My work is dedicated to advancing literacy and early childhood education, strengthening educator preparation, and developing innovative programs that prepare classroom teachers and campus instructional leaders to make meaningful impacts in schools and communities.

Profile for
Melanie Loewenstein, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator/Advisor

  • Faculty
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
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Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Melanie R. Loewenstein is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood and Reading Education at East Texas A&M University within the Curriculum and Instruction Department. She teaches undergraduate and graduate literacy and Early Childhood courses and serves as coordinator of both the Reading Specialist Certification Program and the Instructional Coach Graduate Certificate Program. Dr. Loewenstein works to improve educator preparation and seeks to strengthen university and school collaboration.

Her instructional approach emphasizes evidence-based literacy practices, the science of learning, child-centered and developmentally responsive instruction, instructional leadership and coaching, asset-based learning, and meaningful connections between theory, research, and real-world application.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Reading Education (Early Childhood Minor), Texas Woman's University, 2018
  • M.Ed., All Level Reading Education (Linguistics-ESL Minor), Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M), 2000
  • B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies- Elementary Education-English/Language Arts, University of North Texas, 1996

Research Interests

  •  Reading Identity
  •  Oral Language Development and Emergent Literacy
  •  Reading Intervention and Language-Based Learning Disabilities
  •  Literacy and Instructional Coaching
  •  Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
  •  Playful Learning
  •  Writing Pedagogy

Selected Publications

  • Loewenstein, M. (2024). Literacy coaching: Navigating a transitioning literacy terrain. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 11(1), 7-14.
  • Slay, L. E., Loewenstein, M., & Morton, T. (2024). Lessons learned from elementary school teachers during a pandemic: Maintaining joy and curiosity in the elementary writing workshop. English in Texas, 53(2).
  • Loewenstein, M., Sturdivant, T. D., & Thompson, J. (2022). Learning through play in teacher education. Young Children, 77(2), 44-50.
  • Childs, K. & Loewenstein, M. (2022). Staying Connected: Rooting Literacy Courses in Current Topics and Relevant Teaching Practices. J. Araujo (Ed.). Handbook of Research on Reconceptualizing Preservice Teacher Preparation in Literacy Education. Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.
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