Mary Ellen Oslick

Associate Professor of Education

I teach undergraduate courses in reading methods and best practices in the profession of education and instruction. These experiences have prepared me to teach graduate and pre-service teacher education courses in both general and specific content areas of literacy, conduct and supervise field placements, and work in diverse educational settings. I am very passionate about teaching. I believe that teachers should be prepared to teach our diverse student body. The content I incorporate in my teacher education/literacy courses, therefore, addresses issues of diversity, culture and politics to move my students to examine literature and literacy in critical ways.

  • PhD, curriculum and instruction, University of Florida
  • MAT., reading and special education, Trinity University
  • BA, history and humanities, Trinity University

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Mary Ellen Oslick

Biography

Mary Ellen Oslick, PhD, is a professor of education at Stetson University. She earned her undergraduate degree in history and humanities and her master's degree in teaching, with emphases on reading and special education, from Trinity University in San Antonio, Tex. She holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in children's literature and literacy from the University of Florida. Dr. Oslick taught for five years in elementary and intermediate schools in Texas' urban and suburban areas. Her research areas of interest include: social justice and critical literacy applications; multicultural children's literature; and reading and writing instruction with diverse learners. She has written and been awarded research grants, and her scholarly papers have been published in peer-refereed journals and books. Dr. Oslick won the 2014 Virginia Hamilton Essay Award for her article, "Children's Voices: Reactions to a Criminal Justice Issue Picture Book." In 2019, her two edited works, Immigrant Experiences: Expanding the School-Home-Community Dialogue and Land of Opportunity: Immigrant Experiences in the North American Landscape were published.

More About Mary Ellen Oslick

Areas of Expertise

  • Dyslexia
  • Social justice and critical literacy applications
  • Multicultural children's literature
  • Reading and writing instruction with diverse learners
  • Pre-service teacher instruction in the areas of elementary/middle level education, children's literature and reading instruction

Course Sampling

  • EDUC 301: Reading in the Primary Grades
  • EDUC 314: Reading in the Intermediate Grades
  • EDUC 424: Assessment and Differentiation of Reading Instruction
  • EDUC 428: Reading Practicum

  • Social justice and critical literacy applications
  • Multicultural children's literature
  • Reading and writing instruction with diverse learners
  • Pre-service teacher instruction in the areas of elementary/middle level education, children's literature and reading instruction

  • Oslick, M. E. Preservice teachers examine themes of immigration in award-winning children’s literature. In D. Hartsfield (Ed.), Reading, Teaching, and Researching Immigration-Themed Children’s Literature. Bloomsbury/Libraries Unlimited (summer 2025).
  • Smith, A. and Oslick, M. E. (2024). "Fronting the math": Reframing culturally relevant picture books within mathematical contexts. In D. Hartsfield (Ed.), Supporting Students’ Intellectual Freedom in Schools: The Right to Read. IGI Global.
  • Smith, A. and Oslick, M. E. (2024). Responsive math pedagogy: The role of diverse picture books in the K-5 classroom. Dimensions in Mathematics, 44(2), 14-22.
  • Oslick, M. E. and Fain, J. (Eds.). (2024). 2024 Notable Books for a Global Society:  A booklist for grades PreK-12: The importance of sharing our stories. The Dragon Lode, 42(2), 58-79.
  • Parks, M. and Oslick, M. E. (2024). Empowering student learning: Navigating Artificial Intelligence in the college classroom. Faculty Focus Premium. Magna Publications.  
  • Oslick, M. E. (2024). “They’re speaking my language”: Exploring how Spanish is depicted in recently published graphic novels. Literacy Today, April/May/June, 2-3.
  • Oslick, M. E. (2023). Write about what you read: Preservice teachers consider Notable Books for a Global Society. Florida Literacy Journal, 3(2), 51-59.
  • Oslick, M. E. and Fain, J. (Eds.). (2023). 2023 Notable Books for a Global Society:  A booklist for grades PreK-12: Journeys along the familiar and new. The Dragon Lode, 41(2), 21-38.
  • Smith, A. and Oslick, M. E. (2023). Math and literacy: Looking at how picture books can help students understand math concepts. Literacy Today, January/February/March, 74-75.
  • Oslick, M. E. (2022). Preservice teachers examine translanguaging in children’s literature. The Leaflet, 119(1), 23-30.