Research interests
The nature of Jane E. Kelley’s research and scholarly activities is grounded in critical multicultural analysis and involves the examination of ideology of power in children’s literature and the dissemination of this theory and pedagogy. Kelley’s research is two-fold. First, she applies a critical multicultural analysis to children’s literature in order to bring the ideology of power as it is portrayed in children’s literature. Second, she investigates pedagogical strategies to introduce a critical multicultural analysis to pre-service teachers, service teachers, and graduate students.
Teaching/professional interests
Dr. Kelley teaches Survey of Children’s Literature, Improving Comprehension Through Literature, Advanced Children’s Literature, and Critical Analysis of Children’s and Young Adult Literature. She taught ESL and K-5 for ten years in Missouri, Massachusetts, and Texas, including three years in inner-city Houston.
Recent accomplishments
- Kelley, J. (2009). Critical multicultural analysis of folktales: Power representation in reconstructed Rumpelstiltskin stories. Saarbruecken, Germany: VDM Publishing House Ltd.
- Kelley, J. E. (2008). Harmony, empathy, loyalty, and patience in Japanese children's literature. The Social Studies, 99(2), 61-70.
- Kelley, J. E. (2008). Power relationships in Rumpelstiltskin: A textual comparison of a traditional and a reconstructed fairy tale. Children's Literature in Education, 39(1), 31-41.
- Kelley, J. E., & Roe, M. F. (2007). Promoting pre-service teachers' curiosity: Why and how? The Reading Professor, 29(2), 22-31.
Educational background
- Ed.D. Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of Massachusetts, 2004.
- M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education, University of Missouri, 1996.
- B.A. Education, Social and Rehabilitative Services, Assumption College, 1988.
