Introduction
Debbie Powell, Ed.D., is an Associate Professor in the Language and Literacy graduate program and the Elementary Education undergraduate program in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Reading from Indiana University, Bloomington with cognates in English Language Arts and School Administration. Her research interests include: writing, spelling and phonics, literacy in science, integrated curriculum and reading comprehension.
- K-8th grade Classroom teacher, Special Reading teacher, Reading Coach, Media Specialist, and Technology teacher in Indiana, Florida and Missouri
- Reading Coordinator K-12, Center Grove Schools, Indiana
- Professor of Reading, University of Northern Colorado
- Associate Professor of Elementary Education, Missouri State University
- Visiting Scholar, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Curriculum Coordinator, author, consultant for numerous educational publishers
- Led Study Abroad groups to Costa Rica, Australia & New Zealand, and England & Scotland.
- Co-PI of Elementary Science Implementation Project, NSF funded
Courses Taught
EDN 340 Reading Foundations
EDN 340 Foundations of Reading
EDN 586 Professional Roles and Systems for Change in Literacy Education
EDN 566 Action Research in Literacy
EDN 595 Writing in the Common Core
EDN 595 Integrated Curriculum and the Common Core
LINKS
We Are UNCW
Watson Chronicle
Uni-SPIRE and the Universal Writing Continuum were featured in The Star News on April 27
For more information on Uni-SPIRE and the Universal Writing Continuum, visit thewritingcontinuum.com
Writing Conference: http://www.uncw.edu/ed/cncwc/
Study Abroad in Costa Rica
Professional Service
Debbie is available to conduct professional development for elementary teachers in the areas of writing, writing workshop, comprehension, spelling, phonics in context, integrated curriculum, nonfiction reading and writing, inquiry teaching, and writing and spelling assessment. See Curriculum Vita for previous professional development.
Research Interests
Integrated Curriculum
Teaching Writing in the Elementary Classroom
Writing Across the Curriculum
Nonfiction Genre
Spelling and Phonics
Writing and Spelling Assessment
Comprehension Strategies
Inquiry
Teachers’ Beliefs and Philosophies
Gaining Empathy for ELLs
Recent Presentations
NHCRA 21st Century Literacy
Service Learning
Additional Information
I am committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. I’ve had two primary goals since I have returned to higher education from the public schools:
- to challenge my students to be the best teachers they can be, and
- to work with schools, teachers and their curricula to better achieve an educational system that can prepare all children for our 21stcentury global, democratic society.
These goals require inquiry, intuition, ingenuity, collaboration, and dedication. I see the future of our nation and our educational system at a crossroad. It is critical that we work together within the college, with colleagues in other colleges, with colleagues in other universities, and with the public schools to refine our techniques and reform the educational system.