Carolyn Brockmeyer
Graduate Student
cabb@lehigh.edu

Academic History
Lehigh University
M.S. 2006, Psychology
B.S. 2003, Marketing
B.A. 2003, Psychology

Research Interests
My primary research interests are in the development of cognition and social understanding in early childhood, and the roles of narrative and play in fostering such development.  Primarily, I am interested in the ways that narrative and play may be used in preschool classrooms to positively influence school readiness factors such as language ability, social cognition, imaginative capacity, and emotional understanding.  My current research investigates the impact of various bookreading interactions on the development of “theory of mind.” It also explores the potential of story-acting as a complementary activity to bookreading that may further promote perspective-taking and social understanding in young children.

Honors
International Association for the Study of Child Language Conference Award, Summer 2008
College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Research Grant (Lehigh University), Spring 2008
College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Student Fellowship (Lehigh University), Summer 2007
Lehigh University Presidential Scholarship, 2003-2004
Lehigh University Teaching Assistant Award, 2004
Phi Beta Kappa, 2003-present
National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2001-present

Publications
Nicolopoulou, A., de Sa, A., Ilgaz, H., & Brockmeyer, C. (under review). Using the transformative power of play to educate hearts and minds. Mind, Culture, and Activity (for a Special Issue on "Playworlds of Children and Adults: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Play Pedagogy").

Nicolopoulou, A., McDowell, J., Brockmeyer, C. (2006). Narrative play and emergent literacy: Storytelling and story-acting meets journal writing.  In D. Singer, R. Golinkoff, & K. Hirsh-Pasek (Eds.) Play = Learning. New York: Oxford University Press.

Presentations at Professional Conferences
Brockmeyer, C., Nicolopoulou, A., de Sa, A., Ilgaz, H., Schwebel- Kortina, K. (2008). Multitasking: The best way to assess preschoolers’ narrative competence. Paper presented at the Symposium on “Narrative assessment of preschoolers: Significance and best practices” at XI International Association for the Study of Child Language (July 27-August 1; Edinburgh).

Nicolopoulou, A, Ilgaz, H., de Sa, A., Brockmeyer, C., Schwebel-Kortina, K. (2008).  Promoting narrative competence among low-income preschool children. XI International Association for the Study of Child Language, poster presentation.

De Sa, A., Nicolopoulou, A., Ilgaz, H., & Brockmeyer, C. (June, 2008).  Using a story-telling and story-acting activity to promote low-income preschoolers school readiness: Practices and contexts. Paper presentation at the Head Steart Ninth Research Conference (Washington, D.C.; June 23-25).

Nicolopoulou, A., Brockmeyer, C., Ilgaz, H., de Sa, A., Schnabel-Cortina, K. (March, 2008). Using play and narrative to promote low-income preschoolers language, literacy, and social competence. Paper presented at the Symposium on “Developmental and educational contributions of pretend play across the life span” at AERA 2008 annual conference meeting (New York, NY; March 24-28).
 
Brockmeyer, C., & Nicolopoulou, A. (June, 2007).  Contextual Influences on Preschoolers’ Narratives: The Search for an Optimal Storytelling Condition. 7th Annual Cross University Collaborative Mentoring Conference.

Brockmeyer, C., & Nicolopoulou, A. (March, 2007). Contextual Influences on Preschoolers’ Narratives: The Search for an Optimal Storytelling Condition. 2007 Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, poster presentation.

Nicolopoulou, A. & Brockmeyer, C. (July, 2005). Group authored stories in promoting the development of character representation among preschool children. International Association for the Study of Child Language.

Brockmeyer, C. & Nicolopoulou, A. (June, 2005). Preschoolers’ narrative abilities under different storytelling conditions. 35th Annual Jean Piaget Society meeting, poster presentation.

Brockmeyer, C. (May, 2005). Presschoolers’ narrative abilities under different storytelling conditions. 5th Annual Cross-University Collaborative Mentoring Conference.

Nicolopoulou, A., McDowell, J., Brockmeyer, C. (July, 2004). Reflections on young children’s transition from personal to fantasy narratives in a low income preschool classroom. 2nd International Conference on Imagination and Education.