Ruth French

Dr Ruth French is a Lecturer in the Macquarie School of Education, with a focus on Literacies (Early Childhood & Primary). She took up her current position at Macquarie University in 2017. Ruth has extensive experience as a classroom teacher and assistant principal.

Ruth's research and teaching interests include: language and literacy education, children's literature, curriculum and pedagogy. A particular research interest is the development of children’s knowledge about language, including grammar. This was the focus of her Ph.D. research, for which her degree was awarded cum laude from the University of New England, Armidale. Her research draws upon systemic functional linguistics and Vygotskian theory.

Ruth is currently the Associate Course Director (Primary Education), a role which includes advising students who are in the undergraduate programs for primary school teaching.

Ruth’s teaching responsibilities have included units in literacy education (across early childhood, primary and secondary teaching contexts: ECHE2310, EDUC2600, ECHE4330, ECED/ECHX8230, EDST2100, EDST8206, EDST8208, and a capstone unit for final year primary education students: EDTE4560.

As an experienced primary school teacher and assistant principal, Ruth enjoys infusing her university teaching with her knowledge of professional practice. She also believes strongly in the importance of being able to theorise practice, and that “there is nothing so practical as a good theory” (Lewin, 1951).

I am currently working in a supportive role with an HDR candidate as an adjunct to the supervision team. I am not currently accepting HDR students for supervision myself.