- PhD in Literacy Studies; specializations in ESL Education and Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN
- MEd in Teaching English Language Learners and Curriculum and Instruction, University of Washington Tacoma, WA
- BS in Early Grades Preparation, West Chester University, PA
BIO
Dr. Elizabeth Fincher's course load includes teaching K-3 Literacy, K-3 Interdisciplinary Practicum and Student Teaching Internship, Introduction to Early Care and Education, and Movie Nights: Critical Childhood for the ECE Minor in Childhood Studies. She is a clinical supervisor and works to develop collaborative partnerships with school sites. She strives towards equitable and inclusive teaching practices to support early literacies and languages of young children through advocacy, teacher education, community-based, and professional development opportunities.
Dr. Fincher’s research interests are in children's literature and critical literacy, literacy and language development of early grades and elementary students, with emphasis on multilingual learners, and teacher education. She studies evidence-based literacy practices, teachers' and students' self-efficacy, equity-oriented teaching practices with diverse literature and multimodal literacies through primarily qualitative methods. She has explored the intersectional identities of bi/multilingual children and youth in text-based interactions when heritage materials are included in curricula and dialogic practices.
Dr. Fincher has worked with community agencies and families, as well as educational conference teams, to advocate for early literacy, joy and play in learning, and emergent bilingual/multilingual children and youth.
Courses
- EDEC 3820 K-3 Literacy
- EDEC 3790 K-3 Interdisciplinary Practicum
- EDEC 1010 Introduction to Early Care and Education
- EDEC 1070 Movie Night Critical Childhood
Awards and Achievements
- 2020 Teaching & Learning Innovation, Office of the Provost
- 2020 TPTE Graduate Student Award, The University of Tennessee
Area(s) of expertise
- Teachers' and Students' Literacy Identities
- Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in Elementary Literacy and Language Teaching and Learning
- Collaborative Community Partnerships
- Critical Teacher Education
- Qualitative Research Methods
Bio
Dr. Elizabeth Fincher's course load includes teaching K-3 Literacy, K-3 Interdisciplinary Practicum and Student Teaching Internship, Introduction to Early Care and Education, and Movie Nights: Critical Childhood for the ECE Minor in Childhood Studies. She is a clinical supervisor and works to develop collaborative partnerships with school sites. She strives towards equitable and inclusive teaching practices to support early literacies and languages of young children through advocacy, teacher education, community-based, and professional development opportunities.
Dr. Fincher’s research interests are in children's literature and critical literacy, literacy and language development of early grades and elementary students, with emphasis on multilingual learners, and teacher education. She studies evidence-based literacy practices, teachers' and students' self-efficacy, equity-oriented teaching practices with diverse literature and multimodal literacies through primarily qualitative methods. She has explored the intersectional identities of bi/multilingual children and youth in text-based interactions when heritage materials are included in curricula and dialogic practices.
Dr. Fincher has worked with community agencies and families, as well as educational conference teams, to advocate for early literacy, joy and play in learning, and emergent bilingual/multilingual children and youth.
Courses
- EDEC 3820 K-3 Literacy
- EDEC 3790 K-3 Interdisciplinary Practicum
- EDEC 1010 Introduction to Early Care and Education
- EDEC 1070 Movie Night Critical Childhood
Awards and Achievements
- 2020 Teaching & Learning Innovation, Office of the Provost
- 2020 TPTE Graduate Student Award, The University of Tennessee
Areas of Expertise
- Teachers' and Students' Literacy Identities
- Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in Elementary Literacy and Language Teaching and Learning
- Collaborative Community Partnerships
- Critical Teacher Education
- Qualitative Research Methods