About

Dr. Melissa A. Antonelli is Assistant Professor of Literacies at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) on the Boca Raton campus. Dr. Antonelli received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction and master’s degree in Elementary Education plus Certification with a specialization in Reading from FAU. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising from Duquesne University.

Before FAU, Dr. Antonelli served as an elementary educator in K-12 public schools for over ten years. Her practical expertise is grounded in critical literacy, literacy instruction, and teacher development. Dr. Antonelli teaches undergraduate literacy courses on curriculum and instruction, assessment and intervention, supervised literacy practicum, children’s literature, and critical literacies. Her research focuses on literacy, and curricular implementation, with particular attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) inclusion, curriculum, and educators.

Research Interests

My research encompasses teacher education, curriculum theory, and educational policy, with a specific focus on the pedagogical preparation of pre-service teachers during their student teaching placements. I examine the interplay between legislation, practice, and education in fostering teachers' reflective and informed teaching approaches. I aim to advance research-driven approaches that align institutional expectations with the realities of modern classrooms.

Research Interest Keywords

Curriculum Development And Theory, Teacher Education, Educational Policy, Literacy, Reading Development, And Professional Development

Research Methods Keywords

Qualitative Methods, Mixed Methods, Survey And Interview Methodology, Case Study Research, Content Analysis, Autoethnography, Action Research

Software Used in Your Research

ATLAS.ti, NVivIo, MAXQDA, SPSS, Excel, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms

Hardware Used in Your Research

Digital Voice Recording (Zoom, Otter, AI, Etc.), Wearable Technology, Archival Devices For Fata Handling And Storage.