Our Publications

This page showcases a list of publications from various contributing members of our research projects.

Journal Articles

(in reverse chronological order)

Si’ilata, R. K., Jacobs, M. M., Gaffney, J. S., Aseta, M., & Hansell, K. (2023). Making space for young children’s embodied cultural literacies and heritage languages with dual language books. The Reading Teacher, 0(0), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2195

Meiklejohn-Whiu, S., Matapo, J., Jesson, R., Gaffney, J. S. (2022). Researching with integrity: When the insides of our work match the outsides. In F. Meyer & K. Meiisel (Eds.), Research methods for education and the social disciplines in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 13–33). New Zealand Council of Educational Research.

Jacobs, M. M. (2022). Negotiating a place to belong in an Aotearoa New Zealand playgroup. In P. S. Stagg & N. Friedrich (Eds.), The role of place and play in young children’s language and literacy (95–108). University of Toronto Press.

Gaffney, J. S., & Ritchie, J. , Skerrett, M., Smith, G. H., Mcfarlane, A. H., Mara, D., & Sleeter, C. (2021). Editorial and Commentaries. Imagining Possible Worlds with Young Children, Families, and Teachers: Sustaining Indigenous Languages and Family Pedagogies [Special Issue]. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences, 16(2), 234-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2021.1958877

Quigan, E. K., Gaffney, J. S., & Siʻilata, R. (2021). Ēhara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini: The power of a collective. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences, 16(2), 283-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2021.1920434

Jacobs, M. M., Harvey, N., & White, A. (2021). Parents and whanau as experts in their worlds: Valuing family pedagogies in early childhood. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 16(2), 265–282.

White, A., Gaffney, J. S., & Hedges, H. (12 November 2021). Toddlers as active, competent story weavers: Lexie’s story. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/HIJHHUNQ5G6PDHD5DCYR/full

Xu, S. T., Zhang, L. J., & Gaffney, J. S. (13 July 2021).  Examining the relative effects of task complexity and cognitive demands on students’ writing in a second language. Studies in Second Language Acquisition.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263121000310

Hart, S., Hill, M. F., & Gaffney, J. S. (2021). Timetabling a transition with dignity: Perspectives of young adults with significant support needs. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 46(3), 227-238. https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2021.1885973

Li, A. M-C, Gaffney, J. S., Sansom, A. N., & Cheng, P. W. D. (2021).“Old newspapers from my home”: Storying children’s environmental and cultural sustainability. Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, 15(1), 29-52. [Special Issue: Early childhood care and education for sustainable futures.] http://dx.doi.org/10.17206/apjrece.2021.15.1.29

Jacobs, M. M., McConnell, C., Uhrmacher, P. B. (2020). Waking ecological mindedness through artifacts and stories. Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, 22(2), 167–181.

Jacobs, M., & Marea, M. I. (2019). The sand is home: Playing the ways of Kiribati. He Kupu The Word, 6(2), 48–58.

Gaffney, J. S., Smith, S., Commack, F., Ash, A., Mackie, M., & Mudgway, S. (Invited, 2019). Advocating for children: Not all literacy interventions, approaches and resources are equal. New Zealand Literacy Forum, 34(1), 5-12.

Gaffney, J. S.,Tamati, S. T., & Jacobs, M. M. (2019). Understand Me: Storied conversations of tamariki/children, whānau/families and Kaiako/teachers. Annual Report. Auckland Airport Community Trust, New Zealand. https://www.aucklandairportcommunitytrust.org.nz/2019-annual-report/

Hart, S. M., Gaffney, J. S., & Hill, M. F. (2019). Opportunity to transition with dignity: Silos and trialling in Aotearoa New Zealand. Canadian Journal of Children’s Rights / Revue canadienne des droits des enfants.

Li, A. M-C, Gaffney, J. S., Sansom, A. N., & Matapo, J. (2019). An Aotearoa New Zealand perspective on inclusive early childhood education: “As a human right, as good education, and as good sense” (pp. 47-62). Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series Monograph 18: International Perspectives on Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education. Washington, DC: Division for Early Childhood.

Aitken, J., Villers, H., & Gaffney, J. S. (2018).  Guided Reading: Being mindful of the reading processing of New Entrants in Aotearoa/New Zealand primary schools. Set: Research Information for Teachers, 1, 25-33. https://doi.org/10.18296/set.0099

Gaffney, J. S., & Rodgers, E. (2018). Scaffolding research: Taking stock at the four-decade mark. Contribution of Scaffolding to Learning and Teaching: Interdisciplinary Perspectives [Special issue]. International Journal of Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2018.04.001

Hart, S., Gaffney, J. S., & Hill, M. (2017). Critical reflections on    emancipatory partnerships in research: The process of discerning personal perspectives of young adults with significant disability. Disability & Society, 32(6), 831-852. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2017.1329710

Easton, V., Gaffney, J. S., & Wardman, J. (2016). “I Need to Do Better, but I Don’t Know What to Do”: Primary Teachers’ Experiences of Talented Young Writers. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 25, 34-51.  https://doi.org/10.21505/ajge.2016.0014

Technical Reports

Morgan, M., Matapo, J., Gaffney, J. S., & Jacobs, M. M. (2023). Understand Me: Storied conversations as afa for strengthening relationships, curriculum, and pedagogies. Teaching and Learning Initiative. http://www.tlri.org.nz/tlri-research/research-completed/school-sector/understand-me-crafting-selves-and-worlds-collective

Gaffney, J. S., & Jacobs, M. (2021). Understand me: Crafting selves and worlds in collective storied conversations with tamariki/children, whānau/families, and kaiako/teachers. Summary Poster for Teaching & Learning Research Initiative website.

Si’ilata, R., & Gaffney, J. S., Aseta, M., Jacobs, M. M., Tagoilelagi-Leota, F.S. P., & Hansell, K. (2020). Pasifika Early Literacy Project & Realm Languages Project: Milestone Report 3(Va’atele Education Consulting). Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand.

Si’ilata, R., & Gaffney, J. S., Lazo, V. G., Umali, E., Miranda, T., & Kwong, J. (2019). Scaffolding early years Pasifika Learners using Pasifika Dual-Language Books-–Implementation of Pasifika Early Literacy Project (PELP): Project Report Final (UniServices Task No. 37195.001). Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand.  

Gaffney, J. S., Tamati, S. T., & Jacobs, M. M. (October 8, 2019). Understand me: Storied conversations of tamariki/children, whānau/familes and kaiako/teachers. Auckland Airport Community Trust Annual Report (pp. 5-6). Auckland Airport.

Si’ilata, R., & Gaffney, J. S., (2018). Scaffolding early years Pasifika Learners using Pasifika Dual-Language Books-–Implementation of Pasifika Early Literacy Project (PELP): Project Report Two (UniServices Task No. 37195.001). Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand.  

Book Chapters

Gaffney, J. S., & Jacobs, M. (Invited, 2020). Notice, recognise, interpret and respond to the Pasifika child in mana-enhancing ways. In Pasifika Early Literacy Project (PELP) Professional Learning and Development Workshops: Booklet 2. Va‘atele Education Consulting for the Ministry of Education.

Gaffney, J. S., & Jesson, R. (2019). We have to know what they know (and so do they) for children to sustain learning and independence. M. McVee, E. Ortlieb, J. Reichenberg, & P. D. Pearson (Eds.). The Gradual Release of Responsibility in Literacy Research and Practice (pp. 23-36). Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald.

Gaffney, J. S., Morton, M., & Hart, S. M. (2017). Aotearoa New Zealand Special Education. In M. Wehmeyer & J. Patton (Eds.), Handbook of International Special Education (Vol. 3, pp. 289-303). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Wilkinson, I. A. G., & Gaffney, J. S. (2016).  Literacy for schooling: Two-tiered scaffolding for learning and teaching. In L. Corno & E. M. Anderman (Eds.), Handbook of Educational Psychology (3rd ed., pp. 229-244). Boca Raton, FL: American Psychological Association & Routledge/Taylor-Francis.

Special Issues Editor

Gaffney, J. S., & Ritchie, J. , Skerrett, M. (Eds.) (2021). Imagining Possible Worlds with Young Children, Families, and Teachers: Sustaining Indigeneous Languages and Family Pedagogies [Special Issue]. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 16(2). https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tnzk20/current?nav=tocList

Gaffney, J. S., & Rodgers, E. (Eds.). (2018). Contribution of Scaffolding to Learning and Teaching: Interdisciplinary Perspectives [Special issue]. International Journal of Educational Research.

Conference Presentations

*Gaffney, J. S., & Jesson, R. (2021, October). Walking backwards into our futures. New Zealand Literacy Association Conference, Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay.

*Jesson, R., & Gaffney, J. S. (invited, 2021, August). Who sets the course for literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand: A conversation about steering the literacy waka forwards by looking backwards. Auckland Literacy Association, Auckland.

Pham, H., & Gaffney, J. S.  (2021, May). Unfinalizabilty of living stories: An approach to understand a young Vietnamese child’s identities-in-flux in Aotearoa New Zealand. International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (Virtual). Champaign, IL.

Gaffney, J.S. (2020, December). Storying “storying methodologies”: Being, listening-telling, and un/knowing through early childhood multimodal literacies. Chair, Symposium presented at the Literacy Research Association Conference (Virtual), Houston, TX.

Jacobs, M., Gaffney, J.S., & Tamati, S. T. (2020, December). In the clothes Oma carried: Embodied storying in early childhood. In J. S. Gaffney (Symposium Chair), Storying “storying methodologies”: Being, listening-telling, and un/knowing through early childhood multimodal literacies. Paper presented at the Literacy Research Association Conference (Virtual), Houston, TX.

Gaffney, J. S. (2020, April). Imagining possible worlds with young children, families, and teachers:Sustaining language/s and family pedagogies Chair, Symposium-Critical Perspectives on Early Childhood Education SIG, American Educational Research Association (Virtual), San Francisco, CA.

Jacobs, M. M., Harvey, N., & White, A. (2020, April). Parents and whānau as experts in their worlds: Valuing family pedagogies in early childhood. Paper to be presented at the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Quigan, E. K., Gaffney, J. S., & Siʻilata, R. (2020, April). Ēhara tāku toa i te takitini, engari he toa takitahi: Exploring the power of a collective. In J. S. Gaffney (Chair), Imagining possible worlds with young children, families, and teachers:Sustaining language/s and family pedagogies. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (Virtual), San Francisco, CA.

Gaffney, J. S. & Jesson, R. (2019, December). We Must Know What They Know (and So Do They) for Children to Sustain Learning and Independence in Literacy. In McVee (Chair), Symposium: The Gradual Release of Responsibility Model: Influences on Past and Future. Literacy Research and Practice Literacy Research Association, Tampa, FL.

Jacobs M. M., McConnell, C. M. & Uhrmacher, P. B. (2019, October). Waking ecological mindedness in artifacts and stories. American Association for Teaching and Curriculum annual conference, Birmingham, Alabama, US.

Jacobs, M. M. & İnanç, G. (2019, August). Opening Universities for Refugees (OUR): Creating knowledge networks with displaced communities. Refugee Education Centre 2019 Symposium: Manākitanga: Welcoming Refugee Background Learners, Auckland, New Zealand.

Wang, Y., Gaffney, J. S., & Jesson, R. (2019, August). Wading through the muddle: The child’s world of revision. Paper presented at the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Aachen, Germany.

*Gaffney, J. S., & Si’ilata, R. (invited Featured Speakers, 2019, July). Translanguaging and biliteracy development as normalised practice in primary classrooms. Paper presented at the International Reading Recovery Institute, Auckland, New Zealand.

*Jacobs, M. M. (Invited presenter, 2019, July). Learning the transcultural flow of children, families, and communities. International Reading Recovery Institute, Auckland, New Zealand.

*Randell, B., & Gaffney, J. S. (Invited Presenters, 2019, July). Our lives are full of stories: An interactive session. Paper presented at the International Reading Recovery Institute, Auckland, New Zealand.

Gaffney, J. S., & Cunningham, E. (2018, November). The peoples of Aotearoa-New Zealand A moment in time: The land, place and space of literacy innovation.  Paper presented at the Literacy Research Association, Indian Wells, CA.

*Gaffney, J. S. (Invited Keynote, 2018, October). Advocating for children: Not all literacy interventions, approaches and resources are equal. New Zealand Literacy Association, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

*Gaffney, J. S., (Invited Keynote, 2018, June). A systems approach to literacy intervention: An insider’s research story. New South Wales, Institute for Educational Research, Sydney, Australia.

*Gaffney, J. S. (Invited Session, 2018, June). Responding to children: Useful help. New South Wales, Institute for Educational Research, Sydney, Australia.

Hart, S., Gaffney, J. S., & Hill, M. F. (2018, April). Possibilities for a transition with dignity: Trialling and silos in New Zealand. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Conference, New York.

Gaffney, J. S. (Invited Discussant, 2018, April). What works for beginning readers with individualized education programs? Recent findings from a large, multisite development project. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Conference, New York.

*Gaffney, J. S. (Invited Discussant, 2017, November). Symposium (Rob Kelly, Chair) What works for beginning readers with IEPs? Recent findings from a large, multi-site development project. Symposium presented at the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, Florida.

Aitken, J., Gaffney, J. S., & Villers, H. (2017, December). Guided Reading: In pursuit of early literacy processing. Paper presented at the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, Florida.

Gaffney, J. S. (2017, November). The unique literacy heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. Paper presented at the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, Florida.

*Gaffney, J. S.  (Invited Discussant, 2017, November). Symposium (Emily Rodgers, Chair): Developing an evidenced-based literacy instructional format for young students with IEPs. Symposium at the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, Florida.

Zhou, B., Gaffney, J. S., & McNaughton, S. (2017, November). Xiaolong’s early literacy voyage in and across home-kindergarten settings in Aotearoa New Zealand. Paper presented at the Literacy Research Association, Tampa, Florida.

*Gaffney, J. S. (Invited, 2017, September).  Advocacy for children through selection of literacy interventions, approaches and resources. Invited keynote presentation at New South Wales Early Literacy Intervention Conference, Sydney, Australia.

*Gaffney, J. S. (2017, September).  Seminar on advocacy for children through selection of literacy interventions, approaches and resources. Invited featured speaker at New South Wales Early Literacy Intervention Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Hart, S., Gaffney, J. S., & Hill, M. (2017, April). Emancipatory partnerships in research. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Zhou, B., Gaffney, J. S., & McNaughton, S. (2017, April,). Congruent and incongruent home-kindergarten literacy experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Zhou, B., Gaffney, J. S., & McNaughton, S. (2016, November). Tiantian–An early literacy traveller between home and kindergarten in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Association for Research in Education, Wellington, New Zealand.

Si’ilata, R., Gaffney, J. S., Stephenson, J.  (2016. August). Dual language texts for Pasifika bilingual children. 35^thInternational Board on Books for Young People Congress, Auckland, New Zealand.

Zhou, B., & Gaffney, J. S. (2016, August). The reciprocal influences of home and kindergarten on one Chinese immigrant child’s literacy experiences. 35^th International Board on Books for Young People Congress, Auckland, New Zealand.

Gaffney, J. S., (2016, April). The tradition of te tukutuku: The unique literacy heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Conference, Washington, DC.

Hart, S., Gaffney, J. S., & Hill, M. F. (2016, April). Transition trials. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Conference, Washington, D.C.

Abd-El-Khalick, F., & Gaffney, J. S. (2016, March).  EnLiST: Entrepreneurial leadership in STEM teaching and learning. Carnegie Foundation Summit on Improvement in Education. San Francisco, CA.

(* = invited)

Seminar Presentations

*Jacobs, M. M. (2020, May). Reimagining early childhood literacies alongside families. Invited lecture: Early Childhood Seminar Series, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland.

*Gaffney, J. S. (2019, September). Building professional communities: Local and beyond. Professorial-Led Mentoring Network, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland.

*Gaffney, J. S. (2019, August). Research-informed teacher-education practices. Curriculum and Pedagogy Research Seminar, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

*Gaffney, J. S. (2019, August). Demystification of research and normalization of theory in research-informed, teacher-education practices. School of Curriculum and Pedagogy Research Seminar Series, University of Auckland.

(* = invited)

Media

Gaffney, J. S.,Tamati, S. T., & Jacobs, M. M. (2019). Understand Me: Storied conversations of tamariki/children, whānau/families and Kaiako/teachers. Annual Report. Auckland Airport Community Trust, New Zealand. https://www.aucklandairportcommunitytrust.org.nz/2019-annual-report/

Out of the mouths of babes. (21 June 2019). Faculty of Education and Social Work website news article on Royal Society Catalyst Seeding funded research on Growing a Networked Research Community around the Heritage Languages of Young Children and Families of Aotearoa. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2019/06/21/out-of-the-mouths-of-babes.html

Children’s Commissioner connects with graduands and a research project he helped inspire (8 May 2019). Faculty of Education and Social Work website news article on Understand Me, funded by Auckland Airport Community Trust. https://staff.education.auckland.ac.nz/childrens-commissioner-connects

Leading Literacy-Interview on Standing Room Only, Radio New Zealand, 7 February 2016. https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/standing-room-only/audio/201788394/leading-literacy

Project will capture New Zealand’s literacy history, News article by Anna Kellett, 29 January 2016. http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news/news-2016/01/project-will-capture-new-zealands-literary-history.html