Karen R. Harris

Who is Karen R. Harris?

Karen R. Harris is an educational psychologist and special educator who has researched the development of learning strategies and self-regulation among students with learning challenges such as learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She is currently the Mary Emily Warner Professor in the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University.

Dr. Harris has worked in the field of education for over 35 years, initially as a general education teacher and then as a special education teacher. Her research focuses on informing and improving theory, research, and practice related to writing development among students with high incidence disabilities, students who struggle academically, and normally achieving students. She is interested in validating instructional approaches for heterogeneous classrooms and students with special needs derived from integrating multiple, evidence-based theories. She developed the Self-Regulated Strategy Development model of strategies instruction; SRSD has been most extensively researched in the area of writing, although researchers have also addressed applications in reading, math, and homework. Her current research focuses on practice-based professional development in SRSD for general and special educators, and on using technology to improve literacy instruction.