Charles Temple

Charles A TempleEmeritus Professor of Educational Studies

Joined faculty in 1982

Ph.D., University of Virginia (1978)
B.A., University of North Carolina (1969)

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Contact Information

Scholarly Interest

Literacy
Storytelling
Children's literature
Writing for Children
International education

Teaching Experience

Teacher of English as a Second Language (Spain)
Teacher of English (South Carolina)
Director of County Reading Programs (Virginia)
Reading Center Clinician (Virginia)

Research

Creating literature for under-served children in Central Asia, Central Europe, the Caucasus, and West and East Africa.

Working with progressive educators world-wide to promote active learning and critical thinking.

Storytelling and critical thinking.

Courses Taught

Literacy (Education 333)
Children's Literature (Education 320)
Creating Children's Literature (321)
Comparative and International Education (323)
Storytelling (Education 220)
Professional seminars in literacy for the teacher education program

Publications

Resources for Literacy Develoment

Temple, C. (2023). CODE Guide to Creating and Illustrating Books for Children in Fragile Contexts. CODE of Canada.

Temple, C. (2021). Read@Home Guide for Writers, Illustrators, and Designers of Books for Young Readers. The World Bank. 

Temple, C., and Leigh, J. (2020). Writing Middle Grade Books to Empower Girls. CODE of Canada and Government Affairs Canada: Transforming Girls' Education Project in Sierra Leone. 

Temple, C. (1998). Guide for Creating Children's Books in Many Genres. Read With Me Project of Tajikistan and USAID. 

Temple, C., Preece, A., and Dumea, P. (1994). Mbinu Saba: Methods for Teaching Literacy in Tanzanian Primary Schools. Children's Book Organization of Tanzania. 

Textbooks

Temple, C., J. Yokota, and M. Martinez. (2018). Children's Books in Children's Hands: An Introduction to Children’s Literature6th Edition (First Edition was published in 1996). New York: Pearson.

Temple, C., D. Ogle, A. Crawford, and C. F. Temple. (2017). All Children Read: Teaching for Literacy in Diverse Classrooms, 5th Edition. (First Edition was published in 1997).  New York: Pearson.

Martinez, M., J. Yokota, and C. Temple (2017). Thinking and Learning Through Children’s Literature. Baltimore: Rowman and Littlefield.

 Gillet, J., C. Temple, A. Crawford, and C. F. Temple (2017). Understanding Reading Problems: Assessment and Instruction, 9th Edition. (First edition was published in 1982). New York: Pearson.

Temple, C., R. Nathan, and C.F. Temple (2013). The Beginnings of Writing: Observing and Nurturing Emergent Literacy, 4th Edition. (First Edition was published in 1982). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Temple, C., A. Crawford, and J. Gillet (2009). Developmental Literacy Inventory:  Assessments for Kindergarten through Grade Eight. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Temple, C., and J. MaKinster (2007). Intervening for Literacy. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Temple, C. and J. Gillet (1996). Language and Literacy: A Lively Approach. New York: HarperCollins.

Temple, C. and P. Collins (Ed). (1992). Stories and Readers: New Perspectives on Literature in the Elementary School. Boston: Christopher-Gordon.

Temple, C., and J. Gillet. (1988). Language Arts: Learning Processes and Teaching Practices, 2nd Edition. New York: HarperCollins. (First Edition published by Little, Brown in 1984).

Nathan, R., F. Temple, K. Juntunen, and C. Temple (1988). Classroom Strategies that Work. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann.

Children's Books

Temple, C. (1992). On the Riverbank. Illustrated by Melanie Hall. Houghton Mifflin.

Temple, C. (1994). Shanty Boat. Illustrated by Melania Hall. Houghton Mifflin.

Temple, C. Cadillac. Illustrated by Lynne Lockhart. G.P. Putnam's Sons. 

Temple, C. (1996). Train. Illustrated by Larry Johnson. Houghton Mifflin.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

International Literacy Association
Comparative and International Education Association
Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking International Consortium
National Storytelling Network
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (Professional member)
International Board of Books for Young People

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I have done research, teaching and writing in the literacy field for many years, especially in the areas of emergent literacy, assessment of reading, and children's literature (including a decade as an author of children's books). More recently my work has turned to the applications of literacy training as vehicle for building open societies, for peace-building, and for community development--especially through projects in 40 countries, with Canadian Overseas Development through Education (CODE), the Open Society Institute, UNESCO, and USAID.

SERVICE PROJECTS

Teaching and Learning in Fragile Contexts, Sierra Leone and Liberia. CODE and Government Affairs Canada. (2023-2024). Trainer of authors and supervising editor of 12 anthologies for children in grades 1-6, with emphases on gender equality, child trafficking, and environmental concerns.

Transforming Girls' Education Project, Sierra Leone. Government Affairs Canada. (2019-2021). Children's book developer in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

REACH for Reading in Sierra Leone. The World Bank. (2018-2022). Project designer and materials developmer in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Time To Read. USAID-Kyrgyzstan (2018-2021). Book development consultant in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Read With Me. USAID-Tajikistan (2016-2021). Book development consultant in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Reading Sierra Leone 2020 (2016-2020). With CODE of Canada, project director for a teacher training and book development initiative based in Port Loko, Sierra Leone.

Reading-Sierra Leone (2012--2015). Project director producing supplemental reading books for grades 1-3, in partnership with PEN-Sierra Leone, Freetown.

Reading-Tanzania (2012-2016). Trainer for CODE's Children's Book Project initiative in the Kongwa District. 

Reading-Ghana (2011-2015) Project evaluator and teacher trainer for CODE’s partner in Ghana, the Ghana Book Trust.

Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking. The Open Society Institute.  (1996-2010). Co-founder and co-director for a school improvement project at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in 44 countries on five continents.