Edwin S. Ellis has conducted scientific research on strategic instruction for over 30 years and works extensively on putting that research into practice. While his scholarship is well known and studied in the academic community, the practical, user-friendly instructional materials stemming from his research is used extensively in intermediate, middle, and high schools as well as in teacher-preparation programs throughout the US and Canada.

Makes Sense Strategies™ is the culmination of over 15 years of research examining ways to utilize principles of brain-based learning and strategic instruction to make complex information more readily understandable, meaningful, and memorable. AYP test scores in schools implementing MSS attest to the robustness of this work.

Ellis is one of the original authors of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) developed at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and has participated in numerous studies validating the SIM learning strategies and content enhancement routines.  He is the author of The SLANT Class Participation Strategy, The LINCS Vocabulary Strategy, The LINCing Routine, The Clarifying Routine, and The Framing Routine and many other books. He has published numerous journal articles, chapters, and other books and software about strategic instruction and interventions for adolescents with learning disabilities.

At the University of Alabama, Ellis developed the Multiple Abilities Program (MAP), which is a highly innovative approach to teacher education in which use of Makes Sense Strategies is prominently featured. The International Reading Association recently recognized MAP is one of the best literacy teacher-education programs in the US.

• Graduate Faculty, Professor, University of Alabama Department of Special Education and Multiple Abilities
• Research Affiliate and SIM Professional Development Specialist, University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
• President, Makes Sense Strategies, LLC
• Research Impact Award
  Capstone Education Society, University of Alabama
• G.R. Alley Partnership Award for Outstanding Collaborative Research 
  Center for Research in Learning, University of Kansas
• Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Learning Disabilities
  Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Learning Disabilities
• Academic Excellence Award
  Capstone Education Society, University of Alabama
• Excellence in Scholarship Award (3)
  University of South Carolina
• Outstanding Service Award
  Council for Exceptional Children
• “Ten Best Teacher-educators in U.S”
  Council for Exceptional Children
• National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities
• President, Council for Exceptional Children: Division of Learning Disabilities
• President, International Council for Learning Disabilities