Hannah M. Dostal

Professor

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

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Titles & Affiliations:

• 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 with deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students and teacher professional development (PD) in literacy. In particular, I examine Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) as an instructional framework implemented by teachers collaborating with 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 the Co-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 Deaf school. 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:

UCONN’s partnership with Jamaican Deaf Schools

• Literacy Camp focused on local sustainability
  • International Literacy Association grant summary in ASL
  • 2022 Literacy Camp newsletter, created by K-5 students
• JSL & ASL study abroad program, brochure coming soon

Writing instruction with deaf and hard of hearing students

Literacy & Deaf Education Graduate Certificate

ASL World Language Education Programs

• TCPCG Program for College Graduates
• IB/M Program