Jennifer VanDerHeide

Jennifer VanDerHeide is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University (MSU). She holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and specializes in English Education, focusing on writing development, dialogic pedagogy, and argumentative literacy instruction. Her research emphasizes how classroom interactions shape student writing skills, particularly in secondary education contexts.

VanDerHeide’s work critiques deficit-oriented views of adolescent writers and advocates for dialogic practices that empower students through collaborative argumentation. She has pioneered frameworks like 'dialogic literary argumentation' and 'listening arguments,' which reframe writing as a socially responsive practice. Her scholarship bridges theory and practice, with a strong emphasis on preparing future teachers to implement effective writing instruction.

Recent research trends include examining virtual classroom dynamics, preservice teacher development through community literacy projects, and the role of historical and intertemporal discourse in argumentative writing. Her work appears in leading educational journals, emphasizing practical applications for K-12 educators. She maintains an active research website at http://jvheide.msu.domains/.