In order to receive the thoughts, ideas, and values that I share on this site, it is important that you get to know who I am, who I have been, and who I hope to be one day. Lately, I have been asking these questions to myself a lot. In order to explore the question of, "Who am I?" I did a Personal Identity Reflection.
Hello, all! My name is Whitney Lawrence, and I am a literacy coach in Texas. I taught for 11 years in grades K-5. I was an instructional specialist for two years before taking this position with the state. I have and continue to have the opportunity to work with and learn from dedicated teachers and coaches around the state.
I am on the North Star of Texas Writing Project leadership team. This community of learners has really pushed me in my own thinking about literacy and language teaching and learning. Two years ago, I graduated from the University of North Texas, with my PhD in Language and Literacy. I typically still teach one course there a semester.
Most important, I am a mother to two wonderful, curious children, Joplin and Lennon. Matt, my husband, and I are definitely in for many adventures with these two. :)
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The many experiences that I have had and those I have not had impact my values, beliefs, perceptions, and assumptions. They are holding me together in the world (most of the time) and opening spaces for me to connect with others. I hope you will always consider me when you make meaning of my thinking on this site. My hope is that this space here becomes a place that brings people together to think about ways we can grant our children access to an education that affords them opportunities to collaborate, play, and learn with a diverse range of people. I hope we can set conditions in our classroom that inspire our children to make this world a better place, challenges their thinking, and sets them up to contribute in this world as global citizens.
Publications
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Lawrence, W. (In press). Multimodal assessments: Affording children labeled “At-risk”
expressive and receptive opportunities in the area of literacy. Journal of Literacy Research.Special Issue on “Dialogic Inquiry in Literacy Education: Joining the Dots between Assessment and Literacy Curriculum” Lawrence, W. & Mathis, J. (2018). Meeting the needs of and giving voice to linguisticallydiverse children through multimodal and art-based assessments. In B. Berriz, V. Poey, & A. Wager, Art as a Way of Talking for Emergent Bilingual Youth: A Foundation forLiteracy in K-12 Schools. New York: Routledge. Featured in Schulten, K. (2018, August 5). When School Gets Real. The New York Times. In print. Featured in Schulten, K. (2018, August 2). Teachers and Students Speak Out When School Gets Real. The New York Times. Retrieved fromwww.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/education/learning/teachers-students-world discussion.html Young, W. & Mathis, J. (2016). Understanding the past and present through intercultural perspectives on forced journeys. In D. Day, J. Schroeder, & K. Short, Teaching globally: Reading the world through literature. Portland, ME: Stenhouse. Modeste, S. & Young, W. (2014). African-American students catching up through meaningful literacy experiences. Dragon Lode, 32(2), 3-10. Young, W. (2013). Yatandou (Review of the book). Worlds of Words Review, V(5), 3. Available from Worlds of Words website: http://wowlit.org/on-linepublications/review/wow-review-volume-v-issue-3/15/ |
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National Presentations
Curtis, J., Genova, H., Lawrence, W., Lemieux, R., Moreland, T., Patterson, L., Ramirez-Robertson, J., Slay, L., & Wickstrom, C. (2018, June). Setting Conditions to Grow Learning Ecologies. Alternate session presented at the annual meeting of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning. Estes Park, CO.
Lawrence, W., & Mathis, J. (2017, November). Critical Expressive Opportunities Afforded through Multimodal Compositions: Instruction and Assessment for Engaged Learning. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN.
Curtis, J., Webster, J., O'Brien, D., Patterson, L., Siekmann, S., Wickstrom, C., & Young, W. (2016, December). Stepping into an Uncertain Future: Literacy Teaching and Research for Transformation. Alternate session presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN.
Young, W., Mathis, J., & Jeantet, R. (2016, November).Stepping into an Uncertain Future: Literacy Teaching and Research for Transformation. Symposiumpresented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN.
Young, W., Mathis, J., Jeantet, R. (2016, November).A Multimodal Framework:Providing Students with Diverse Opportunities to Make Meaning and Communicate. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Young, W. & Mathis, J. (2015, November). Forced Journeys: Understanding the Past and Present through Global Characters, Contexts, and Critical Issues. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Minneapolis, MN.
Young, W. (2015, November). Adaptive Action to Critically Read Texts with Elementary Students. Roundtable discussion at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Minneapolis, MN.
Young, W. (2015, January). Reading the World: Noticing, Understanding, and Influencing Patterns. Presented at the Educating Children of Color 8thAnnual Summit, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Young, W. (2014, January). Relevant Literacy Experiences with Picture Books. Presented at the Educating Children of Color 7th Annual Summit, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Young, W. (2013, October). Providing Relevant Literacy Experiences to African American Children. Presented at the annual meeting of National Association for Multicultural Education Convention, Oakland, CA.
Lawrence, W., & Mathis, J. (2017, November). Critical Expressive Opportunities Afforded through Multimodal Compositions: Instruction and Assessment for Engaged Learning. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN.
Curtis, J., Webster, J., O'Brien, D., Patterson, L., Siekmann, S., Wickstrom, C., & Young, W. (2016, December). Stepping into an Uncertain Future: Literacy Teaching and Research for Transformation. Alternate session presented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN.
Young, W., Mathis, J., & Jeantet, R. (2016, November).Stepping into an Uncertain Future: Literacy Teaching and Research for Transformation. Symposiumpresented at the annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN.
Young, W., Mathis, J., Jeantet, R. (2016, November).A Multimodal Framework:Providing Students with Diverse Opportunities to Make Meaning and Communicate. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Young, W. & Mathis, J. (2015, November). Forced Journeys: Understanding the Past and Present through Global Characters, Contexts, and Critical Issues. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Minneapolis, MN.
Young, W. (2015, November). Adaptive Action to Critically Read Texts with Elementary Students. Roundtable discussion at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Minneapolis, MN.
Young, W. (2015, January). Reading the World: Noticing, Understanding, and Influencing Patterns. Presented at the Educating Children of Color 8thAnnual Summit, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Young, W. (2014, January). Relevant Literacy Experiences with Picture Books. Presented at the Educating Children of Color 7th Annual Summit, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Young, W. (2013, October). Providing Relevant Literacy Experiences to African American Children. Presented at the annual meeting of National Association for Multicultural Education Convention, Oakland, CA.