Katie Waters, a 2017 graduate of Presbyterian College with a major in early childhood education, has had her article, “Children’s Books Featuring Diverse Family Structures and Living Arrangements: Recommendations for Elementary Teachers” accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal, “Papers and Publications: Interdisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Research”.

Waters conducted her research whilst taking her education capstone class in spring 2016. She felt that due to a large number of children living in non-traditional families, there was a critical need for teachers to incorporate children’s books portraying a variety of home lives and family situations into the classroom. Waters compiled a list of 50 recently published children’s books featuring families with a variety of compositions and living arrangements and then reviewed the books and created a list of 10 recommended books for use in the elementary classroom.

“Teachers often struggle with selecting quality children’s books that reflect the lives of children in their class,” said Dr. Julia Wilkins, assistant professor education, who taught Waters’ capstone class. “The books Katie recommended help validate the experiences of students who have been homeless, were adopted, or are in foster care, as well as those with divorced parents, same-sex parents, parents in prison, or who live in extended families.”

Waters noted that seeing their lives reflected in the curriculum is critical to students’ success in the classroom.

Waters minored in psychology and spent last summer at Lillehammer University College in Norway where she completed coursework for certification to use the Bayley
Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Whilst at PC, Waters was actively involved in the International Buddy Program, the Charles Chadwell Special Education Institute conference committee, as well as the education department’s documentary film series.

In the fall, Waters will be a kindergarten teacher at LEAD Academy in Greenville.

Presbyterian College is located on a striking 240-acre campus in Clinton, between Columbia and Greenville, S.C. Offering challenging academics and a culture of honor, ethics, and service that prepares students to be leaders in communities, PC offers its students the benefit of engaging with an exceptional faculty who take individual interest in their students’ well-being, both personally and in the classroom. The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy is dedicated to the ideals of leadership, honor to the profession, and service to the community. For more information about Presbyterian College, visit www.presby.edu.