Open gallery

Melissa Rodriguez-Meehan, EDD

(She/Her/Ella)

Assistant Professor: (585) 395-2616
mrodriguezmeehan@brockport.edu
Office: Brown Building 213A
Website

Education

EdD, Florida Gulf Coast University
MPA, Florida Gulf Coast University
BS, Barry University

Areas of Specialty

Early Childhood
Play-based learning
Student voice/choice

Courses Taught

EDI 411 Early Childhood Development and Learning
EDI 415 Developmentally Appropriate Practice
EDI 482 Integrated Curriculum I
EDI 483 Integrated Curriculum II
EDI 601 Diversity in Education

Research Interests

Playful learning
Project based learning
Social Justice in Education
Antiracism in Education
DEI Topics
Liberatory Learning
Ungrading

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Rodriguez-Meehan, M., Chorbrda, T., Haughton, V., Franz, M. (January, 2025). “The best part of their day”: Play and choice in kindergarten. Journal of Early Childhood Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X241293909

Szaszko, R. & Rodriguez-Meehan, M. (December, 2024). Preschool Education in an International Context: Findings of an Erasmus+ Higher Education Transatlantic Project. Paidea.

Turcotte, N., McElfresh, K.Rodriguez-Meehan, M (March, 2023). “It’s about the journey, not the destination”. Graduate students’ perceptions of upgrading. Journal of Applied Instructional Design . https://doi.org/10.51869/121/ntkmmrm

Rodriguez-Meehan, M., Brown, K., & Turcotte, N. (September, 2022). “A win-win for all”: Supporting literacy in early childhood and bringing awareness to shelter dogs. Early Childhood Education Journal, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-022-01389-0

Stork, M.,Rodriguez-Meehan, M., Martelli, C. D., Martin, H., Turcotte, N., Molloy, A., & Wang, C. X. (August, 2022). Designing an innovation school: Perspectives from a school-university partnership. PDS Partners , 17(2), 18-33.

Turcotte, N.,Rodriguez-Meehan, M. & Stork, M.G (June, 2022). This school is made for students: Students’ perspectives on PBL. J Form Des Learn 6, 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41686-022-00066-0

Stork, M., Turcotte, N., Rizzuto, M., Wang, C., &Rodriguez-Meehan, M. (April, 2022). Prepare for success: Designing a digital badge program with a school-university partnership. Journal of Formative Design in Learning . https://doi.org/10.1007/s41686-022-00065-1

Rodriguez-Meehan, M. (September 2021) “Could that be play?”: Exploring pre-service teachers’ perceptions of play in kindergarten. Early Childhood Education Journal, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01257-3

Book Chapters

Rodriguez-Meehan, M. & Halpern, C. (April, 2023). Returning to in-person school during COVID: Perspectives from kindergarten classrooms. In E.Fonsen, R. Ahtiainen, K.M. Heikkinen, & L. heikonen (Eds.) Early Childhood Education Leadership in Times of Crisis: International Studies During the COVID-19 Pandemic ( 119-134 ) . Verlag.

Szecsi, T., &Meehan, M. (2018). “Dogs are great listeners”: A university course project leads to young children’s reading to shelter dogs. In M.R. Jalongo (Ed.). Children, Dogs and Education: Caring for, learning alongside, and gaining support from canine companions (299-320). Springer.

PEER REVIEWED CONFERENCE PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Rodriguez-Meehan, M. Chorbda, T., Haughton, V. & Franz, M. (February 9-10, 2023). “You get to pick”: A case study of choice and play in pedagogy in kindergarten. Paper Presentation at Eastern Educational

Research Association (EERA) , Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Rodriguez-Meehan, M., Brown, K. & Turcotte, N. (February 9-10, 2023). “A win-win for all”. Supporting literacy in early childhood and bringing awareness to shelter dogs. Paper Presentation at Eastern Educational Research Association , Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Turcotte, N. &Rodriguez-Meehan, M. (February 2-3, 2023). Centering Relationships In Our Teaching & Learning Practices. Virtual Presentation at Fifth Annual Symposium on Teaching and Learning, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers.

Turcotte, N., McElfresh, K., & Rodriguez-Meehan, M. (2022). Transforming Assessment Practices: Making Our Students’ Learning a Priority. Paper Presentation for Teacher Education Division at Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) , Las Vegas, NV.

Rodriguez-Meehan, M., Chorbrda, T., Haughton, V., & Franz, Madison. (November 16-18, 2022). Moving towards more choice in kindergarten . Round Table Presentation at Florida Educational Research Association (FERA) , Daytona Beach, FL. United States

Rodriguez-Meehan, M., Brown, K., Turcotte, N. (February 3-4, 2022). Young children reading with dogs: Community partnerships, informal learning environments, and social-emotional skills. Poster Presentation at Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA) , Clearwater, FL.

Rodriguez-Meehan, M. (February, 2022). “Could that be play?”: Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of play in kindergarten . Paper Presentation at Eastern Educational Research Association Conference (EERA) , Clearwater, FL.

Rodriguez-Meehan, M. & Houghton, V. (February 23-25, 2022). Reflections on PBL work in a hybrid undergraduate social studies methods class . Poster Presentation at SOTL Commons Conference . Savannah, GA.

Turcotte, N.,Rodriguez-Meehan, M., & Stork, M. (2021). Student-centered, student-driven; An ethnographic exploration of students’ learning experiences at a project-based learning school. Paper presentation at Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) , International Convention. Chicago, Illinois.

Brown, K.Rodriguez-Meehan, M., & Turcotte, N. (2021). Children and Adolescents Reading to Shelter Dogs. COE Annual Research Day. Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL.

Turcotte, N. &Meehan, M.R. (2021, February). Fostering Community in Online Courses through Instructor Presence. Virtual Presentation in Southwest Florida Symposium on Teaching and Learning: Building Connections in Virtual Environments. Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL.

Meehan, M.R. (2020, November). Safety, Flexibility, and Choices: Reflections of Educational Environments in PK-20 Settings in Southwest, FL. Virtual Presentation in Jornada Internacional . Universidad Camilo Jose Cela, Madrid, Spain.

Meehan, M.R. (2020. March). Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Play in Kindergarten . Florida Gulf Coast University College of Education Symposium on Scholarly Engagement, Fort Myers, Florida.

Meehan, M.R. & T. Szecsi (2018, April). Dogs are Great Listeners: A University Course Project Leads to Young Children’s Reading to Shelter Dogs . Florida Gulf Coast University College of Education Symposium on Scholarly Engagement, Fort Myers, Florida.

MEDIA APPEARANCES

Video interview for WINK News. “Inside an FGCU education classroom: Teachers in training ready to step in.” March 20, 2023.

Video interview for WINK News. “Making the Grade: Back to school special”. August 5, 2022.

Video interview ABC7 News. Program allows kids to read to shelter dogs. March 11, 2019.