Hannah M. Dostal
Associate Professor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Titles & Affiliations:
- Associate Professor, Reading Education
- Reading & Language Arts Center
Academic Degrees:
- Ph.D. Education, Literacy Studies; Cognate Area: Deaf Education
- M.S. Education
- B.S. Education, Human Services & Educational Interpreting
Biography:
My research focuses on writing instruction for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students and teacher professional development in literacy. In particular, I examine Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction as an intervention for DHH students with varied language histories. In addition, I investigate the role of genre and literacy instruction in the development of disciplinary knowledge and discipline-specific communication patterns. My current research is funded by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), and has previously been funded by IES, State Teacher Quality Grant partnerships, the International Literacy Association, and the Connecticut Department of Education.
I currently serve as an associate editor of the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education and as co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies in Literacy. I am also an active member of several professional societies including the American Educational Research Association, Literacy Research Association, Association of College Educators-Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the International Literacy Association.
My teaching is informed by my experience as a middle school language arts teacher and writing intervention coordinator at a state school for the deaf. My approach to undergraduate and graduate teaching is focused on designing learning environments with an explicit focus on equitable access to instruction, strategic interaction, and the development and use of multiple and specific literacies. Beyond the classroom, I have been active in developing a graduate certificate in literacy and deaf education as well as a concentration in American Sign Language (ASL) education to meet the growing need for ASL teachers in Connecticut secondary schools.
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For more information about:
- Writing instruction with deaf and hard of hearing students
- Literacy & Deaf Education Graduate Certificate
- ASL World Language Education Programs

hannah.dostal@uconn.edu | |
VP 1 (203) 654-7872 | |
File | Dostal CV |
Mailing Address | 249 Glenbrook Road, Unit 3033, Storrs, CT 06269 |
Office Location | Gentry 401A |
Courses | literacy assessment, literacy methods |