Faculty Vita

Katherine Van Sluys, M.S.

Academic Degrees

Certification/Licenses

Professional Experience

Faculty Teaching

Selected Publications

Lewison, M., Flint, A.,S., & Van Sluys, K. (in press). Taking on critical literacy: The journey of newcomers and novices. Language Arts.

Van Sluys, K. (2001). The wanderer. [Review of the book The wanderer]. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 43, 332-334.

Van Sluys, K. (2000). Best for our children. [Review of the book Best for our children: Critical perspectives on literacy for Latino students]. Bilingual Research Journal , 24, 325-329.

Video Series. Indiana University. 2001 Co-produced a series of seven videos titled Literacy Under Construction with Jerome C. Harste, Mitzi Lewison, and Dale Cimolai.

Web Site. Indiana University. Fall, 2000. Researched and designed a web site exploring current structured reading programs intended primarily as a resource for preservice teachers

Current Professional and Academic Association Memberships

International Reading Association

National Council of Teachers of English

National Reading Conference

National Council of Teachers of English Research Association

Conference Presentations

National Council of Teachers of English Conference Presentations

• 2001: Literacy Practices, Ideologies, and Power: Responding to and Writing Social Issues Texts. Co-presented with research panel including: Mitzi Lewison, Lee Heffernan, Amy Seely Flint, Jane Hammel, Natalie Legan and Tasha Tropp Laman in Baltimore, Maryland.

• 2000: Critical Literacy in Elementary Classrooms: Confronting Commonplace Beliefs, Expectations, and Pedagogy Co-presented with Amy Seely Flint, Mitzi Lewison and Lee Heffernan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. National Reading Conference Presentations.

• 2001: Expectations, Conceptions, and Realizations: Exploring Critical Literacy with Undergraduate Teacher Education Students. Co-presented with Natalie Legan and Tasha Tropp Laman in San Antonio, Texas.

• 2001: I Never Thought a First Grader Could Teach Me How to Write: Examining Beliefs and Positioning within Author Circles. Co-presented with Amy Seely Flint and Gloria Lo in San Antonio, Texas.

• 2001: Creating Critical Spaces in Classroom Practice. Co-presented with Amy Seely Flint and Mitzi Lewison in San Antonio, Texas.

• 2000: Maybe You Could Put ‘To be continued…’”: Examining Interactions and Engagement During Author’s Circle. Co-presented with Amy Seely Flint, Debra East, and Gloria Lo in Scottsdale, Arizona.

• 2000: Interruptions and Transformations: Investigating Critical Literacy in Elementary Classrooms. Co-presented with Mitzi Lewison and Amy Seely Flint in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Whole Language Umbrella Conference Presentation.

• 2001: Beyond the Book: Exploring Social Issues Through Text Sets and Invitations Co-presented with Rise Paynter and Tasha Tropp Laman in Chicago, Illinois.

International Reading Association Presentation.

• 2000: Teaching Holistically in a Standards Based Environment. Co-presented with Amy Seely Flint, Linda Cameron, and Julie Enyeart in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Action Research Symposium Presentations. ISD #112, Chaska, MN. 1995-1997.

• Presented at National Action Research Symposium on issues of quality writing in elementary classrooms as well as addressing issues of reading instruction in multiage elementary classrooms.

Research Areas

Literacy Education

Service/Outreach Projects

Spanish Teacher and Translator. St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Bloomington, IN. 1999- Team facilitator. American School Foundation of Monterrey, Monterrey, MEXCIO. 1998-1999. • Guided teaching team through international school accreditation self-study.

Mentor teacher. ISD #112, Chaska, MN. 1995-1997. • Mentored new district staff including participation in district wide reflective practice groups.

Eisenhower Grant Facilitator. Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN. 1995. • Team taught a college course for teachers designed to strengthen their skills in math/technology instructional strategies to impact Hispanic students’ math achievement.

Theme Coordinator. St. Peter, MN. 1993-1994. • Coordinated, implemented and secured funding for themed cultural summer children’s programming cooperatively sponsored by five community agencies

Honors/Awards

Harste Fellowship Recipient, Indiana University

Chancellor’s Fellowship Recipient, Indiana University

Dean’s List, Gustavus Adolphus College

Howard Swearer Humanitarian Award Finalist

Guild of St. Ansgar, Gustavus Adolphus College