Mollie taught second grade in a Harlem public school for 18 years and five years prior in a Tremont parochial early childhood classroom. Both positions offered insights across cultural experiences and led Mollie to understandings of culturally sustaining pedagogies. While teaching elementary school, professional development opportunities included learning experiences that incorporated art into academic learning and explored the workshop model of writing and reading, which fold into her work at Bank Street. Mollie’s academic interests include children’s literature, students’ funds of knowledge, the Arts in education, and urban education. Currently, she serves as co-chair of the Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee (https://www.bankstreet.edu/center-childrens-literature/childrens-book-committee/). Her recent work involved writing a 6-session curriculum for Brooklyn Public Library encouraging reading development for ages 5-9.
Educational Background
Qualifications
EdD, Curriculum & Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia University
Publications
Enriquez, G., Cunningham, K. E., Cappiello, M., & Welsh Kruger, M. (2018). 2017 Notable Poetry Books for Children. Language Arts, 95, 394-401.
Freidus, H., Kruger, M.W., & Goss, S. (2015). Constructivists online: Reimagining progressive practice. Occasional Papers Series, Issue 34. Retrieved from https://faculty.bmcc.cuny.edu:7002/faculty/upload/occasional-paper-series-34_1028.pdf
Freidus, H., Goss, S., & Welsh Kruger, M.W. (2017). Developing New Understandings of Teaching and Learning: A Self-Study of the Implementation of Constructivist Models of Teacher Education in Online Settings. In Garbett, D. & Ovens, A. (Eds.), Being Self-Study Researchers in a Digital World: Future Oriented Research and Pedagogy in Teacher Education, Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
Presentations
Welsh Kruger, M. (2018). Team Up to Read Curriculum Introduction. Presentation at Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY.
Welsh Kruger, M. (2017). What’s New in Children’s Books for the Kindergarten Classroom? Presentation at 2017 Teaching Kindergarten: Where Did the Garden Go – Practice, Policy & Advocacy Conference , Bank Street College, New York, NY.
Welsh Kruger, M. (2017). Exploration of Middle Grade Texts on Immigrant/Refugee Experiences. Presentation at Bank Street College Library Salon, New York, NY.
Welsh Kruger, M. (2017). Supporting Young Readers Kindergarten- 3rd Grade: A Family Workshop (Ideas for Librarians). Presentation at Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY.
Colon, C., McNamara, P., & Welsh Kruger, M. (2017). Building Joyful Readers Through Read Alouds. Presentation at National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Colon, C., McNamara, P., & Welsh Kruger, M. (2016) Early Childhood Teacher Educators Examine Advocacy for Diversity and Social Justice in Language and Literacy Arenas/Classrooms. Presentation at National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
