University Of Mobile: Q&A With UM School Of Education Professor Karen Dennis

Mobile AL

08 December, 2021

6:13 PM

Description

Press release from the University of Mobile: Kathy Dean December 8, 2021 UM Associate Professor of Education Karen Dennis, who played the part of the Mouse from the book "If You Give a Mouse a Brownie," is passionate about early literacy. She encourages her UM School of Education students to develop creative ways to make learning fun for the children they will one day teach. "Our hope is that the students who watch these book characters come alive are enticed to go find that book to discover for themselves how that character solved their particular dilemma," Dennis explains. It's just one of the ways the Christian university provides School of Education students with experiences they can take into their future classrooms. Dennis also serves as co-director of UM's Center for Collaborative Teaching and Learning. We asked her what she loves about teaching at the University of Mobile. Q: How does UM prepare the next generation of teachers? A: I love the way we in the School of Education have structured our programs. We all keep current with what new trends or initiatives are taking place in the various education classrooms. Whether it is Pre-K, elementary or secondary, we all strive to keep our course content and field experiences relevant and up-to-date with current research. In my literacy courses, the content is all focused around the science of reading, making our future teachers the most prepared they can be to be effective teachers of all things literacy! Q: What is your background? A: I graduated from University of South Alabama with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education in 1991. After teaching first grade a few years, I decided to pursue a master's degree. I earned my master's at Harding University in 1999. It wasn't until 2011 that I decided I wanted to continue my education, so I chose to pursue a PhD in Cognition and Instruction. Q: What was your dissertation topic? A: My dissertation is about a topic I am truly passionate about – early literacy. Specifically, I researched kindergarten teachers' perspectives on keeping developmentally appropriate practices of literacy instruction in kindergarten while complying with Common Core State Standards implementation. I try to infuse some of what I discovered about how children learn into all of the courses I teach.  Q: We say UM is a place where students can "Know and Be Known." What does that mean to you?  This press release was produced by the University of Mobile. The views expressed here are the author's own.