Research

Much of Bryan's research focuses on helping teachers engage students in literacy through the use of young adult literature. He is also regularly asked to present at national conferences on a variety of teacher related topics. Below are some of Bryan's publications and recent conference presentations.

Publications

Gillis, B. (September, 2018) The honor list of 2017 prize-winning young adult books: Building relationships and developing identity. English Journal. 107(7).

Gillis, B. (Spring/Summer, 2018). Understanding and connecting our ways of being in the world: Promoting sensitivity and understanding in classrooms with undocumented Latinx students. ALAN Review. 45(3), 82-89.

Gillis, B. (Winter, 2018). Looking beyond the classroom: Accessing our students’ funds of knowledge through young adult literature. ALAN Review. 45(2), 67-73.

Gillis, B. (Fall, 2017). A vocabulary of intimacy: Building and nurturing healthy adolescent relationship skills.  ALAN Review. 45(1), 84-90.

Gillis, B. and Simpson, J. (2015). Sexual content in young adult fiction: Reading between the sheets:. Lanham, MD: Rowan and Littlefield.

Strieker, T., Gillis, B., Zong, G. (2013) Improving preservice middle school teachers’ confidence, competence, and commitment to co-teaching. Teacher Education Quarterly. 40(4), 159-180.

Gillis, B. and Cole, P.B. (2012). Chris Crutcher: A stotan for young adults. Lanham, MD: Rowan and Littlefield.

Gillis, B. (2011). Connecting YA literature and film: Using the outsiders to teach literary devices, motivation, and critical thinking activities. Signal Journal. 33(2), 7-12.

Gillis, B.P. (2007). The instructional practices of three sixth grade writing teachers. (Doctoral dissertation). ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing, 3270579.

Gillis, B. (2006). A journey down the yellow brick road: What oz can teach students about literary techniques. Voices from the Middle. 14(2), 14-21.

Gillis, B. (2006). Jumping off the bandwagon: Using YA science fiction to teach advertising. Signal Journal. 29(2) 11-14.

Conference Presentations

Gillis, B., Encino, P. (2018, November). Finding sanctuary: YA literature and Latinx readers together in perilous times. National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Houston, Texas.

Gillis, B. (2018, November). Dreaming together: Using YA literature to ally with Latinx youth. Assembly on Literature for Adolescents at NCTE (ALAN)Convention, Houston, Texas.

Gillis, B. (2018, February). Promoting sensitivity and understanding in classrooms with undocumented Latinx students. KSU ESOL Conference, Kennesaw Georgia.

Gillis, B., Sonneblick, Jordan, and Lubar, David. (2017, November). Writing Young Adult Humor. ALAN Convention at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, St. Louis. Missouri.

Gillis, B. (2017, November). The scar story: Teaching the personal narrative essay. American Middle Level Educators National Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Gillis., B., Wood, C. (2017, March). Teaching and modeling action for social justice in university teacher education programs and the communities they serve. Youth at Risk National Conference, Savannah, GA.

Gillis, B., Vasquez, A., Wood, C. (November, 2016). Teaching and Modeling Action for Social Justice in University Teacher Education Programs and the Communities They Serve. National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Dail, J., Dias, M., Callahan, B., and Gillis, B. (November, 2016). English and Science Teachers Unite! University and Middle Grades Teachers Collaborate to Design and Promote Cross-Curricular, Ethics-Based Argument Writing Instruction. National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Gillis, B. (2016, October). Preparing Middle Grades Teacher Candidates to Address Academic Language for the edTPA. Association of Middle Level Educators- Annual Conference for Middle Level Educators, Austin TX.

Gillis, B. (March, 2016). Sex in Dystopia: Discussions about Sex and Relationships Using Dystopian Literature. KSU Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults, Kennesaw, GA.

Gillis, B. (2015, October). Preparing teacher candidates to address academic language for the edTPA. Fall edTPA Technical Assessment Event, Middle Georgia State College, Macon GA.

Gillis, B., Coffey, D., Spisak, R., Howrey, S., and Gillis, N. (2015, July). The Kennesaw State University Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults: Fostering a culture of literacy through children’s and young adult literature. National Council of Teachers of English, Whole Language Umbrella (WLU) Summer Institute, Atlanta, GA.

Gillis, B. Zong, G. and Lim, W. (2014, October). Preparing teacher candidates to address academic language for the edTPA: A collaborative teacher educator’s self study. Georgia Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA.

Gillis, B. and Simpson, J. (2013, November). Making a case for teaching young adult literature that contains sexual content. National Council of Teachers of English-ALAN Convention, Boston, MA.

Gillis, B., and Leveen, T. (2012, November). Edgy YA: Using contemporary fiction to un-reluctant a reader. National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Las Vegas, NV.

Strieker, T., Zong, G. and Gillis, B. (2012, April). Improving preservice middle school teachers’ confidence, competence, and commitment to co-teaching. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC.