Dr Thérèse McPhillips
Lecturer in education
Education Department, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin
Dr. McPhillips is a lecturer in Literacy Education in the Education Department in St Patrick's College Drumcondra. Her responsibilities include the teaching of reading to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has also lectured in the Special Education Department in the College and specialised in teaching literacy skills to a diversity of learners.
Dr. McPhillips has extensive experience in teaching, school leadership, project management and ongoing research with a particular focus on reading literacy and teacher training. She has wide-ranging teaching interests in literacy and reading methodology with particular interest in the approaches and methodologies used to support reading among children who have reading difficulties.
Her previous experience as Principal of a special school for children with specific reading difficulties has enhanced her focus on ‘whole school’ approaches to supporting pupils who may have additional learning needs. She has incorporated this expertise into her present position with particular reference to students who are learning English as an additional language, and those who may be struggling with reading and writing.
Her recent doctoral study addressed the nature and provision of support for pupils with dyslexia in primary schools. This study evaluated current provision for pupils with dyslexia in both special and mainstream settings. The study investigated the teaching and learning context and the perceptions of all the stakeholders. Therese is currently undertaking comparative research in the area with colleagues in England. Other research interests include consulting pupils in the identification and management of their literacy difficulties.
Recent publications
McPhillips, T. (2009, in press). Evaluating the teaching and learning experience for the child with dyslexia in special and mainstream settings in Ireland. Support for Learning.
McPhillips, T., Bell, S., & Doveston, M. (2009). Identification and intervention for primary pupils with dyslexia in Ireland and England: Finding a path through the maze. REACH Journal of Special Needs Education in Ireland, 22 (2).
Recent presentations
April 2009, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI). Are Pupils Being Consulted in the Identification and Management of their Literacy Difficulties? SCOTENS funded North/South research project.
September 2008, European Conference on Educational Research, (ECER) Gothenburg, Sweden. How do teachers in Ireland and England conceptualise dyslexia and how might this affect their teaching in practice?’
