Stephanie Wessels
Associate Professor
For the past several years, my coursework, research, and teaching have focused on literacy development for young second language learners. Specifically, I am interested in vocabulary development that enhances and extends current academic practices in the primary grade-level classrooms. The vocabulary development aspects that I am most intrigued with are what “funds of knowledge” (prior and background knowledge) young second language learners bring with them into the classroom setting. For vocabulary instruction to be effective, students must relate new words to their background and prior knowledge.
