School of Education Assistant Professor, Dr. Kerri Tobin, Makes Reading Aloud a Family Affair through Literacy Partnerships
March 6, 2018
Baton Rouge, LA – School of Education Assistant Professor, Dr. Kerri Tobin, practices what she teaches. Tobin teaches social studies in the School of Education and researches the impacts of poverty. As an educator and parent of two small children, Dr. Tobin knows the value of reading aloud to children, and she understands the impact such practice has on developing readers. Tobin and her husband, Stephen, make it a family practice to read to their children, recognizing the literacy impact it has had on their children.
So when Tobin was contacted by Audubon Elementary School librarian, Dr. Michelle Benoit, an LSU School of Education Alum, to volunteer to read on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Tobin not only agreed to do so, she arranged to have her husband accompany her and read as well. The husband and wife team spent an hour at Audubon on Friday, March 2, reading to third graders. As part of her teaching, Tobin frequently teaches the course Curriculum Disciplines: Social Studies, and part of her duties include an intensive field experience in social studies. Audubon is a site for the Grades 1-5 Teacher Education Program’s field experiences.
Tobin stated, “My husband and I met when we were teaching elementary school in New York City. Without question, our favorite part of any day was always the read-aloud. We both enjoy Dr. Seuss books in particular – they are just lots of fun to read! So when the opportunity to visit a classroom and interact directly with students arose, we were delighted to participate. We experienced a wonderfully warm, and welcoming atmosphere at Audubon that increased the depth of our affection for the EBR school system and its students.”
“Reading and literacy are at the heart of preparing teachers in LSU’s School of Education. It is critical that all children share the joy and love of reading and literacy,” said Dr. Neil Mathews, Director of the School of Education. “As the flagship School of Education for our state, it’s faculty members like Dr. Tobin who carry out our School’s mission every day, and often beyond the University’s gates.”
Nakia Perkins, Principal at Audubon, who is also an adjunct for the School of Education and a doctoral candidate, praised Tobin’s efforts and those of her husband, stating, “Audubon Elementary values the partnership we have with the School of Education, and having Dr. Tobin respond to our call for readers on Dr. Seuss’s Birthday exemplifies that relationship. She sends her LSU pre-service teachers to us for social studies field work, and she reciprocates when we need adults in classrooms. Bringing her husband with her was an added and much appreciated effort, and our students were the winners.”
Dr. Tobin teaches in the Grades 1-5 Teacher Education Program as well as the Secondary Holmes program. Her research agenda focuses on the educational needs of children living in poverty, with specific emphasis on those experiencing homelessness. Tobin is co-author of the book Homelessness Comes to School as well as many other articles on this topic.
About SOE
The LSU School of Education (SOE) offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Curriculum
and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Research, and Counseling, including two
completely online master’s programs. SOE offers a range of professional and academic
degree programs that focus on preparing students for careers in education, research,
policy formation and implementation, as well as program oversight. The School’s mission
is to prepare P-12 educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners, and scholars
knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues. SOE is part of the College of Human
Sciences & Education.
Visit the School of Education at lsu.edu/chse/education.
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development,
the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University
Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18
graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling
more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed
to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed
to improving quality of life across the lifespan.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at lsu.edu/chse.