College of Education
Barbara Swaby
Professor
Curriculum and Instruction
College of Education
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 262-4091
Dr. Barbara Swaby is a Professor of Education and President's Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She is the director of the Graduate Reading Program and the Graduate Reading Clinic, and has been a member of the Thesis Committee for over 80 students.
She has taught courses in reading for approximately twenty-seven years. Her contributions and accomplishments span the local, state, national and international levels. Dr. Swaby is the author of several articles, two college textbooks, two teacher workbooks, and a set of whole language readers and children's books. She has helped to develop Functional and Critical Reading and Reading Comprehension Subtests for National Assessment Testing. She serves on numerous committees, including Education Grievance, Search Committees, and Evaluation and Admissions. She is a past board member of United Way, Women's Resource Agency and Urban League, and is a member of the International Reading Association.
In addition to teaching in the College of Education at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Dr. Swaby has taught courses for Mind Extension University, the Education Network - with a viewing audience of over 40 million homes worldwide. Her "Journey into Literacy" series won a Telly Award in 1993 and an Angel Award of Excellence in 1994. The Certificate in Reading class has drawn students from throughout North and South America, and as far away as Japan.
She conducts workshops, advises and consults with school districts throughout Colorado. She has made numerous conference presentations and has been featured for Keynote Addresses, Luncheon Speeches, Symposiums and Workshops.
Dr. Swaby's personal education is indicative of her commitment to the educational process. Both of her parents were educators in her native Jamaica, West Indies; and her early childhood training proceeded along an aggressive path. She was already in college by age 15. She earned a B.A. degree in Music Education from Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee; and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Reading Education from the University of Minnesota. She has been on the faculty at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs since 1977.
She has received numerous awards and special recognitions. Among them:
- Election to Phi Beta Kappa.
- Certificates of Appreciation from Pikes Peak Community College.
- Certificates of Appreciation from Colorado Springs School District 11.
- Martin Luther King Community Service Award.
- "Women Who Make a Difference" honor from the Gazette Telegraph.
- Literacy Award from the International Reading Association.
- Outstanding Educator of the Year.
- Outstanding Teaching Award (twice).
- Outstanding Young Women of America certificate.
- Recognition as a local "Hometown Hero".
- Outstanding Citizen of Colorado Springs Award.
- Bank One Colorado Corporation 1993-1994 Faculty Community Service Award.
- Inclusion in Who's Who Among America's Teachers 1996 and 2003.
Dr. Swaby is a scholar who is dedicated to the transferring of knowledge and wisdom to everyone she sees, especially our youth. She gives real meaning to the term "Role Model". She is married and is the mother of one son.
Director of the Graduate Reading Program: Director of the University of Colorado Reading Clinics: Presidential Teaching Scholar: University of Colorado.
Education
Ph.D., Reading
University of Minnesota - 1977
M.A., Reading
University of Minnesota - 1975
B.A., Music Education
Tusculum College - 1968
Teaching
CURR 5401
Teaching Reading in the Elementary School
Comparative analysis of predominant current philosophies / methodologies of reading
instruction, current organizational procedures, skill development, and comprehension
activities in the elementary school.
CURR 5402
Teaching the Basal
Application of current instructional techniques in reading to basal readers in use.
Focus on the instruction of average to below average readers.
CURR 5403
Introduction to Clinical Experiences
Introduction to diagnostic, evaluative, prescriptive and remedial principles. Tutorial
approach.
CURR 5404
Facilitating Reading in the Preschool and Kindergarten Classroom
Historical background of reading readiness and strategies for advancing literacy
in the preschool and kindergarten classroom. Workshop approach.
CURR 5410
Informal Diagnostic and Remedial Techniques of Reading
Causes of low reading ability and techniques employed in teaching the poor reader,
diagnosis, motivation, and skills.
CURR 5411
Psycholinguistics and Reading
An analysis of the reading process from a psycholinguistic orientation. Emphasis
on research studies and selected readings dealing with linguistic development and
appropriate implications for reading acquisition. Prerequisites: CURR 5401 or CURR
5410.
CURR 5412
The Reading-Writing Connection
Explores the relationships that exist between reading (decoding) and writing (encoding).
Both reading and writing are viewed as inseparable parts of the complete language
arts complex. Reading to write and writing to read are both important focus areas
of this course.
CURR 5430
Reading Clinical Procedures I (Elementary)
Supervised diagnosis of reading problems; evaluation instruments; pertinent research;
case study approach. Prerequisites: CURR 5410 or consent of instructor. Meets with
CURR 5431.
CURR 5431
Reading Clinic Procedures II (Secondary).
Supervised remediation of reading problems; methods and teaching materials; use
of readability measures. Prerequisites: CURR 5410 or consent of instructor. Meets
with CURR 5430.
Scholarship
Publications - Articles
Swaby, B. (1984).
Effective Skill Instruction: Teaching Skills so that Children Learn.
Clearing House, 57(5), 220-223.
Swaby, B. (1984).
Fan Out Your Facts.
The Reading Teacher, 914-916.
Arnold, D. G., Swaby, B. (1984).
Neurolinguistic Applications for the Remediation of Reading Problems.
Reading Teacher, 37(9), 831-834.
Swaby, B. (1983).
Questions Parents Ask about Reading and the Gifted.
Teaching Exceptional Children, 15(3), 141-143.
Swaby, B. (1983).
What is Important in a Reading Lesson.
In R. Loring and J. Thomas (Eds)
Motivating Children and Young Adults to Read. (2nd ed).
The Oryx Press.
Swaby, B. (1982).
What is Important in a Reading Lesson.
The Reading Teacher, 391-397.
Swaby, B. (1982).
Instructional Repeated Readings.
The Reading Teacher, 391-397.
Swaby, B. (1982).
Varying the Ways You Teach Reading with Basal Stories.
Reading Teacher, 35(6), 676-680.
Swaby, B. (1982).
The AIME: A Classroom Model for the Instruction of Gifted Readers.
Indiana Reading Quarterly, 28-31.
Swaby, B. (1980).
How Parents Can Foster Comprehension Growth in Children.
Reading Teacher, 34(3), 280-283.
Swaby, B. (1980).
The Elaborated Reading Guide: A Resource for English Teachers.
The Indiana Reading Quarterly, 19-29.
Publications - Books
Swaby, B.E. (1997, 2005).
Journey Into Literacy.
P.S. Books, Publisher, 1997, 2005
Swaby, B.E. (1992).
Journey Into Literacy.
Colorado Springs, CO: Mountain Peak Press.
Swaby, B.E. (1991).
Basal Readers: A Practical Workbook for Teachers.
Skipping Stone Press.
Swaby, B. E. (1989).
Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Difficulties.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Swaby, B.E.R. (1984).
Teaching and Learning Reading: A Pragmatic Approach
Boston: Little, Brown.
Publications - Books for Children
Swaby, B.E. (2000).
Black Pear.
Currently being sent several publishers.
Swaby, B.E. (1993).
My Grandpa Henry.
Book and Learning Packet, Current Inc.
Swaby, B.E. (1993).
I Like Colors.
Book and Learning Packet, Current Inc.
Swaby, B.E. (1993).
Love Is.
Book and Learning Packet, Current Inc.
Swaby, B.E. (1993).
The Bluebird's New Adventure.
Colorado Springs, CO: Mountain Peak Press.
Publications - Reports
"The Administrator's Guide to Reading Program Evaluation"
Text in Progress. Expansion of the 2001 booklet. (2002)
Instructional Booklet:
"The Principal's Role in the Evaluation of Reading Programs"
Prepared for School District 8, Colorado Springs, Colorado. (2001)
Set of Twelve Video Tapes:
"Journey into Literacy"
Winner of the 1993 National Telly Award. (1993)
Report to the Colorado Department of Education on the Reading Program:
School of Education,
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. (1989)
Video Tape:
Reading Instruction: The Basic Instructional Sequence for the Teaching of Reading.
Prepared for School District 11, Colorado Springs, Colorado. (1988)
Video Tape:
Reading Instruction: The Parent's Role.
Made for the Board of Cooperative Services to be used at Parent Involvement Council
meetings throughout the State of Colorado. (1979)
Instructional Booklet:
"Fostering Comprehension in the Junior High School Classroom"
(Written with Judy Jones)
Published by School District 11, Colorado Springs, Colorado. (1979)
Instructional Booklet:
"Reading Strategies for High School Teachers"
(Written with John Horbatz and Judy Jones)
Published by School District 11, Colorado Springs, Colorado. (1978)
Publications - Tests
Contributing author of Reading Comprehension subtest of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading and Writing Components. (1982)
Co-author of Functional and Critical Reading subtests of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Test. Held major responsibility for the location and writing of test items for these subtests. (1978)
Publications - Other
Writer: 120 Formal Lessons in Reading:
Wrote the entire Reading Component, Grades 1 through 5 for the Fountain Fort Carson
Summer School program (2002-2003)
"Let's Teach Our Children To Read", (2004)
www.drswaby.com
Service
University
- Director, Library On The Go (LOGO),
A project which provides backpacks filled with books for children from low wealth homes in the Colorado Springs area. - Provides free Reading evaluations for approximately 500 children in Colorado Springs area each year.