Elon Teaching Fellow and elementary education major Lily Ragals '26 presented her undergraduate research at the North Carolina Reading Association Annual Meeting in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on March 24.
Lily Ragals ’26, an Elon Teaching Fellow and elementary education major in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, presented her undergraduate research at the North Carolina Reading Association Annual Meeting in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on March 24.
Ragals’ research is focused on the representation of children with autism in children’s literature. In her study, a content analysis, Ragals examined 21 children’s picture books, looking for themes in how children with autism and autism as an exceptionality are presented. Her research project is mentored by Lisa Buchanan, associate professor in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.
“Lily created a research study with real K-12 classroom impact, and that is exactly what we are aiming for in undergraduate research in teacher education,” said Buchanan. “She brought together her interests in children’s literature, experiences with children with autism, and classroom teaching in her research.”
Ragals’ presentation, attended by classroom teachers, school librarians and K-12 curriculum leaders, included an overview of her research study design and findings as well as a thematic text set created based on her research findings that featured a diverse range of depictions of children with autism. Ragals walked conference attendees through the text set and modeled opportunities for classroom use.
“Inquiry is a hallmark experience of the Elon Teaching Fellows program, providing students with opportunities to investigate meaningful questions related to their education interests under the guidance of a faculty mentor,” said Eric Hone, director of the Elon Teaching Fellows. “Through this process, Fellows develop essential research, critical thinking and reflection skills that will support them throughout their careers. Lily’s research exemplifies this commitment to inquiry. Presenting her findings at a professional conference offered her a unique opportunity to share her work with experienced educators and engage in broader conversations about inclusive literacy practices.”
Ragals was awarded a $500 grant from Elon’s Office of Undergraduate Research, used to purchase copies of the books analyzed in her research.