Faculty Research Profiles: Christina DeNicolo

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Assistant Professor

Curriculum & Instruction
324 Education Building
1310 S. 6th St. MC 708
217 333-2319
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Research Biography

My broad research interests include equity and the literacy education of culturally and linguistically diverse students, biliteracy in multilingual classrooms, and student use of cultural and linguistic resources in language arts classrooms. An additional focus of mine is the development of cross-cultural understandings by teachers and students in multicultural settings.

Currently, I am interested in the influence of teacher ideology on literacy instruction in schools experiencing an increase in bilingual and multilingual students. My goal is to develop an understanding of why some teachers embrace the opportunity to work with bilingual students and others do not. In addition, I am exploring how teachers and students interpret what is a culturally responsive text.

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Social, Multicultural & Bilingual Foundations, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004
  • M.A., Elementary Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1994
  • B.A., Spanish and Communication, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, 1988

Key Professional Appointments

  • Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2005--

Activities & Honors

  • Cultivating New Voices Among Scholars of Color, National Council of Teachers of English, 2004-2006

Grants

  • Principal Investigator, Faculty Summer Support: Bilingualism and Schooling in the Midwest, Bureau of Educational Research, 2008

Selected Publications

  • García, G.E. & DeNicolo, C.P. (In press). Making informed decisions about the language and literacy assessment of English language learners. In L. Helman (Ed.) Literacy instruction with English learners in the elementary grades: What, why and how? New York: Guilford Press.
  • DeNicolo, C. P. & Fránquiz, M. E. (2006). "Do I have to say it?" Critical encounters with multicultural children's literature. Language Arts, 84(2), 157-170.
  • McGinley, W., Meacham, S., DeNicolo, C., & Conley, K. (2000). Learning to teach and the pedagogy of adult mentors in an urban after-school program. National Reading Conference Yearbook, 49, 487-499.