Dr. Yvonne Messenger

Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Studies; Acting Director, Brock Learning Lab

PhD in Educational Studies (Cognition and Learning), Brock University
MEd in Literacy Education, Mount Saint Vincent University
BEd, OISE, University of Toronto
BA (Hons) of Arts (Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo)
ARCT in Violin Performance, Royal Conservatory of Music

A woman smiles at the camera while sitting outside.

Burlington Campus
[email protected]

Brock Learning Lab

Dr. Yvonne Messenger is an Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy in the Faculty of Educational Studies. Yvonne holds a PhD in Cognition and Learning from Brock University and is an Ontario certified Primary/Junior/Intermediate teacher. She has over twenty years of teaching and leadership experience in public education in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Yvonne has served as a classroom teacher, reading interventionist, and literacy consultant, assisting new and experienced teachers interested in deepening their professional knowledge for teaching literacy and play-based pedagogies.  

Yvonne’s research focuses on collaborating with both pre-service and current educators to build their confidence (self-efficacy) and their instructional practices for teaching readers and writers. She is passionate about supporting teachers to become responsive and well-informed practitioners, and ensuring that all children have research-informed instruction that allows them to be proficient readers and writers. 

 

Research Interests and Activities

  • Action Research/Design-Based Research
  • Professional Learning Communities/Instructional Coaching
  • Comprehensive Research-Informed Literacy Instruction 
  • Early Years and Play-based Learning Pedagogies 
  • Emergent Literacy 

Professional Affiliations and Accreditation/Certification

  • Canadian Society for the Study of Education 
  • International Literacy Association 
  • Language and Literacy Researchers of Canada 
  • Literacy Council of North America 
  • Literacy Research Association 
  • OCT (Ontario Certified Teacher), Primary/Junior/Intermediate Certification 

Recent Publications

Susin, C., Gallagher, T., Favero, I., Nethercott, M., & Messenger, Y. (in press). Strengthening tutor mentorship through a reflective book study. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning. 

Birch, H., Pike, B., Foster, R., Messenger, Y., Kim, G., Brown, C. (2025). Social-emotional learning (SEL) in the context of a practicum teaching placement in K-8 schools. In Smith, C., & Schellert, L (Eds), Teacher Leadership. In Canadian research in teacher education: A polygraph series (Vol. 13). [eBook]. Canadian Association for Teacher Education/Canadian Society for the Study of Education. https://prism.ucalgary.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/dde64604-7a96-4f95-9ccf-ccd09507c31b/content  

Messenger, Y. (2025). Navigating a Rapidly Changing Landscape for Teaching Literacy: A  Mixed-Methods Study of Kindergarten Educators’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs. [Doctoral Dissertation, Brock University]. Brock University Digital Repository.  https://hdl.handle.net/10464/19204  

Messenger, Y., & Gallagher, T. G. (2025). Joyful literacy learning opportunities for  kindergarten educators: Using design-based research to build collaborative educator-researcher partnerships. Language and Literacy, 27(3), 42-61. https://doi.org/10.20360/langandlit29758  

Messenger, Y. (2024). Pulled in all directions: Kindergarten educator challenges for  teaching reading in play-based programs. Language and Literacy, 26(3), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.20360/langandlit29726  

Messenger, Y. L. & Gallagher, T. L. (2024). ‘My most tricky pickle!’ Balancing reading  instruction in play-based kindergarten: Educator self–efficacy beliefs and  pedagogical content knowledge needs. Journal of Teaching and Learning, 18 (1). pp.39-56. https://jtl.uwindsor.ca/index.php/jtl/article/view/8056

Downes, T., Messenger, Y. L., Gallagher, T. L., & Collier, D. R. (2023). Experiences of  Parents of Pre-Adolescents Coping with Online Learning, Socialization and  Navigating Critical Media Literacy. American Journal of Education and  Technology, 2(3), 104–122. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajet.v2i3.1844 

Messenger, Y. (2023). Review of the book Reading above the fray, by Julia Lindsey. ETFO Voice, Winter 2023. https://etfovoice.ca/book/reading-above-fray-reliable-research-based-routines-developing-decoding-skills  

Presentations: 

Messenger, Y. & Gallagher, T. L. (2025, June). The self-efficacy beliefs of kindergarten educators for teaching foundational literacy skills. Canadian Society for Studies in Education Conference, Toronto, ON. June 2025. 

Messenger, Y., & Gallagher, T. L. (2024, June). Joyful literacy learning opportunities for kindergarten educators: Using design-based research to build collaborative educator-researcher partnerships. Language and Literacy Researchers of Canada Pre-Conference, Canadian Society for Studies in Education, Montreal, QC,  June 12, 2024. 

Pike, B., Birch, H. J. S., & Messenger, Y. (2024, May). Practicum explorations: Unpacking indigenous education in northern Ontario. International Christian Community for Teacher Education Conference. Gordon College. Massachusetts, USA. 

Messenger, Y. (2024, February). How is the science of reading impacting language instruction in Ontario classrooms? Presented at Tyndale University. Toronto, ON. 

Messenger, Y. (2024, February). Nurture and Nudge: Teaching Reading in Play-Based Kindergartens. Presented at Reading for the Love of It Conference. Toronto, ON. 

Collier, D., Gallagher, T., McQuirter, R., Messenger, Y., & Venema, C. (2023, November). The New Ontario Language Curriculum: An Overview for Sessional Instructors. Presented at Brock University. St. Catharines, ON. 

Birch, H. J. S., Pike, B., Messenger, Y., Foster, R., Kim, G., Brown, C. Social-emotional learning (SEL) in the context of a practicum teaching placement in K-8 schools. Canadian Association of Teacher Educators Conference. Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, October 11-14, 2023. 

Messenger, Y. (2023, February). The ABCs: Teaching Reading in Kindergarten. Presented at Reading for the Love of It Conference. Toronto, ON. 

Messenger, Y. (2023, September). OnEd Mentors Podcast. The Cursive Comeback.  Panelist. Toronto, ON. 

Gallagher, T., Downes, T., Messenger, Y., & Collier, D. (2022, Dec. 3). Pre-adolescents’ critical media literacy skills during pandemic online learning. Paper presented at Literacy Research Association 72nd Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ 

Messenger, Y. (2022, May). Teaching reading in Ontario’s play-based kindergartens: Kindergarten educators’ literacy instructional strengths and challenges. Roundtable presented at Canadian Society for the Study of Education Conference. (online) 

Gallagher, T., Collier, D., Messenger, Y., & Downes, T. (2022). Parents of pre-adolescents learning and use of digital resources during the pandemic. Paper presented at Canadian Society for the Study of Education Conference. (online) 

Messenger, Y., Gallagher, T., Collier, D., & Downes, T. (2022). Playing in the ‘Virtual  Playground’: Pre-adolescents and peer socialization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roundtable presented at Canadian Society for the Study of Education. (online) 

Downes, T., Messenger, Y., Gallagher, T., & Collier, D. (2022). The online playground: Transitioning from the classroom to the living room and how parents and children are coping with online activity during COVID-19. Paper presented at Canadian Society for the Study of Education Conference. (online) 

Gallagher, T., Messenger, Y., Collier, D., & Downes, T. (2022). Using design-based research to support parents’ technology access and their pre-adolescents’ critical media literacy. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Conference.  (online) 

Gallagher, T., Collier, D., Messenger, Y., & Downes, T. (2021) Facilitating parents’ support of pre-adolescents’ critical media literacy through design-based research. Session Presentation at Literacy Research Association Conference. (online) 

Messenger, Y. (2021). Weaving contrapuntal approaches of play-based and foundational skills instruction together to support beginning readers: Kindergarten educators’ literacy instructional strengths and challenges. Roundtable presentation at Literacy Research Association Conference. (online) 

Messenger, Y.  (2021). Kindergarten educator successes and challenges in teaching reading in diverse play-based classrooms. Poster presentation at Ontario Council for Exceptional Children’s 65th Annual Special Education Conference. Toronto, Ontario. 

Gallagher, T., & Messenger, Y. (2021). Mentoring novice tutors in a virtual learning environment. Lecture presentation at Ontario Council for Exceptional Children’s 65th Annual Special Education Conference. Toronto, Ontario.

Research and Project Funding

  • Faculty of Education Research Mentorship Award, Fall 2025 (Susin, C.) 

Courses Taught

  • EDUC 3P97 Supporting Language Learners 
  • EDUC 3P40 Families, Schools, and Literacy 
  • EDUC 3P45 Reading and Literacy Development 
  • EDUC 5P39 Understanding the Reading Process and Reading Difficulties 
  • EDBE 8P34 Language and Literacy I Primary/Junior 
  • EDBE 8P42 Language and Literacy II Primary/Junior 
  • EDBE 8P43 Language and Literacy I Junior/Intermediate