Program Areas

• Reading
• Teacher Preparation 

Research Interests

Teacher development and quality literacy implementation:
     Teaching preservice and inservice teachers to be reflective thinkers who are committed to becoming extraordinary professionals as they teach the world to read. In addition, self-study in teacher assessment, novice and experienced teachers’ reflections and related actions, children’s multicultural literature, instructional practices in silent reading, the use of poetry to teach writing craft and the professional development of teachers in literacy training and workshops that provide increased access to learning for diverse populations of students.

Classes

• CIEP 362 Literacy in the Content Areas
• CIEP 206 Children’s Literature
• CIEP 453 Emergent Literacy
• CIEP 452 Literacy Theory and Foundations

Awards

• 2004 - Alpha Delta Adult Literacy Award, Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honor Society of the International Reading Association

Professional & Community Affiliations

• National Reading Conference and Teacher Education Research Study Group of NRC
• College Reading Association
• International Reading Association (IRA), Illinois Reading Council, Northern Illinois Reading Council (NIRC)
• American Reading Research Association
• International Reading Association, Alpha Upsilon Alpha Steering Committee, Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Upsilon Alpha, Northern Illinois University, Teachers As Readers Chair
• Volunteer for the "Ron Santo Walk" - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation