![Photo of Helen Bentley]( "Photo of Helen Bentley")
Steven C. Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education 100 N. University Street West Lafayette Indiana 47907-2098 BRNG 4156home
Work Email: hbentley@purdue.eduINTERNET
Helen Bentley
Clinical Assistant Professor
Literacy and Language EducationDepartment of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Bentley’s research interests lie in social justice work that is embedded in critical and equity literacy approaches to identity and preservice teacher literacy education. She focuses on equitable reading and writing practices in the Kindergarten through 5th grade classroom. Helen has taught elementary grades in both the US and UK.
- Ph.D. — Literacy & Language Education, Purdue University, 2021
- PGCE — Elementary Education, University of Chester, UK, 2005
- M.A. — English Literature and Language, University of Liverpool, UK, 2004
- BA (Hons) — English Literature and Language, University of Liverpool, UK, 2003
- 2021 – present
Clinical Assistant Professor
Purdue University
- 2018-2021
Teaching Assistant
Literacy & Language Education
Purdue University
- 2015-2018
Teaching Assistant
Oral English Proficiency Program
Purdue University
- 2005-2014
Kindergarten-5th Grade Teaching Experience
Lafayette, Indiana; Boston, MA; London, England
- Susan Carlson Harbridge Graduate Scholarship in Literacy and Language, Fall 2018
- Mary Gitzen Excellence in Teaching Award, Fall 2016
- Mary Gitzen Excellence in Teaching Award, Spring 2015
- Wessel-Powell, C. & Bentley, H.C. (2022). Newcomers, Novices, Censors, and Seasoned Advocates Navigate Risky Texts with Critical Literacy. The New Educator, 18(1-2), 61-86, DOI: 10.1080/1547688X.2021.2008567.
- Bentley, H.C., Xue, M., & Wessel-Powell, C. (2021). “The world is changing and we have to change with it”: Preservice teachers and multicultural picture books. Indiana Literacy Journal 50(1) 8-36
- Wessel-Powell, C. & Bentley, H.C. (2020). Invisibility: Academic stopwatches, mothers, labor, and the global pandemic. In K. J. Fasching-Varner, S.T. Bickmore, D.G. Hays, P.G. Schrader, D.L. Carlson & D. Anagostopoulos, (Eds.). Corona Chronicles: Necessary Narratives in Uncertain Times. Vol 1. DIO Press.
- Bentley, H.C. (2018). Writing love and hope into the English classroom. Review of B. C. LaMay, Personal Narrative, Revised: Writing Love and Agency in the High School Classroom, English Journal. 108(1), 82-84
- Bentley, H.C. (2018). Sometimes monsters are real: Exploring Islandborn with young children. First Opinion; Second Reaction. docs.lib.purdue.edu/fosr 11 (2).
- Bentley, H.C. (2018). Understanding students of poverty in the multicultural classroom. Review of Adams, B. (2018). Can You See Me? Using Understanding to Help Students of Poverty Feel Seen, Understood, and Valued in the Classroom. Multicultural Perspectives, 20(3), 187-190, DOI: 10.108
- EDCI 363 — Literacy in the Elementary School
- EDCI 309 — Reading in Middle and Secondary Schools
- ENG 620 — Oral English Proficiency Program
