Assistant Professor
Sullivan Hall Room 413
(718) 990-2717
robertj1@stjohns.edu
Office Hours
Monday 7 - 8 p.m.
Tuesday 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (Staten Island)
Wednesday 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Dr. Robertson is an Associate Professor in the Department of
Human Services and Counseling in the School of Education at St.
John’s University. She teaches in the Graduate Literacy
Program. Her current research explores students’ perception
of self-efficacy and early reading and writing development, and the
integration of inquiry based instruction and action research
projects to support students’ critical thinking in the elementary
grades. Courses taught include Language Acquisition and
Emergent Literacy and Teaching Literacy Through
Literature. She also coordinates an annual summer
institute entitled Emergent Literacy Within a Constructivist Social
Context. Dr. Robertson’s research agenda revolves around the
concept of optimal learning environments for all children.
She has focused her attention upon issues related to early
childhood and student diversity (cultural, linguistic, cognitive,
and physical). Dr. Robertson is currently exploring second
language learners’ reading and writing development, and identifying
strategies that facilitate or impede their literacy learning.
She appeared on an ABC television special entitled “The Reading
Revolution” in September, 2003. In addition to her University
responsibilities, Dr. Robertson works with school districts
(Freeport and Eastern Suffolk Boces) and teachers (Diocese of New
York, Greek Archdiocese of America, and the Diocese of Rockville
Centre) to provide staff development for primary teachers in
reading and writing instruction, and “project approaches” to
content area instruction. In 2007, she coauthored her first
text entitled Engaging Readers and Writers in Reflective and
Authentic Literacy Practices.
Last year, she began a three year project to create a library
for an orphan’s home in Kenya, Africa. To this end, School of
Education students gathered, categorized, and shipped 1,200 picture
books to the children and their caregivers in the spring of
2007. In the Vincentian tradition this project embodies
“compassionate concern,” and “fosters a world view and furthers
efforts towards harmony and development.”