Publications

ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• DeHart, J., Blanton, M., & Zhang, S. (under review; 2025). The Readability of Graphic Novels: A Mixed Method Analysis. Submitted to the Journal of Literacy Innovation. 

• Blanton, M.V. (March 2025). Emphasis on Learning: How Ungrading Allowed Students to Focus More on Learning and Less on Stress.  National Teaching and Learning Forum. 

• Blanton, M.V. (Fall 2024). Carefully Curating Texts: A Framework to Help Teachers Select Diverse Children’s Literature. T-CARE Newsletter, a peer-reviewed newsletter published by the Center for Teaching and Learning at California State University-Northridge.

• DeHart, J., Blanton, M., & Zhang, S. (2024). Exploring the readability of graphic novels with teachers. Tennessee Literacy Journal.

• Blanton, M.V. & Pyles, D.G. (2021). Difficult Conversations: How Elementary Teachers Can Teach the Intersection of Climate Change and Environmental Migration through Children’s Literature and Media Literacy. Fringes, the North Carolina English Teachers’ Association Journal.

• DeHart, J., Blanton, M.V., & Zhang, S. (2020). Considering the Factors - Quantitative and Qualitative Features of Graphic Novels.  Tennessee Literacy Journal.

• Blanton, M. V. & Pacifici, L. (2020). Learning by Design: Rethinking Curriculum Alignment through Collaborative Inquiry. Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education, Vol. 3, Is. 2, Article 1.

• Blanton, M.V. (2020). A Correlational Study of School Report Card Grades and Degrees of Poverty.  Journal for Organizational & Educational Leadership Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 4.

• Blanton, M.V. (2020).  GRRR: How to battle the COVID-19 reading loss monster. Published in a special issue of the T-CARE Newsletter Teaching, Learning and Working in a Remote Environment, a peer-reviewed publication by the Center for Teaching and Learning at California State University-Northridge.

• Blanton, M.V., Cheek, A.E., & Bellows, E. (2019).  Real-Time Support: Using eCoaching to Increase Preservice Teachers' Confidence to Teach. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 11(2), 179-188.

• Blanton, M.V. (2015) Keys to reducing summer regression: The reader, routine, and relationship. Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership. Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 2. 

Book Chapter Publications

• Blanton, M. & Cheek, A.E. (2025). “We have eCoaches.  Now what?” A Process for Supporting New eCoaches. Mentoring Students and Instructors for Retention and Success. IGI Global Publications: Hershey, PA.

• Rock, M.L, Crawford, P., & Blanton, M.V. (2019). Carrying out the technology-enabled coaching continuum: Assessing results and evaluating impact.  The eCoaching Continuum: Powerful, Practical, and Impactful Professional Development. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Alexandria, VA.

• Bellows, E., Cheek, A. E., & Blanton, M. (2019).  eCoaching to support university-public school partnerships: Disrupting power dynamics in teacher education.  Handbook of Research on Emerging Practices and Methods for K-12 Online and Blended Learning. IGI Global Publications: Hershey, PA.

Book Reviews

• Blanton, M. (2024). Borders by Thomas King and Natasha Donovan. Fringes, the North Carolina English Teachers’ Association Journal, 5(1).

Dissertation

• Blanton, M. V. (2013). Summer reading loss: A mixed-methods study of parent development and home-based summer reading. (Order No. 3608825, Gardner-Webb University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 176. 

ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION

• Blanton, M.V. (draft). Ripples and reflections: What preservice teachers notice about their teaching practice.

CREATIVE PUBLICATIONS

• Blanton, M. (in preparation) Nine Pennies. After meeting with the acquisitions editor at the Blue Ridge Writer’s Conference, a revised manuscript will be submitted to JourneyForth Books, a division of BJU Press. Greenville, SC.

• Blanton, M. (2016) Wee Mouse. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. https://www.amazon.com/Wee-Mouse-Morgan-Blanton/dp/1535301201  

• Blanton, M. (2015). Go Momma! Go! CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.  http://www.amazon.com/Go-Momma-Morgan-Blanton/dp/150567333X 

• Blanton, M. (2014). The Land of Lost Toys. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. http://www.amazon.com/Land-Lost-Toys-Morgan-Blanton/dp/1500353183  

CURRICULUM WRITING EXPERIENCE

• Blanton, M., Pennell, A., & Trathen, W. (2023). Curriculum design team member.  Developed assessments, materials, and daily lesson plans for two new courses. Please note that the collaborators’ names are simply listed in alphabetical order..  

  • • LIT 3440 Literacy Methods in the Elementary Grades 

    • LIT 3450 Teaching Literacy in Inclusive Intermediate Classrooms 

• Blanton, M. (2018). Contracted to write an integrated ELA/SS curriculum for pre-, during-, and post-school visits for a local non-profit, Horse Helpers of the High Country. The curriculum was shared with teachers prior to the visit to build background knowledge about horses through inquiry learning before the school visit and by engaging in a close reading after the school visit.

• Blanton, M. (2016). Wrote 20+ Comprehension Intervention Units of Study for 6-8th grade striving readers in Cleveland County Schools to be taught by 6-8th grade ELA teachers during the intervention block each day.

• Blanton, M. (2012). Designed a unit of study for Title 1 parents related to summer reading loss to be delivered by Title 1 teachers. This curriculum was written as part of the EDCI Doctoral Program at Gardner-Webb University and in preparation for my dissertation study.