/2023
08/22/2023