UM-Flint Education assistant professor Chad Waldron, Ph.D.

For Chad Waldron, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at the University of Michigan-Flint, conducting literacy research is much more than an academic and professional endeavor. His reward comes from knowing the impact that research-driven literacy programs and practices have on young children before they enter kindergarten. Waldron’s passion for preparing UM-Flint education students to become outstanding teachers with a heart for literacy education is evident in his highly engaging and interactive teaching style.

Waldron joined the University of Michigan-Flint in September 2016 and teaches literacy coursework in the literacy education graduate program and the elementary education undergraduate program. He has a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education with a Language and Literacy Studies Specialization from Michigan State University.

Q. What are your current research projects?

A. I am pursuing three main lines of research: literacy-based practices supporting parents interacting with children at home; the implications of education policies on early childhood and elementary literacy practices; and how teachers make sense of the state requirements and policies in the classroom on a daily basis. A large part of my work has been conducted in rural settings with schools that lack resources and do not have adequate professional development opportunities and curriculum that support teacher learning.

My current work has been with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, now here in the Flint community and in a Pennsylvania community where I previously worked. This research has centered around the program implementation and children’s literacy growth from storybook reading. Dolly Parton, an icon in country music, started a local book program in her hometown in the Smoky Mountains. This program has grown to international replication, with over one million books mailed to children every month! It is an amazingly rich program that gets FREE highly quality children’s books into young children’s hands, from birth to age five. We know from research how important storybook reading is within the home with parents as children’s first teachers.

Prof. Waldron teaching an elementary education class at UM-Flint.

Q. How will your research enhance literacy education for all children?

A. I am also working on developing a cost-effective professional development model for preschool teachers to better prepare emergent readers and writers for kindergarten. This links well to my work with the Imagination Library and extending into the childcare and classroom settings where, often, these young children spend large amounts of their days. We want children to leave preschool prepared to be successful in kindergarten. I also want to increase access to common high-quality professional development opportunities between kindergarten and preschool programs.

This research will be influential right here in the Flint community. It is helping me to pilot professional development in literacy learning for preschool teachers. We know, from research, there is a need for high-quality professional development in a variety of literacy topics for our early childhood educators. Our School is currently working at our Cummings Great Expectations, a free childcare and preschool program for children in the Flint community. This is in addition to our longstanding, high-quality commitments to early childhood education here at our on-campus Early Childhood Development Center. It is also a wonderful opportunity for me to work with our fantastic colleagues in Early Childhood Education.

Q. What challenges do you see in communities that lack sufficient early literacy learning and instruction?

A. We know early childhood education is important, and research supports that, but the funding is not there. We’re moving in a direction nationwide to get kids a well-rounded education. To do that they need rich language experiences. We also want to help parents. Parents love and care for their kids and want to help, but they’re not sure how.

My goal is to help both parents and preschool sites to have sustaining positive interactions around children’s literacy and to help children to be socially and emotionally ready for school. I get the rare opportunity to work with families around literacy, through the Imagination Library, before their children enter the school door in kindergarten. I also get to work with preschool educators around literacy in their important work of helping children to be academically, socially, and emotionally ready—all the attributes of successful literacy learners– for elementary schools.

Prof. Waldron enjoys networking with United Way and educators to promote literacy education programs and increase understanding about research-based practices.

Q. What advice do you give your students at UM-Flint as they prepare to be future teachers?

A. Our students at UM-Flint are some of the most committed, genuine individuals I have met as teacher candidates. Their curiosity makes them stronger future teachers for early childhood and elementary school age children. My advice would be simply: be open. The field of education has changed and continues to grow in many ways—be open to the new, known, and yet to be understood features of your profession. You are a professional entering a field that requires craft and expertise. Teaching requires us to be flexible and to continue to learn. Our students are our continued hope for the best and brightest entering our profession.

For more information about Education programs and faculty at UM-Flint, please visit: www.umflint.edu/education