Dr. Bonnie Barksdale, an assistant professor, earned a B.S. in early childhood education from Texas Woman's University, a master of curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in elementary literacy from Texas Christian University, and a Ph.D. in reading education from Texas Woman's University in 2018. Prior to joining the MTSU elementary and special education faculty, she worked in public-school systems in Texas and Illinois as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy specialist and literacy coach. Dr. Barksdale was recently elected as the incoming chair 2024-2025 for the Williamson County Literacy Association for the local chapter of LAT (Literacy Association of Tennessee). 

In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, Barksdale is an active researcher and presents her work at local, state and national level conferences. Barksdale’s current research focuses on writing instruction in primary grade classrooms, as well as adaptive teaching decisions during that instruction. Her research has been published in journals, such as Journal of Research in Childhood Education, Young Children, Tennessee Literacy Journal and The Reading Teacher. 

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Parsons, S. A., Ives, S. T., Fields, R. S., Barksdale, B. A., Maine, J., & Rogers, P. (2023). The writing engagement scale: A formative assessment tool. The Reading Teacher, 77(3), pp 278-289.https://doi-org.ezproxy.mtsu.edu/10.1002/trtr.2244

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A., & Fields, R. S. (2022). Self-directed kindergarten writers. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 9(2), 12-29.

Barksdale, B. A., Schrodt, K., Fields, R. S., & Grow, J. (2021). We read as one: Strategies for Emposwering a Community of Intergenerational Readers. The Dragon Lode, 40 (1), 8-15.

Schrodt, K., FitzPatrick, E., Barksdale, B.A., Nunnery, B., & Hasty, M. (2021). Teaching writing with mentor texts. Young Children, 76(3), pp. 44-53.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B.A., Fields, R. Stacy, Matthews, E. (2020). The ping pong project: Creating a kindness movement through author studies. Tennessee Literacy Journal, 1(2), 57-61. Retrieved from https://lat.wildapricot.org/Journal

Barksdale, B. A. (Spring/Summer 2019). Forward march: Tips for keeping the dissertation process moving toward the finish line. Literacy Research Association DSICG Newsletter. Page 11-12. Retrieved from https://lradsicg.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/3/9/25398474/spr.sum_2019_newsletter_final.pdf

Texas Woman’s University. (2016). Scaling up what works: The five year impact of the i3 grant. Denton, TX: Texas Woman’s University Reading Recovery University Training Center: Anderson, N., Briggs, C., Elias, A. T., Kaye, E., Simpson, A., Bynum, L., Barksdale, B. A., Kanwar, K., & Robertson-Powell, I.

Griffith, R., Bauml, M., & Barksdale, B.A. (2015). How context and teacher knowledge influence in-the-moment teaching decisions in reading. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 29(4), 444-457.

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National

Barksdale, B. A., McClain, J., Schrodt, K., & Fields, R. S. (December 2, 2022). Examining the Affordances of Assignments Intended to Cultivate Critically Among Preservice Literacy Teachers. Literacy Research Association, Arizona Grande Resort & Spa, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America. Alternative session.

Barksdale, B. A., Schrodt, K., Fields, R. S., McClain, J., & Evert, K. (December, 2021). Culturally responsive book club experiences for preservice teachers. Literacy Research Association, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, GA, United States of America. Paper session.

Morgan, D. N., Bates, C. C., Barksdale, B. A., Hight, C., Kerbs, M., & Griffith, R. R. (2019, November). Responsive teaching during literacy instruction. Paper presented as part of a symposium presentation at the meeting of Literacy Research Association (LRA), Tampa, FL.

Barksdale, B. A. (2019, October). Literacy specialists: Understanding adaptive teaching in intervention settings. Poster session presented at the meeting of the International Literacy Association (ILA), New Orleans, LA.

Barksdale, B. A. (2018, December). Literacy specialists: Understanding adaptive teaching in elementary intervention settings. Paper presented at the meeting of Literacy Research Association (LRA), Indian Wells, CA.  

State

Carter, J. L., Schrodt, Barksdale, B. A., & Maxwell, M. (December 7, 2021). Failing TO learn, learning TO fail: Becoming brave teachers. Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT), Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro, TN, United States of America.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A., & Fields, R.S. (December 6, 2021). We read as one: Strategies for empowering a community of intergenerational readers. Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT), Embassy Suites Conference Center, Murfreesboro, TN, United States of America.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A., Fields, S. (2020, December). Choosing and using diverse children's picture books. Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT), Zoom platform.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A. (2020, October). Self directed writers. Mid-South Educational Research Association (MSERA), Zoom platform. 

Barksdale, B. A., & Gruenwald, J. (2018, October). Reading and writing connections for struggling readers. Presented at the 2018 annual conference of the Illinois Reading Council (IRC), Peoria, Illinois

Selected Local Presentations

Barksdale, B. A. (2019, October). The power of writing with striving readers. 2019 Fall Writing Conference of Middle Tennessee Writing Project (MTWP), Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Barksdale, B. A. (2016, November). Constructing meaning during reading: Strategic processing for young readers. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Hurst, Texas

Kerbs, M., & Barksdale, B. A. (2016, November). Struggling readers: Reading and writing connections. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Hurst, Texas.

Barksdale, B. A. (2016, February). Struggling readers: First steps. Presented at the annual forum of Texas Woman’s University Rose F. Spicola Forum in Reading, Denton, Texas

Kerbs, M., & Barksdale, B. A. (2015, November). The power of writing with struggling readers. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Dallas, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2014, November). Primary students can monitor comprehension too! (In-service teacher focus) Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Dallas, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2014, September). Primary students can monitor comprehension too! (Pre-service teacher focus) Presented at the annual conference of Texas Association for Institutional Research, Denton, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2014, March). Primary students can monitor comprehension too! (Pre-service teacher focus) Presented at the annual forum of Texas Woman’s University Rose F. Spicola Forum in Reading, Denton, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2013, November). Analyzing running records for effective instructional decisions. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Dallas, Texas  

District Level Professional Development

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2018, December). Word study strategies: Deep dive. Presented at Kildeer Countryside Elementary Professional Development Session, Kildeer, Illinois.

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2018, November). Word study strategies. Presented at Kildeer Countryside Elementary Professional Development Session, Kildeer, Illinois.

Barksdale, B. A., & Gruenwald, J. (invited, 2018, October). Reciprocity: Strategies for working with struggling readers. Presented at Kildeer Countryside Elementary Professional Development Session, Kildeer, Illinois.

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2018, July). Who’s doing the work? Online book study. Conducted online for Kildeer Countryside School District Professional Development Summer Program.

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2017, July). Who’s doing the work? Online book study. Conducted online for Kildeer Countryside School District Professional Development Summer Program.

Peacock, J., & Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2016, January). Your secret weapon: Wait time. Presented at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District Professional Development Day, Saginaw, Texas

Sarchet, N., Fletcher, M., Barksdale, B. A., & Peacock, J. (invited, 2015, October). Backwards design planning. Presented at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District Professional Development Day, Saginaw, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2015, August). Guided reading and beyond. Presented at Coppell Independent School district Summer Reading Institute, Coppell, Texas

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