Faculty

Efleda P. Tolentino

Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education

B.A., M.A., University of the PhilippinesPh.D., New York University

Efleda.tolentino@liu.edu

Description

Efleda Tolentino is Associate Professor and Early Childhood Program Director in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Brookville Campus of Long Island University. Her teaching, scholarly work, and service include investigations into creating opportunities to challenge both pre-service and in-service teachers to create contexts that honor diversity, encourage invention, foster inquiry and support problem-solving.  Her pedagogy is dedicated towards creating learning environments that have teachers who view learners from a strengths perspective and value their Funds of Knowledge.  Dr. Tolentino believes in the role of teacher educators as agents of change, posing dilemmas that challenge teacher candidates to think in more critical ways. As such, Dr. Tolentino is committed to helping educators develop professional dispositions that are sensitive to the questions, curiosities, and needs of young children.

Using the social constructivist approach to care and education, Dr. Tolentino works with teacher candidates to apply a pedagogy of listening in structuring early childhood learning environments so that they are integrative and inclusive in tone and approach.  This entails helping candidates understand the human psyche and children’s development as well as their race, culture, and ethnicity.  Through personal narrative, reflection-action (praxis), dialogic inquiry, and field practica, teacher candidates develop professional dispositions that reflect respect for diversity and sensitivity in the care and education of young children.  Dr. Tolentino’s practice has been inspired by the work of teachers in infant, toddler, and preschool learning environments in Reggio Emilia, Italy.  As such, she seeks to integrate beliefs and practices in teaching that view children as a cultural invention, teachers as researchers and pedagogistas (pedagogical coordinators), and families as partners, working in reciprocity with schools. Within this framework, curriculum becomes a potential space where the interests of children and the creative craft of teachers intersect.  Grounded in this approach, Dr. Tolentino believes that children have multiple literacies, a hundred languages, a plethora of ways of meaning-making – all of which they use to create their schema of the world and to interact with members of their culture. Dr. Tolentino believes that in order for students to effectively create, structure, and design educational environments, they need to develop skills in observation, reflection, and documentation.  Dr. Tolentino invites candidates to view young children as protagonists in their own learning and to consider the teaching-learning process as a fluid space that nurtures their potential.  Through scholarly writing and presentations in local and international conferences, Dr. Tolentino shares documentation of children's discourse in the classroom and the role that teachers play in creating contexts that encourage dialogue. Deriving inspiration from Paolo Freire's work, Dr. Tolentino asserts that teacher education is challenged to be a source of information and more importantly, as a vehicle for transformation.  Education becomes a space that provides students countless opportunities to reinvent themselves, shape their beliefs, as well as define and refine their practice.  Dr. Tolentino also believes that the university classroom has the potential to become a learning laboratory that promotes critical discourse, dialogic inquiry and collaborative work between students and members of the community.

Specialties

Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Care and Education, Developmental Psychology, Language and Literacy Development, Bilingual Education, Teaching English Language Learners in the 21^st Century, Racial Identity and Awareness in Early Childhood,                                                  Cultural Pluralism and Social Justice in the Context of Education, Teacher Education in a Post-Modern World, The Listening Method

Publications

Tolentino, E. P. & Lawson, L. (September 2017).  “Well, we’re going to kindergarten, so we’re gonna need business cards!”       A story of preschool emergent readers and writers and the transformation of identity.  Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 17(2), 47-68.  Acceptance rate:  5%.  Journal Circulation:  National/international readership

Tolentino, E. P., Uhl, J. O. & Ahmad, I. (January/February, 2015).  “The Nobel Peace Prize:  Malala, a Girl Determined to Go to School.  Social Education, 79(1), 19-21.  Acceptance rate:  Journal Circulation:  National readership

Tolentino, E. P.  and Wu, Zhenting (2015).  Climbing a Slippery Social Ladder:  Prevailing Perspectives of Chinese Students about Gaokao.  In R.  G.  Johnson, III  China’s New 21^st Century Public Affairs:  Human Rights in a Time of Change.  Peter Lang Publishing.

Tolentino, E. P. & Lawson, L. (September 2015).  “Well, we’re going to kindergarten, so we’re gonna need business cards!”       A story of preschool emergent readers and writers and the transformation of identity.  Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. DOI: 10.1177/1468798415605570 Acceptance rate:  5%.  Journal Circulation:  National/international readership

Tolentino, E. P. (2013). “Put an explanation point to make it louder”:  Uncovering emergent writing revelations through talk.  Language Arts, v. 91(1), 10-22.  Journal Acceptance rates:  12 %  Journal Circulation:  National/International readership.

Tolentino, E. P. (2011).  What it means to be literate from the perspective of young children.   In  C. Groark,  S. Maude, (Eds.)   Early childhood intervention: Program and policies for special needs children, vol. 2.  Praeger Press.

Tolentino, E. P. (2009).  “How does it feel to have your skin color?:  Uncovering children’s inquiries about race.  In Johnson, R. G. (Ed.) A twenty-first century approach to teaching social justice: Educating for both advocacy and action.  New York, NY:  Peter Lang Press Publishing, Inc.    

Tolentino, E. P. (2007).  Why do you like this page so much?:  Exploring the Potential of talk during preschool activities.  Language Arts, 84 (6), 519-528. Journal Acceptance rates:  12%  Journal Circulation: National/international readership

Hermosa, E. E. in collaboration with Patrocinia M. Abanto, Lydia L. Cuevas, Leonor E. Diaz, Aida R. Eustaquio, Zosima S. Medrano, Belen M. Mena.  Ma. Victoria R. Mendigo, Elena A. Mendoza, Felicitas E. Pado, Ma. Cecilia Sarabia, Efleda P. Tolentino, and Lourdes M. Viloria (1996).  Apple o Atis:  Isang pag-aaral sa K-2:  The effects of the use of Filipino as medium of Instruction at the K-2 level.  Alipato Journal of Education, v. 1.

Tolentino, E. P. (1996).  Living Language.  Manila, Philippines:  Bookman Publishing House.

Tolentino, E. P. (1997).  Me and My World.  Manila, Philippines:  Anvil Publishing Incorporated.

Lectures and Presentations

Presentations

National Conferences (Peer-reviewed)

Tolentino, E. P. (November 20-23, 2019.  “A   W  is an Upside-down M”:  Emergent Writers Uncovering Writing Revelations.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):  Annual Conference.  Nashville, Tennessee.  (Status of Proposal:  Accepted).

Tolentino, E. P. (January 5, 2017).  Revisiting Thirdspace:  Transformative Teaching Practice that Give Ownership for Learning.  Arts, Humanities, Social Science and Education:  Hawaii University International Conference.   A La Moana Hotel Waikiki Oahu, Honoloulu, January 3-6, 2017.

Tolentino, E. P. & Lawson, L. (November 4, 2016).  “Well, we’re going to kindergarten, so we’re gonna need business cards!”           A story of preschool emergent readers and writers and the transformation of identity.  National Association for the Education of Young Children, Los Angeles, California.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 21, 2014).  “In the beginning, the baby is taken away…that’s the adventure”:  Stories as means to construct possible worlds among emergent writers.  The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Conference.  Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Washington, D. C.

Tolentino, E. P. (April 19-22, 2013).  “An F is an E without a Bottom Line”:  What Children’s Talk Reveals About Emergent Literacy Development.  International Reading Association, 58^th Annual Convention: San Antonio, Texas.

Tolentino, E. P. (April 17-19, 2013).  “’Why are we different?’:  Fostering Racial Literacy in Schools: 

Educating for Change.  The International Conference on Education, Sustainable Development, Leadership, and Policy.  Association for International Conference.  Columbia University, New York.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 2-5, 2011).  “Wigs, Witches, and Chinese Girls: Emergent Writers at Play.  National Association for the Education of young Children (NAEYC).  Annual Conference and Expo, Orlando, Florida.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 5, 2011).  “One day, I was drinking water and it came out my ears": The Emergence of Literacy and the Stories Young Children Tell.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference and Expo.  Orlando, Florida. 

Tolentino, E. P. (November 5, 2011).  Toddlers at Work and at Play:  Intersecting points between play and Literacy.  Under the group umbrella, Current Play Research Spanning National and International Contexts with Michael Patte and colleagues.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference and Expo.  Orlando, Florida. 

Tolentino, E. P. (July 21, 2011).  Promoting Toddlers’ Emergent Discoveries in Literacy, Mathematics, and Science”.  5^th Annual Citywide Infant-Toddler Conference.  Partnership in Early Care:  Well-Being From the Start.  Graduate Center, CUNY (City University of New York).

Tolentino, E. P. (November 5, 2010). “Making Children’s Thoughts Visible:  Where Play and Literacy Intersect”.  Under the Group Umbrella:  “Clearing away rubble from the Wellspring:  Making room for play in the lives of children” with Michael Patte, Lynn Cohen and colleagues.  Annual Conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Anaheim California.

Tolentino, E. P. (July 8, 2010).  “Making Meaning with Marks:  What it means to be literate from the eyes of young children.”          Citywide Infant-Toddler Conference:  Weaving a Tapestry:  Connecting Communities of Practice for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Sponsored by NYC Child Care Resource and  Referral Consortium; CUNY Graduate Center; and NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute.  The CUNY Graduate Center, New York, New York.

Tolentino, E. P. (October 23, 2009).  “What is upside down to you is not upside down to me” :  What literacy means from the perspective of young children.  40^th Annual Conference.  Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA).  Rocky Hills, Connecticut.  October 21-23, 2009

Roche, S., Tolentino, E. P. & Liske (September 9, 2009).  Creative Research for Sexual Violence Prevention Planning:  Two Vermont Research Projects.  National Sexual Assault Conference.  Sponsored by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) &  Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR).

Roche, S., Liske, A. & Tolentino, E. P. (September 11, 2009).  Creative research for sexual violence

prevention planning. 2009 National Sexual Assault Conference.  Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) and National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC).  September 9-11, 2009.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 8, 2008).  “I’m trying to make very special things for you:  The role of friendship in the writing life of preschoolers.  Annual Conference.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Dallas, Texas.  November 5-8, 2008.

Tolentino, E. P. (October 24, 2008).  “Are they like everybody else?”:  Developing racial literacy in the early years.  ACT (Association for Constructivist Teachers) Annual Conference in  Johnson City, Tennessee.  October 24-25, 2009.     

Tolentino, E. P.  (May 15, 2008).  “How does it feel to have your skin color?”;  Uncovering children’s inquiries about race.  Research Colloquium.  University of Vermont.

Tolentino, E. P. & Hurley, J. (May 15, 2008).  Vermont English Language Learners in Early Childhood Special Education.  Poster Presentation.  Research Colloquium, College of Education and Social Services.  University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 8, 2007).  “Did you know that’s backwards?”  Uncovering writing revelations in preschool. National Association for the Education of Young Children. 2007 Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.  November 7-10, 2007.

Tolentino, E. P. (March 29, 2007).  “Honoring cultural and  language diversity in kindergarten”.  Vermont Kindergarten Conference.  Vermont Department of Education.  Burlington, Vermont.  March 28-29, 2007.

Tolentino, E. P. (March 29, 2007).  “Writing in kindergarten.”  Vermont Kindergarten Conference.  Vermont Department of  Education.  Burlington, Vermont.  March 28-29, 2007.

Tolentino, E. P. (March 14, 2007).  “Law practice from Women’s perspective”.  Women’s Division of the Vermont Bar Association.  Capitol Plaza in Montpelier, Vermont.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 11, 2006).  Authorship in preschool: Nurture children to develop a love for writing.  National Association for the Education of Young Children. Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  November 8-11, 2006.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 18, 2006).  “Kindergarten Teachers Speak:  Prevailing Beliefs and Practices in Literacy Instruction in Vermont Public Schools.  2006 NCTE Annual Convention:  The National Council of Teachers of English.  Nashville, Tennessee.  November 16-21, 2006

Tolentino, E. P. (November 11, 2006).  Authorship in Preschool:  Nurture Children to Develop a Love for Writing.  National Association for the Education of Young Children:  2006 Annual Conference,        Atlanta, Georgia.  November 8-11, 2006. 

Tolentino, E. P. (October 21, 2006).  Uncovering teaching and learning metaphors through autobiography and clay:  The beginning of a journey for teacher education students.”  Applications of Constructivist             Theory for All  Learners Conference sponsored by the Association for Constructivist Teaching. Lisle, Illinois, October 20-21, 2006.

Tolentino, E. P. (December 8, 2005).  “I don’t know if I can read this, but I can read the pictures”:  Exploring the role of talk in emergent literacy”.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference.   Washington Convention Center, Washington, D. C.

Tolentino, E. P. & Torncello, S. (December 8, 2005) “Ten Years Later:  Examining effective teaching practices in the changing Kindergarten context using the Vermont Kindergarten Survey.  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference.  Washington, D.C., December 8, 2005. 

State Conferences (Peer-reviewed)

Tolentino, E. P. (April 18,  2013).  “Why are we different?”:  Fostering Racial Literacy in Schools, Educating for Change.  sponsored by Association for International Conferences for Education, Sustainable Development, Leadership, and Policy.   Columbia University,  New York, New York.

Tolentino, E. P. (July 8, 2010).  “Making Meaning with Marks:  What it means to be literate from the eyes of young children.”          Citywide Infant-Toddler Conference:  Weaving a Tapestry:  Connecting Communities of Practice for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Sponsored by NYC Child Care Resource and  Referral Consortium; CUNY Graduate Center; and NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute. The CUNY Graduate Center, New York, New York.

Tolentino, E. P. & Okech, J.A. (June 7, 2006). “International Faculty in the United States:  An Examinationof their Academic, Social, and Cultural Experiences.  Conference sponsored by the ALANA U.S. Ethnic Studies Program: New  Directions in U.S. Ethnic Studies, University of Vermont. 

Tolentino, E. P. (March 28, 2007).  “Honoring Cultural and Language Diversity in Kindergarten”.  Vermont Kindergarten Conference.  Vermont Department of Education.  Burlington, Vermont.  March 28-29, 2007.

Tolentino, E. P. (March 28, 2007).  “Writing in Kindergarten”.  Vermont Kindergarten Conference.  Vermont Department of Education.  Burlington, Vermont.  March 28-29, 2007.

Regional Conferences (Peer-reviewed)

Tolentino, E. P. (February 25, 2009).  “I can help you read.  Can you help me write?”:  The role of friendship in the writing life of preschoolers.  54^th West IRA Regional Conference, International Reading Association.  Phoenix, Arizona.  February 22-26, 2009.

Tolentino, E. P. (November 16, 2006). “One day, I was drinking water and it came out my ears…”:  The Role of  Children’s Conversations in Emergent Literacy Development.  18^th West IRA Regional Conference, International Reading Association.  Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii.  November 14-17, 2006. 

Tolentino, E. P.  (October 16, 2006).  “Did you know that’s backwards?”: Uncovering writing revelations in preschool.  25^th Southeast IRA Regional Conference sponsored by the International Reading Association, Mobile, Alabama.  October 15-17, 2006. 

International Presentations (Peer-reviewed)

Tolentino, E. P. (September 2, 2016).  “Revisiting Thirdspace:  Examining Early Childhood Teacher Practice”.  9^th International  Conference on Teacher  Education:  Teacher Agency and Educational Reform.  Asian Center, University of the Philippines. 

Tolentino, E. P. (September 2, 2016).  “The Silenced, Discouraged, ad Hidden Dynamics of Power Relations:  A Teacher Educator’s Self-Examination of Racial Literacy”.  9^th International Conference on Teacher  Education.  Asian Center, University of the Philippines. 

Tolentino, E. P. (August 21-23, 2014).  “Why are we different?”:Fostering Racial Literacy in Schools:

Educating for Change.  International Conference on Teacher Education (ICTED) .  Crowne Plaza

Hotel, Ortigas, Philippines.  (Status:  Accepted)

Tolentino, E. P. (August 21-23, 2014).  Children are Cultural Inventions:  Reexamining our Definition of Cultural Responsiveness in the Context of Schools.  International Conference on Teacher Education (ICTED) .  Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas, Philippines.  (Status:  Accepted)

Invited Presentations 

International

Tolentino, E. P. {August 5-9, 2019).  Nurturing the Development of Infants and Toddlers (0-3):  Respectful Caregiving Using the RIE Approach of Magda Gerber and Emmi Pikler.  Budding Land, Chaoyang, Beijing.

Tolentino, E. P. (May 12, 2018).  “Transforming Early Childhood Classrooms Using the Tenets of Project Zero and Reggio Emilia Approach.”  Preschool of Spring Conference.  Beijing, China.

Tolentino, E. P.  (August 23, 2016).  “Equity Literacy:  A Vehicle for Social Justice in Teaching”. Benitez Theater, College of Education, University of the Philippines.

Tolentino, E. P. (August 27, 2016).  “The Potential of  Multimodal Literacies in Early Childhood Constructivist Teaching.”  Wordlab School for Dyslexia Incorporated, Philippines.

Tolentino, E. P. (August 27, 2016).  “Gilligan’s Listening Method:  A Tool for Research as Applied to Early Childhood Education.”  Wordlab School, Incorporated, Philippines.

Tolentino, E. P. (December 17, 2007).  “Exploring the Potential of Talk during Preschool Reading Activities.  College of Education, University of the Philippines, Republic of the Philippines.

State

Tolentino, E.P. (April 12, 2018).  “How to Thrive in Academia: Early Career Seminar”.  American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference.  AERA Division G.  New York, New York.

Tolentino, E. P. (September 29, 2014).  “Identity and Socialization in the Early Childhood Years.”  Sanford Harmony Program (SHP) Ambassador Training.  Sanford Education Center, National University, La Jolla, San Diego, California.

Tolentino, E. P. (September 29, 2014).  “Using Children’s Literature to Support Emergent Literacy Development.”  Sanford Harmony Program (SHP) Sanford Education Center. National University, La Jolla, San Diego, California.

Tolentino, E. P. (May 1, 2014).  “Nurturing the Hundred Languages of Children:  Perspectives from Reggio Emilia”.  Preschool Educators Professional Development Organization (PSEPDO), Bailey Arboretum, Locust Valley, New York.

Tolentino, E. P. (March 14, 2007).  “Law Practice from  Women’s Perspectives”.  Women’s Division of the Vermont Bar Association.  Capitol Plaza in Montpelier, Vermont.  March 14, 2007

Honors/Awards

Affiliations

• Member, Association for Childhood Education International
• Member, Brown’s Response to Improving Teacher Education
• Member, International Reading Association
• Member, National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Member, Kappa Delta Phi International Honors Society
• Member, National Council of Teachers of English
• Member, Pi Gamma Mu International Honors Society
• Member, Pi Lambda Theta International Honors Society