Kathryn Roberts (eo9096)

• B.S., Elementary Education and Spanish, Butler University
• M.S., Teaching English as a Second Language, Indiana University
• Ph.D., Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy (Literacy Specialization), Michigan State University

Within the Division of Teacher Education, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, advising graduate students, research, serving on various committees

 A former kindergarten teacher, Kathryn L. Roberts earned her doctoral degree in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy, with a specialization in Literacy, from Michigan State University. Currently, Dr. Roberts is a Professor of Reading, Language, and Literature in the College of Education at Wayne State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on emergent and content-area literacy, as well as theoretical foundations of literacy in the departments of Reading, Language and Literature; Early Childhood Education; and Bilingual-Bicultural Education.

Dr. Roberts’ primary research interests include content-area literacy, graphical comprehension, and family literacy. She has authored several publications on literacy education and speaks widely for both practitioner and researcher audiences about various aspects of literacy, such as family involvement, cross-curricular approaches to instruction, and literacy in early childhood contexts.

Early Literacy
Comprehension
Informational Literacy
Family Literacy
Visual Literacy

• Early Literacy
• Comprehension
• Informational Literacy
• Family Literacy
• Visual Literacy

• 2015: Article of the Year, The Geography Teacher
• 2018-2019: University Recognition for Program Assessment, Ph.D. in Educational Studies
• 2019: Faculty Service Award, Wayne State University
• 2020: Kathleen Reilly Koory Faculty Development Award 
• 2022: Distinguished Alumni Award, Butler University

• A Unified Approach to Literacy Instruction (Co-PI)
  2015 - 2016, 2017-2018
  In this Improving Teacher Quality Grant, we engaged in 180+ hours of professional development with grade K-5 teachers. We will be studied the effects of a contextually embedded intervention over the course of one year.
• The SEED Pathway Project. (Co-PI; PI, Dr. Christina DeNicolo)
  2022-2027
  National Professional Development Grant submitted to the U.S. Department of Education; $2,397,000). This study examines the impact of a program designed to certify 110 bilingual and ESL teachers and improve outcomes for ELs.

• DeNicolo, C. P., Roberts, K. L., Brooks, R., Puente, A., & Stanczyk, A. (2024). Sustaining community knowledge and language practices through multiliteracies and school belonging. Paper presented at the annual conference for the Journal of Language and Literacy Learning, Athens Georgia (presented virtually).
• Protacio, S. DeNicolo, C. P., Roberts, K. L, Perry, K. H., Cantrell, S., Stoehr, K. J., & Brovo, M. (2023). Addressing family literacy and equity for multilingual learners and their families. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Atlanta, GA.
• Roberts, K. L., & Arya, P. (2023). Using eye-tracking and verbal protocol methodologies to explore third-grade students’ patterns of attention to print and images. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Atlanta, GA.
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2023). Envisioning and enacting core practices. Paper presented at the annual meeting for the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
• DeNicolo, C. P., Roberts, K. L., Arya, P., & Pogodzinski, B. (2023). Out-of-school-time contexts and consequential research: Exploring culturally sustaining pedagogy and literacy instruction in one collective impact initiative. Paper presented at the annual meeting for the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
• Roberts, K. L., Arya, P., DeNicolo, C. P., Pogodzinski, B. van Belle, L. (2022). Crossing boundaries and borders for collective impact: Expanding partnerships beyond schools and into the community. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Phoenix, AZ.
• Brugar, K. A., Cuenca, A., & Roberts, K. L. (2022). Inquiry and core teaching practices: A content analysis of Inquiry Design Models. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Assembly, Philadelphia, PA.
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2021). This is possible: Critical elementary inquiries in action. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Assembly, Online (COVID-19).
• Roberts, K. L, Arya, P. A., & Plond, K. K. (2021). What's going on? Analysis of interactions during partner reading. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Atlanta, GA.
• Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. B. (2021). Assessment during and after reading: Differences in elementary readers’ strategic actions and processes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Atlanta, GA.
• Roberts, K. L. (2021). Teaching resources: The Inquiry Design Model and Library of Congress. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning, Newburg, NY.
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2020). “The British were jealous.” Using verbal protocol to understand fourth graders’ processing of text. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Assembly, Online (COVID-19).
• Roberts, K. L., & Arya, P. (2020). Navigating the chasms between real and ideal literacy professional development. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Online (COVID-19).
• Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. A. (2020). Promise of process: Verbal protocol as a method for exploring fourth graders’ construction of meaning from social studies texts. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Online (COVID-19).
• Roberts, K. L., Arya, P., & Plond, K. K. (2019). Children’s strategic reading behaviors during peer-peer text interactions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, FL.
• Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. A. (2019). Process and product: Fourth graders making meaning of social studies texts. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, ON.
• Roberts, K. L. (2019). Growing writers: Prekindergarten authors. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning, Newburgh, NY.
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2018). Reading the world: Multi-modal access points to critical literacy. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Assembly, Chicago, IL.
• Meyer, C. K., Jimenez, L. M., Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. A. (2018). Teaching graphic novels in the classroom: Text, readers, pedagogy, and curriculum. Paper presented at the Mrantz Picture Book Symposium, Kent, OH.
• Roberts, K. L., Arya, P., & Harris, A. (2018). Share your experience: Writing for the Michigan Reading Journal. Presented at the annual conference of the Michigan Reading Association, Detroit, MI.
• Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K. A., Jimenez, L. M., & Meyer, C. K. (2018). Comprehending and composing history with graphic novels. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Indian Wells, CA.
• Roberts, K. L., Jimenez, L. M., Meyer, C. K., & Brugar, K. A. (2017). Reading beyond motivation: Learning with graphic novels in the classroom. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, FL.
• Inquiring minds: Pre-service teachers reading, writing, and researching history through multi-genre projects
  Brugar, K. A., *Roberts, K. L.* 12 2016 annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Association
• Developing pedagogical content knowledge in content-area literacy
  *Roberts, K. L.*, Brugar, K. A. 12 2016 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association
• When textbooks don’t have GPS: Award acceptance presentation
  Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K. A. 8 2015 annual meeting of the National Council for Geographic Education
• A hierarchy of teacher needs: Professional development practice informing theory
  Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K. A. 4 2015 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association
• Reimagining teacher education. Forming communities of practice across content areas and contexts for learning
  Brugar, K. A., *Roberts, K.L.* 4 2015 the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association
• Practicing what we preach: Relationships between third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teachers’ beliefs and practices related to genre
  Roberts, K. L., Norman, R. R. 12 2015 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association
• Flourish followed by failure: Professional development as situated practice
  Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K. A. 12 2014 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association
• Seeing is believing: Social studies and visual literacy
  Brugar, K. A., *Roberts, K.L.* 11 2014 annual meeting of the College and University Faculty Association
• Engaging families in early literacy development
  Roberts, K. L. 11 2014 Family & Community Engagement Symposium
• Third graders’ interpretations of graphical devices in content-area texts: In their own words
  Roberts, K. L., Norman, R. R. 12 2013 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association
• Literacy assessment in k-2: Reaching past the low-hanging fruit
  *Roberts, K. L.* 2013 Michigan School Testing Conference, Ann Arbor, MI
• Maps, timelines, and tables: Reading graphics in the social studies
  Brugar, K., *Roberts, K. L.*, and McGuire, D 10 2013 Michigan Council for Social Studies, Lansing, MI
• Fantastic family literacy workshops: Please do try this at home!
  *Roberts, K. L. * 11 2013 National Association for the Education of Young Children, Washington, D.C.
• The relationship between graphical device comprehension and overall text comprehension for third-grade children
  *Roberts, K. L.* & Norman, R. R. 12 2012 Literacy Research Association, San Diego, CA.
• Common Core State Standards on digital media, text, and sources in action: Elementary
  Roberts, K. L. 3 2011 Michigan Reading Association Research Pre-Conference
• Common Core State Standards on writing in action: Elementary
  Roberts, K. L. 3 2011 Michigan Reading Association Research Pre-Conference
• Getting the bigger picture: Children's utilization of graphics in text
  Norman, R. R., & *Roberts, K. L.* 12 2010 Annual Meeting of the Literacy Research Association
• Examining the efficacy of comprehension strategy instruction during parent-child lap reading
  Roberts, K. L. 12 2011 Annual Meeting of the Literacy Research Association
• Young children's understanding of specific graphical devices in informational text
  Duke, N. K., *Roberts, K. L.,* Norman, R. N. 5 2011 Annual Meeting of the International Reading Association

• DeNicolo, C. P., & Roberts, K. L. (2024). Pedagogy and practice: Creating spaces for multilingual students to learn and belong. Journal of Language and Literacy Education, 20(1), 1-17.
• Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K. B., & Cuenca, A. (2024). Inquiry at its core: A content analysis of inquiry design models. Elementary School Journal, 124(4), 644-668.
• Brugar, K. A., Roberts, K. L., & Cuenca, A. (2024). Inquiry on inquiry: Examining student actions required in elementary Inquiry Design Models. Journal of Social Studies Research, 48(2), 102-113.
• Roberts, K. L., Arya, P., Plond, Kathleen K. (2024). Partnering for success: Text and peer engagement during paired reading. Reading Teacher, 77(4), 453-461.
• Brugar, K. A., Roberts, K. L., Allen, A., Ratcliff, K., & Capps, C. (2023). Preparing the expert novice: Core practices for implementing blueprints for inquiry design. Journal of Teacher Education, 74(5), 495-507.
• Arya, P., & Roberts, K. L. (2023). Navigating the chasms between real and ideal literacy professional development. Reading Horizons, 62(2), 49-77.
• McGoron, L., O’Neal, T., Savastano, G., Roberts, K. L., Richardson, P. A., & Bocknek, E. L. (2022). Creating connections: A feasibility study of a technology-based intervention to support mothers of newborns during pediatric well-visits. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fcpp0000441
• Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. A. (2022). Using verbal protocol to explore fourth graders construction of meaning from social studies texts. Journal of Social Studies Research, 46(2), 135-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssr.2021.05.005
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (Eds.). (2021). Real classrooms, real teachers: The C3 inquiry in practice. Information Age Publishing. 
• Roberts, K. L., & Rochester, S. E. (2021, online advanced publication). Learning through everyday activities: Improving preschool language and literacy outcomes through family workshops. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687984211005081
• Roberts, K. L., Meyer, C. K., Brugar, K. A., & Jimenez, L. J. (2020). Integrative and illustrative: Multimodal acquisition, comprehension, and composition. The Middle School Journal, 51, 9-17.
• Hodges, T., Wright, K. L., Roberts, K. L., Norman, R. R., & Coleman, J. (2019). Equity in access?: The number of books available in grade 1, 3, and 5 classroom libraries. Learning Environments Research, 22(3), 427-441.
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2018). Elementary students’ challenges with informational texts: Reading the words and the world. Journal of Social Studies Research. 42, 49-59
• Brugar, K. A., Roberts, K. L., Jimenez, L. M., & Meyer, C. K. (2018). More than mere motivation: Learning specific content through multimodal narratives. Literacy Research and Instruction, 57, 183-208.
• Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. A. (2017). The view from here: Emergence of graphical literacy. Reading Psychology, 38, 733-777.
• Jimenez, L. M., Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K. B., Meyer, C. K., & Waito, K. (2017) Moving our can(n)ons: Toward and appreciation of multimodal texts in the classroom. Reading Teacher, 71, 363-368
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2017). Seeing is believing: Promoting visual literacy in elementary social studies. Journal of Teacher Education. 68, 262-279.
• Roberts, K. L., & Brugar, K. A. (2017). The three r’s: Reading, (w)riting, and researching through multi-genre projects. Social Studies Research and Practice, 12, 42-55
• Stephens, G. E., & Roberts, K. L. (2017). Facilitating collaboration in online groups. Journal of Educators Online, 14(1). Retrieved from https://www.thejeo.com/archive/2017_14_1/stephens_roberts
• West, J. M., & Roberts, K. L. (2016). Caught up in curiosity: Genius hour in the kindergarten classroom. Reading Teacher, 70, 227-232.
• Brugar, K. A., & Roberts, K. L. (2015). Let’s table it: Using tables to reflect on informational reading. Oregon Journal for the Social Studies, 3, 31-42
• Roberts, K. L., & Rochester, S. (2015). Reading relationships: The power of parents. ASCD Express, 10(24), n.p. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/ascdexpress/vol10/1024roberts.aspx.
• Roberts, K. L., & Norman, R. R. (2015). Third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students’ perceptions of practices of strong readers of informational text. Journal of the New England Reading Association, 50(2), 14-25.
• Norman, R. R., & Roberts, K. L. (2015). Getting the bigger picture: Children’s utilization of graphics and text. Journal of Visual Literacy, 34, 35-55.
• Roberts, K. L., Norman R. R., & Cocco, J. (2015). Relationship between graphical device comprehension and overall text comprehension for third-grade children. Reading Psychology, 36, 389-420.
• Roberts, K. L., & Rochester, S. E. (2014/2015, Winter). Bringing them in and bringing them back: Strategies for improving family participation. Colorado Reading Journal, 54-59.
• Roberts, K. L., Brugar, K., & Norman, R. R. (2014/2015). Evaluating texts for graphical literacy instruction: The graphic rating tool. Reading Teacher, 68, 312-318.
• Roberts, K. L. & Norman, R. R. (2014). Practicing what we preach: Relationships between third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teachers’ beliefs and practices related to genre. Michigan Reading Journal, 47, 6-13.
• Roberts, K. L. & Brugar, K. (2014). Navigating maps to support comprehension: When textbooks don’t have GPS. Geography Teacher, 11, 149-163
  **Winner of the National Council for Geographic Education’s Best Content Article for 2015 award.
• Brugar, K. & Roberts, K. L. (2014). Timelines: An opportunity for meeting standards through textbook reading. The Social Studies. 105, 230-236.
• Grueber, D. & Roberts, K. L. (2013). Saturn, science, and cross-curricular literacy standards. Science Scope. 37(3), 26-32
• Duke, N. K., Norman, R. R., Roberts, K. L., Martin, N. M., Knight, J. A., Morsink, P. M., & Calkins, S. L. (2013). Beyond concepts of print: Development of concepts of graphics in text, pre-k to grade 3. Research in the Teaching of English, 48(2), 175-203.
• Norman, R. R. & Roberts, K. L. (2013). Common Core State Standards on visual literacy: Literacy instruction in the content areas. Journal of the Connecticut Reading Association, 1(2), 38-44.
• Norman, R. R. & Roberts, K. L. (2013). Not just pretty pictures. Educational Leadership, 71(3), 62-66.
• Roberts, K. L. (2013). Comprehension Strategy Instruction during parent-child shared reading: An Intervention Study. Literacy Research and Instruction. 52(2), 106-129. 
• Roberts, K. L., Norman, R. R., Morsink, P., Duke, N. K., Martin, N. M., & Knight, J. A. (2013). Diagrams, timelines, and tables—Oh, my! Twelve strategies for developing children’s concepts of graphics and comprehension of graphical devices in informational text. Reading Teacher, 67, 12-23.
• Roberts, K. L., Norman, R. R., & Shedd, M. K. (2012). The Common Core State Standards on technology: A *SHIFT* in focus for states. Journal of the New England Reading Association, 48(1), 56-65
• Roberts, K. L. (2012). The Common Core State Standards on reading and writing informational text in the primary grades: What are they, and what are the linguistic demands? Seminars in Speech and Language, 33, 146-159. [H index= 36, Quartile 2]