Sarah R Powell

Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

M.S.Ed., Vanderbilt University

B.A., Centre College

Sarah R. Powell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education. Powell is currently Principal Investigator (PI) of a four-year Institute of Education Sciences efficacy grant related to word problems and equation solving for third-grade students with mathematics difficulties. Powell is also PI of a five-year early numeracy and literacy read-alouds project funded by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, co-PI of a National Science Foundation grant aimed at developing a science intervention for second-grade students with learning difficulties, and co-PI of an Office of Special Education Programs model demonstration grant for middle school algebra readiness. Powell was a National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow from 2014 to 2016, and she is currently a Faculty Fellow with the Greater Texas Foundation. Powell's research interests include developing and testing interventions for students with mathematics difficulties, with a special emphasis on peer tutoring, word-problem solving, mathematics writing, and the symbols and vocabulary within mathematics.

Associate Editor, Journal of Learning Disabilities(2017 - Present)

Editorial Review Board, Journal of Learning Disabilities(2014)

Editorial Review Board, Teaching Exceptional Children(2014)

Associate Editor, Assessment for Effective Intervention(2013 - 2016)

Editorial Review Board, Learning Disabilities Research and Practice(2013)

Editorial Review Board, Learning Disability Quarterly(2013)

Powell, S. R.. & Nelson, G.. (2017). An investigation of the mathematics-vocabulary knowledge of first-grade students. The Elementary School Journal, 117, 664–686. doi:10.1086/691604.

Powell, S. R.., Hebert, M. A.., Cohen, J. A.., Casa, T. M.. & Firmender, J. M.. (2017). A synthesis of mathematics writing: Assessments, interventions, and surveys. Journal of Writing Research, 8, 493–526. doi:10.17239/jowr-2017.08.03.04.

Powell, S. R.., Driver, M. K.., Roberts, G.. & Fall, A.-M.. (2017). An analysis of the mathematics vocabulary knowledge of third- and fifth-grade students: Connections to general vocabulary and mathematics computation.. Learning and Individual Differences, 57, 22–32. doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2017.05.011.

Powell, S. R.., Cirino, P. T.. & Malone, A. S.. (2017). Child-level predictors of responsiveness to evidence-based mathematics intervention. Exceptional Children, 83, 359–377. doi:10.1177/0014402917690728.

Powell, S. R.., Berry, K. A.., Benz, S. A.., Forsyth, S. R.. & Martinez-Lincoln, A.. (2017). Teaching students to understand and solve word problems. Texas Mathematics Teacher, 63(2), 6–12.

King, S. A.., Powell, S. R.., Lemons, C. J.. & Davidson, K. A.. (2017). Comparison of mathematics performance of children and adolescents with and without Down syndrome. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 52, 208–222.

Driver, M. K.. & Powell, S. R.. (2017). Culturally and linguistically responsive schema intervention: Improving word-problem solving for English language learners with mathematics difficulty. Learning Disability Quarterly, 40, 41–53. doi:10.1177/0731948716646730.

Hughes, E. M.., Powell, S. R.. & Stevens, E. A.. (2016). Supporting clear and concise mathematics language: Instead of that, say this. Teaching Exceptional Children, 49, 7–17. doi:10.1177/0040059916654901.

Stevens, E. A. & Powell, S. R. (2016). Unpacking word problems for diverse learners: A guide to using schemas. Childhood Education, 92, 86–91. doi:10.1080/00094056.2016.1134253.

Hughes, E. M., Powell, S. R., Lembke, E. S. & Riley-Tillman, T. C. (2016). Taking the guesswork out of locating evidence-based practices for diverse learners. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 31, 130–141. doi:10.1111/ldrp.12103.

Hebert, M. A. & Powell, S. R. (2016). Examining fourth-grade mathematics writing: Features of organization, mathematics vocabulary, and mathematical representations. Reading and Writing, 29, 1511–1537. doi:10.1007/s11145-016-9649-5.

Powell, S. R. & Nurnberger-Haag, J. (2015). Everybody counts, but usually just to 10! A systematic analysis of number representations in children's books. Early Education and Development, 26, 377–398. doi:10.1080/10409289.2015.994466.

Powell, S. R. & Driver, M. K. (2015). The influence of mathematics vocabulary instruction embedded within addition tutoring for first-grade students with mathematics difficulty. Learning Disability Quarterly, 38, 221–233. doi:10.1177/0731948714564574.

Powell, S. R. (2015). The influence of symbols and equations on understanding mathematical equivalence. Intervention in School and Clinic, 50, 266–272. doi:10.1177/0731948714564574.

Powell, S. R. (2015). Connecting evidence-based practice with implementation opportunities in special education mathematics preparation. Intervention in School and Clinic, 51, 90–96. doi:10.1177/1053451215579269.

Powell, S. R., Driver, M. K. & Julian, T. E. (2015). The effect of tutoring with nonstandard equations on the mathematics performance of second-grade students with mathematics difficulty. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48, 523–534. doi:10.1177/0022219413512613.

Powell, S. R., Fuchs, L. S., Cirino, P. T., Fuchs, D., Compton, D. L. & Changas, P. C.. (2015). Effects of a multi-tier support system on calculation, word-problem, and pre-algebraic learning among at-risk learners. Exceptional Children, 81, 443–470. doi:10.1177/0014402914563702.

Powell, S. R. & Fuchs, L. S. (2015). Intensive intervention in mathematics. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 30, 182–192. doi:10.1111/ldrp.12087.

Lemons, C. J., Powell, S. R., King, S. A. & Davidson, K. (2015). Mathematics interventions for children and adolescents with Down syndrome: A research synthesis. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 59, 767–783. doi:10.1111/jir.12188.

Cirino, P. T.., Fuchs, L. S.., Elias, J.., Powell, S. R.. & Schumacher, R. F.. (2015). Cognitive and mathematical profiles for different forms of learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48, 156–175. doi:10.1177/0022219413494239.

Powell, S. R. & Stecker, P. M. (2014). Using data-based individualization to intensify mathematics intervention for students with disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children, 46(4), 31–37. doi:10.1177/0040059914523735.

Powell, S. R., Fuchs, L. S. & Fuchs, D. (2013). Reaching the mountaintop: Addressing the Common Core Standards in mathematics for students with mathematics difficulties. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 28, 38–48. doi:10.1111/ldrp.12001.

Powell, S. R. (2012). Equations and the equal sign in elementary mathematics textbooks. The Elementary School Journal, 112, 627–648. doi:10.1086/665009.

Powell, S. R. (2012). High-stakes testing for students with mathematics difficulty: Response format effects in mathematics problem solving. Learning Disabilities Quarterly, 35, 3–9. doi:10.1177/0731948711428773.

Powell, S. (2011). Solving word problems using schemas: A review of the literature. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 26, 94–108.

Powell, S. R. & Fuchs, L. S. (2010). Contribution of equal-sign instruction beyond word-problem tutoring for third-grade students with mathematics difficulty. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102, 381–394. doi:10.1037/a0018447.

Powell, S. R., Fuchs, L. S. & Fuchs, D. (2010). Embedding number combinations practice within word-problem tutoring. Intervention in School and Clinic, 46, 22–30. doi:10.1177/1053451210369516.

Developing connections between word problems and mathematical equations to promote word-problem performance among students with mathematics difficulty.
This is an Institute of Education Sciences Goal 3 efficacy trial in which we determining the role of algebraic reasoning within word-problem solving for third-grade students with learning difficulties.

Understanding the influence of math symbols and vocabulary on math performance
With this National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship, I am exploring the mathematics vocabulary and symbol knowledge of students in the elementary and middle school grades.

Investigating the effects of algebra and rational numbers performance on post-secondary preparation, access, and persistence for students with and without mathematics difficulty
With this three-year Greater Texas Foundation Faculty Fellowship, I am investigating the connections between college algebra and rational number understanding.

Interactive Read-Alouds for Prekindergarten and Kindergarten to Improve Literacy and Numeracy Skills
The primary purpose of this 5-year project is to develop interactive read-aloud resources for educators and caregivers that are empirically derived and improve valued outcomes related to mathematics, language, and reading. We work with educators in preschool and early-elementary settings and the caregivers of the children who receive educational services in such settings. We design interactive read-aloud materials focused on helping educators and caregivers capitalize on the rich array of early-numeracy and literacy trade books available in libraries, classroom collections, or in the home.

Project STAIR: Supporting teaching of algebra: Individual readiness
This is an Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) model demonstration grant funded from 2018-2019. In collaboration with the University of Missouri and Southern Methodist University, we will work with middle school teachers of students with learning difficulties to increase algebra readiness.

Samuel A. Kirk Award, Best Practitioner Article, Division for Learning Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children (2016)

Early Career Publication Award, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Research (2011)

Dissertation Award, Council for Exception Children, Division for Learning Disabilities (2010)

Outstanding Researcher Award, Council for Learning Disabilities (2009)

Robert Gaylord-Ross Award for Excellence in Scholarly Writing, Vanderbilt University, Department of Special Education (2009)

Dick Shores Teacher Education Award, Vanderbilt University, Department of Special Education (2009)

www.sarahpowellphd.com