EDUCATION

Ph. D. The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)                                   Developmental Psychology, 2017. 

Dissertation: A Playful Context Enhances Preschoolers’  Mastery Motivation and Private Speech     Committee: Anna Stetsenko (advisor), Patricia J. Brooks, Bruce Homer, Susan Kirch (NYU), Adam Winsler (GMU)

M.S. Ed. Queens College, CUNY                                                                                                   School Psychology (Bilingual Extension), with honors, 2007. Albert Angrilli Award for achievement and dedication in School Psychology.

B.A. Stanford University                                                                                                     Psychology, with honors, 1998. Psi Chi Honor Society.

CERTIFICATION

2007-2011 Certified Bilingual (Spanish) School Psychologist. NYC Department of Education.

PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Journal Articles

Sawyer, J., Obeid, R., Bublitz, D., Schwartz, A., & Brooks, P. (in press). Which forms of active learning are best? Comparing cooperative learning and writing-to-learn across modalities. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology.

Sawyer, J. (2017). I think I can: Preschoolers’ private speech and motivation in playful versus non-playful contexts. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 38, 84-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2016.09.004

Sawyer, J. (2016). In what language do you speak to yourself? A review of private speech and bilingualism. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 36, 489-505. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2016.01.010

Sawyer, J.* & Gampa, A.* (revised and resubmitted). Implicit and explicit racial attitudes changed during the Black Lives Matter movement. (*co-first authors)

Book Chapters

Sawyer, J. & Brooks, P. (invited chapter, submitted). Conducting Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Diverse Undergraduate Classrooms. SAGE Psychology Research Methods Cases. http://methods.sagepub.com/cases

Sawyer, J. & Obeid, R. (2017). Cooperative and collaborative learning: Getting the best of both words. In R. Obeid, A. Schwartz, C. Shane-Simpson & P.J. Brooks (Eds.) How We Teach Now: The GSTA Guide to Student-Centered Teaching. Society for the Teaching of Psychology e-book. Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks

Sawyer, J. & Richmond, A. S. (2016). Adolescent development. In R. A. Gurung & A. S. Richmond (Ed.). Discover psychology: Instructor’s manual, Vol. 3. Champaign, IL: Diener Education Fund Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.nobaproject.com

Sawyer, J. & Richmond, A. S. (2016). Factors influencing learning. In R. A. Gurung &d A. S. Richmond (Ed.). Discover psychology: Instructor’s manual, Vol. 3. Champaign, IL: Diener Education Fund Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.nobaproject.com

Shane-Simpson, C., Brooks, P. J., Hotez, E., Sawyer, J. & Dow, E. A. (2015). Web-enhanced collaborative learning in undergraduate psychology courses: Examples using the ASD Video Glossary, CHILDES, and Wikipedia. In Roberta V. Nata (Ed.) Progress in Education, Vol. 36. NOVA Science Publishers, e-book.

Brooks, P., Dow, E., Jović, S., Kreniske, P., Panjwani, A., Sawyer, J., Schwartz, A., Shane-Simpson, C., Yannaco, F. & Yuksel-Sokmen, P. (2014). Useful books and websites for developing pedagogy in the teaching of psychology. In J. N. Busler, B. C. Beins, & W. Buskist, (Eds.) Preparing the New Psychology Professoriate: Helping Graduate Students Become Competent Teachers, 2nd edition (pp. 258-275). Society for the Teaching of Psychology e-book. http://teachpsych.org/page-1862898

Lopez, E., Sawyer, J., Biedenkapp, S., Irigoyen, M. (2010). Interpreters to support linguistically diverse students and families. In A. S. Canter, L. Z. Paige, & S. Shaw (Eds.), Helping Children at Home and School III: Handouts for Parents and Educators, National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

Encyclopedia Entries                                         

Brooks, P. J. & Sawyer, J. (in press). Michael Tomasello. In J. Vonk & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Stetsenko, A. & Sawyer, J. (2016). Culture and development. In H. Miller (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Theory in Psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 211-213). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi:10.4135/9781483346274.n72

Sawyer, J. & Stetsenko, A. (2014). Lev Vygotsky. In P. Brooks & V. Kempe (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Language Development (pp. 663-666). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483346441.n211

Web-Based Publications

Sawyer, J. (August 31, 2016). “The joys of weekend teaching.” Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2) – GSTA Blog (blog). http://teachpsych.org/page-1784686/4220617

Sawyer, J. (November 14, 2014). “Massimiliano Tomba: Insurgent universality and the question of human rights.” Student Research Commons: Advanced Research Collaborative (blog). https://arc.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2014/11/10/massimiliano-tomba-insurgent-universality-and-the-question-of-human-rights

Non-Refereed Journal Articles

Sawyer, J. (2014). Vygotsky’s revolutionary theory of human psychological development. International Socialist Review, 93, 74-101.

Professional Periodicals

Ober, T., Sawyer, J., Yannaco, F., Obeid, R. & Schwartz, A. (2016, Dec). Reflections on participation in the SoTL Workshop: One year later. TOPNews-Online, 19(12), 6. http://teachpsych.org/resources/Documents/TOPNEWS/TOPNEWS_Current_Issue.pdf

Ober, T., Sawyer, J., Yannaco, F., Obeid, R. & Schwartz, A. (2016, Dec). Reflections on participation in the SoTL Workshop: One year later. TOPNews-Online, 19(12), 6. http://teachpsych.org/resources/Documents/TOPNEWS/TOPNEWS_Current_Issue.pdf

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Symposia Organizer

Sawyer, J.; Stetsenko, A.; Jones, P.; Lantolf, J. (September, 2017). The ‘magic of signs’: Creative coordination of transformative activity. Symposium organizer and presenter, International Society for Cultural-Historical Activity Research (ISCAR). August 28 – September 1, 2017; Quebec City, Canada.

Sawyer, J.; Garte, R.; Ho, G.; Stetsenko, A. (June 4, 2015). Early childhood play and the development of communicative competence. Symposium organizer and presenter, Jean Piaget Society, 2015 – Neuroplasticity and Change. June 4-6; Toronto, Canada.

Astuto, J.; Sawyer, J.; Garte, R.; Medellin-Paz, C.; Jean-Gilles, J. (May 22, 2015). Power of play: Opportunities that promote the engagement of our youngest learners. Symposium organizer and presenter at the 27th Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). May 21-24; New York, NY.

Paper and Poster Presentations

Sawyer, J. (October 13, 2017). A Playful Context Enhances Bilingual and Monolingual Preschoolers’ Motivation and Private Speech. Paper presentation at Cognitive Development Society (CDS). October 12-14, 2017; Portland, OR.

Sawyer, J., Obeid, R., Bublitz, D., Schwartz, A., Shane-Simpson, C., DeNigris, D., Hotez, E., & Richmond, A. (submitted, 2016) Which active learning methods are best? Comparing cooperative learning and writing-to-learn across modalities. Poster at Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Developmental Science Teaching Institute. April 5, 2017; Austin, TX.

Sawyer, J. (October 28, 2016). Conduct research on your teaching! A SoTL project in developmental psychology. Presentation at Pedagogy Day conference. October 28; The Graduate Center, CUNY. New York, NY. 

Sawyer, J. & Pickens, J. (August 26, 2015). The CAARP test: Evaluating psychology in the media. Achieving Total Participation Workshop. August 26; The Graduate Center, CUNY. New York, NY.

Brooks, P., Shane-Simpson, C., Sawyer, J. (June 10, 2015). Developing critical thinking skills through collaborative web-based research. Workshop at Critical Thinking in Psychology Workshop. June 10; Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ.

Sawyer, J. (April 24, 2015). ‘I think I can’: Preschoolers’ private speech and mastery motivation in playful vs. non-playful contexts. Poster presentation, then honored with selection for a 2-minute “Data Blitz” presentation at Sixth Annual All-Psychology Doctoral Student Research Day. April 24; CUNY Graduate Center. New York, NY.

Sawyer, J. (March 19, 2015). Private speech and mastery motivation in play vs. pre-academic settings. Poster presentation at 2015 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting. March 19-21; Philadelphia, PA. 

Brooks, P.; Dow, E.; Sawyer, J.; Strashnaya, R.; Powers, K.L (March 18, 2015). Calling all first-time instructors: Help from the Graduate Student Teaching Association. Roundtable presentation at 2015 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Developmental Science Teaching Institute. March 19-21; Philadelphia. PA. 

Sawyer, J. (January 23, 2015). Private speech and motivation in playful contexts. Presentation at 2015 Subway Summit on Cognition and Educational Research. January 23; The Graduate Center, CUNY. New York, NY. 

Sawyer, J. (October 24, 2014). Scaffolded duck counting. Teaching activity presentation at Pedagogy Day conference. October 24; The Graduate Center, CUNY. New York, NY. 

Sawyer, J. (June 7, 2014). A tale of two psyches: Upper class and working class psychology. Presentation at How Class Works conference. June 7; Stony Brook University, NY. 

Sawyer, J. (May 29, 2014). ‘I think I can’: Children’s private speech and motivational processes. Poster presentation at Jean Piaget Society 2014 – Rethinking Language and Communicative Development. May 29-31; San Francisco, CA.

Sawyer, J. (April 5, 2014). In the contradiction lies the hope: Social class and psychological inequality. Presentation at Investigating Inequalities: An Interdisciplinary Academic Conference. April 5; Fordham University, Bronx, NY. 

Sawyer, J. (June 8, 2013). Radical experiments in education: Mesheryakov’s cultural-historical approach to special education. Presentation at Left Forum 2013. June 7-9; New York, NY.

Sawyer, J. (June 28, 2012). Vygotsky’s theory of language & education. Presentation at Socialism 2012 conference. June 28 – July 1; Chicago, IL.

Lopez, E., Sawyer, J., Biedenkapp, S., Irigoyen, M., & Mitchelle, J. (May, 2007). Survey of school psychologists working with interpreters. Poster presentation at annual convention of National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). New York, NY.

CAMPUS TALKS

2017  “What motivates preschoolers? Play, private speech, and intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation.” Psychology Colloquia. College of Staten Island, CUNY. December 6th.

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

2017  Semi-Finalist, National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship. National Academy of Education, Washington, DC.

2016-2017  Writing-Across-the-Curriculum Fellowship, The Graduate Center CUNY.

2012-2017  Enhanced Chancellor’s Fellowship, The Graduate Center, CUNY. ($95,000 total)

2015  Sylvia Scribner Fund Award. Program in Human Development, The Graduate Center, CUNY.

GRANT FUNDING

2016-2017  Doctoral Student Research Grant, The Graduate Center, CUNY. $1,250 to support Bilingual and Monolingual Preschoolers’ Private Speech and Motivation in Playful versus Non-Playful Contexts.

2015-2016  Conference Presentation Support Grant, The Graduate Center, CUNY. $300 to support travel to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) workshop at Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) 14th Annual Conference on Teaching (ACT).

2015  Doctoral Student Council Grant for Subway Summit on Cognition and Education Research, The Graduate Center, CUNY. ($550)

2015  Doctoral Student Council Grant for GSTA Pedagogy Day Conference, The Graduate Center, CUNY. ($600)

2014-2015  Doctoral Student Research Grant, The Graduate Center, CUNY. $1,240 to support Private Speech and Motivational Processes.

2014-2015  Advanced Research Collaborative (ARC) Praxis Fellowship, The Graduate Center, CUNY. $4,000 to support Bilingual Children’s Private Speech in Playful Contexts.

2014-2015  Conference Presentation Support Grant, The Graduate Center, CUNY. $300 for travel to present poster at Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting.

2013-2014  Psi Chi Graduate Research Grant. $750 to support I Think I Can: Private Speech and Mastery Motivation.

2013-2014  Conference Presentation Support Grant, The Graduate Center, CUNY. $300 to support travel to present poster at Jean Piaget Society Annual Meeting, 2014.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Graduate Level

2017 (Fall) Psychology Research Methods. College of Staten Island, CUNY

2016 (Fall) Theory and Practice in Assessment of Intelligence and Cognitive Functioning. M.S. Ed. School Psychology Program. Queens College, CUNY.

Undergraduate Level

2016 (Spring) Human Development. Hunter College, CUNY.

2015 (Fall) Human Development. Hunter College, CUNY.

2015 (Spring) Human Development. Hunter College, CUNY.

2014 (Fall) Human Development. Hunter College, CUNY.

Teaching Assistant

2014 (Spring) Introduction to Psychology. Hunter College, CUNY.            

2013 (Fall) Experimental Psychology. Hunter College, CUNY.

2013 (Fall) Human Development. Hunter College, CUNY.