Publications
Putting Books to Work Articles
This is a series of articles written for the International Literacy Association’s Putting Books to Work column, in which we reviewed young adult literature and created teaching ideas for educators to use.
Studies/Scholarly Journal Articles
I performed a series of action research studies with Dr. Judith Hayn and Dr. Karina Clemmons, in which we used young adult texts that dealt with social justice issues. We created surveys for each book which were given as pre-reading surveys to begin the study, and after the students had read the particular book and completed class discussions and activities, they took the same survey as a post-reading survey in an attempt to measure changes in the participants’ perceptions of certain issues.
Edited Books and Book Chapters
This is a series of articles written for the International Literacy Association’s Putting Books to Work column, in which we reviewed young adult literature and created teaching ideas for educators to use.
- Putting Books to Work - Want to Go Private
- Putting Books to Work - Ball Don't Lie
- Putting Books to Work - Where Things Come Back
- Putting Books to Work - Primates
- Putting Books to Work - Civil Rights
- Contemporary Genre Article
Studies/Scholarly Journal Articles
I performed a series of action research studies with Dr. Judith Hayn and Dr. Karina Clemmons, in which we used young adult texts that dealt with social justice issues. We created surveys for each book which were given as pre-reading surveys to begin the study, and after the students had read the particular book and completed class discussions and activities, they took the same survey as a post-reading survey in an attempt to measure changes in the participants’ perceptions of certain issues.
- Florida English Journal - Increasing Awareness of Cybersafety & Teacher Responsibility with YA Lit
- English Journal - Using Moon at Nine to Broaden Multicultural Perspectives
- Wonder article – This article is currently under review. It details our action research regarding inclusion of students with disabilities in the classroom.
- It’s Our Prom article – This article is currently under review. It details our action research regarding inclusion of students who are different in the classroom.
Edited Books and Book Chapters
- Young Adult Nonfiction: Gateway to the Common Core - I co-edited this text for teachers that was published in 2015. I also co-authored three chapters about using young adult nonfiction in the classroom in this text. The titles of the chapters are “Content Area Literacy and Young Adult Literature: Examining the Possibilities,” “Graphic Texts as a Catalyst for Content Knowledge and Common Core Content Literacy Standards in STEM Classes,” and “Annotated Resources for the Classroom Teacher.”
- Teaching Young Adult Literature: Integrating, Implementing, and Re-Imagining the Common Core - I co-edited this text for teachers that was published in 2015. I also co-authored two chapters for this text. The titles of the chapters are: “Content Area Literacy and Young Adult Literature: Examining the Landscape,” and “Annotated Resources for the Classroom Teacher.”
- STEM Education for High Ability Learners: Designing and Implementing Programming - This book was published in 2016. I co-authored “Chapter 8: Assessing Aptitude and Achievement in STEM Teaching and Learning” with Amy Sedivy-Benton and James P. Van Haneghan.
- Toy Tipis and Totem Poles: Native American Stereotypes in the Lives of Children Curriculum Guide - This is the cover of a curriculum guide I co-edited. It is currently under review for publication by the Sequoyah National Research Center.
Presentations
- ARKTESOL 14th Conference Program - Session Title: “Intercultural Communications: Enhancing Empathy through Research with Young Adult Literature” - In this presentation I co-presented an action research project with Dr. Judith Hayn and Dr. Karina Clemmons using Matt de la Peña’s book Mexican Whiteboy.
- IRA 2014 Conference - Session Titles: “Phishing and Catfishing Aren't About Fish?: Young Adult Literature to Teach Internet Safety with Common Core State Standards” and “Teachable Moments” - In these presentations, I co-presented our action research projects (with Dr. Judith Hayn and Dr. Karina Clemmons).
- Arkansas Curriculum Conference - Session Title: “Cybersafety, Catfishing, and CCSS: Young Adult Literature for Increasing Awareness” - In this presentation, Dr. Judith Hayn, Dr. Karina Clemmons, and I presented our action research project using Sarah Littman’s book Want to Go Private?
- ILA 2015 Conference - Session Title: "Attitude Adjustment: Using YAL to Encourage Social Justice" - In this presentation Dr. Judith Hayn, Dr. Karina Clemmons, and I presented all of our action research projects to date.
- Innovation Institute 2018 - Session Title “Student Shoes: Dare to Be a Part of Their Journey” - In this presentation Terri Files and I presented about the importance of connecting with students before trying to teach them, as well as how taking risks in the classroom is beneficial for both students and educators.
- Arkansas Catholic Schools 82nd Professional Day 2018 - Session Title “Student Shoes: Dare to Be a Part of Their Journey” - In this presentation Terri Files and I presented about the importance of connecting with students before trying to teach them, as well as how taking risks in the classroom is beneficial for both students and educators.