Dr. Jonathan Eakle

Jonathan Eakle headshot

Dr. Jonathan Eakle

Associate Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy


School: Graduate School of Education and Human Development

Department: Curriculum and Pedagogy

Contact:

Office Phone: (202) 994-6821

Jonathan Eakle's research, teaching, and advising involves literacies, arts, and humanities.

Eakle’s recent and current research projects are with major international museums and address affective dimensions of education, creativity, contemporary philosophy, and post-qualitative methods. His most recent articles are about designing and producing novel methodologies and seminal arts and museum projects. His doctoral students have a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and interests (e.g., visual arts, theatre, physical sciences, new music, classroom teaching, and non-profit curriculum design and instruction).

Eakle's last book is about current debates in education, and he co-edited the newest volume of the 50-year-old series published by the National Council of Teachers of English and the National Conference for Research in Language and Literacy about secondary literacies. Prior to his arrival at GW more than a decade ago, Eakle was a research professor at Johns Hopkins University for many years and a director of several of its education programs.

Eakle has served on major editorial boards, such as The Johns Hopkins University Press and Reading Research Quarterly, where he oversaw international research reports. In addition, he has worked on academic projects for National Science Foundation; the National Gallery of Art, International Literacy Association; Literacy Research Association; Maryland State Department of Education; Corcoran School of Arts and Design; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others. Eakle is also a member of the George Washington University Faculty Senate and its Executive Committee.


Ph.D., University of Georgia

  • The Arts, Humanities, and Museum Literacies
  • Theoretical Foundations of Research and Scholarship
  • Qualitative, Post-Qualitative, and Arts-Based Methodologies
  • Reading and Literacy Education

Eakle, A. J. (accepted, anticipated publication 2025). Making the Cut: Creating Subjects and Education Dissertations with Deleuze, Foucault, and Related Others. In R. Aghasaleh, T. Gleason, J. Burns, C. Kirchgasler (Eds.), Theoretical Foundations and Methodological Implications Section of Foucault and Education: Exploring Perspectives and Practices. Bloomsbury.

Eakle, A. J. & Deniz, A. (accepted, anticipated publication 2025). Gambling everything for love with Rumi and the Sufis. In J. Storberg Walker, J Marques (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Spirituality. Springer.

Eakle, A. J. & Zhang, X. (accepted, anticipated publication 2025). Traveling with Difference, Repetition, and the Beats of Buddha, Deleuze, and Kerouac.  In J. Storberg Walker, J Marques (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Spirituality. Springer.

Eakle, A. J. (2024). Reading and writing a logic of sense with migratory flows in the warmth of other suns. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education/QSE. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2024.2342699 

Eakle, A. J., & Bailey, E. (2021). Playing Baroque Lines through a Museum Landscape with Deleuze, Guattari, and Klee. Qualitative Inquiry, 27(5), 567-579. Article first published online at https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800420941046

Eakle, A. J., & Sanguinette, T. (2019). Literacies of love, art, sensation and affect in an art museum school. In K. Leander & C. Ehret (Eds.), Affect in Literacy Learning and Teaching: Pedagogies, Politics and Coming to Know. (pp. 92-108) New York: Routledge.

Eakle, A. J. (2017). Baroque, break out, and education without organs. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(9), 711-721.

Eakle, A. J. (2017). The Reader (after Da Vinci). [11.5 X 15 in]. Oil pastel chalk and pencil on paper. Published in Journal of Language and Literacy Education

Eakle, A. J. (2015). Bodies with and without organs: The literacies of a true crime sex and violence drama. In G. Enriquez, E. Johnson, S. Kontovourki, & C. Mallozzi, (Eds.), Literacies and the body: Theories and research on teaching, learning, and embodiment. (pp. 221-235). New York: Routledge.

Eakle, A. J. (2015). For an Education without Organs. [20X24 in] Oil painting on wood panel. Published in Qualitative Inquiry.

Eakle, A. J., & Chávez-Eakle, R. A. (2013). Museum literacies in Mexico City: Formations of power, texts, and identities. Teachers College Record, 115(3), 1-36.

Eakle, A. J. (Editor and contributor). (2012). Curriculum and instruction. (Vol. 2 of 10), Debating Issues in American Education: A SAGE Reference Set. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN-13: 978-1412988087

Chávez-Eakle, R. A., Eakle, A. J., & Cruz Fuentes, C. (2012). The multiple relations between creativity and personality. The Creativity Research Journal, 24, 76-82.

Eakle, A. J. (2012). The arts are, and should be, a distraction to public education. [Counterpoint ]. Debating Issues in American Education: A SAGE Reference Set (pp. 150-157). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 

Eakle, A. J. (2012). Whose moral values in public education? [Counterpoint ]. Curriculum and Instruction: Debating Issues in American Education: A SAGE Reference Set (pp. 203-210). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 

Eakle, A. J. (2010). Nomadic science: Lines for conducting and assembling education research and practice. In S. J. Miller and D. Kirkland (Eds.), Change matters: Critical essays on moving social justice research from theory to policy, (pp. 121-130). New York: Peter Lang.

Eakle, A. J. (2009). Museum literacies and adolescents using multiple forms of texts “on their own.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(3), 204-214.

Eakle, A. J. (2009). Crossing spaces of in and out-of-school literacies through museum and classroom design, production, and consumption practices. In M. C. Hagood, (Ed.). New literacies practices: Designing literacy learning (New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies, Volume 37) (pp. 58-76). New York: Peter Lang.

Eakle, A. J., & Dalesio, B. (2008). Museum literacies in a second grade classroom. The Reading Teacher, 61(8), 604-613.

Eakle, A. J. (2008). Museum literacy, art, and space study. In D. Lapp, J. Flood, & S. B. Heath (Eds.), Handbook of research on teaching literacy through the communicative and visual arts (2nd Edition) (pp. 177-186). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Alvermann, D. E., & Eakle, A. J. (2008). Challenging literacy theories and practices from the “outside.” In J. Lewis and G. Moorman (Eds). Adolescent Literacy Instruction: Policies, Programs, and Promising Classroom Practices (pp. 64-81). Newark, DE: International Reading Association. 

Eakle, A. J. (2007). Literacy spaces of a Christian faith-based school. Reading Research Quarterly, 42, 472-511.

Alvermann, D. E., & Eakle, A. J. (2007). Dissolving learning boundaries: The doing, re-doing, and undoing of school. In D. Thiessen and A. Cook-Sather (Eds.), International Handbook of Student Experience in Elementary and Secondary School, (pp. 143-166). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.

Rush, L., Eakle, A. J., & Berger, A. (Eds.) (2007). Secondary school literacy: What research reveals for classroom practice. Urbana, Ill: The National Council of Teachers of English.

Eakle, A. J. (2007). Epilogue: Literacy research, practice and other never-ending stories. In Rush, L., &, Eakle, A. J., & Berger, A. (Eds.), Secondary school literacy: What research reveals for classroom practice (pp. 289-298). Urbana, Ill: The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). 

Rush, L., Eakle, A. J., & Berger, A. (2007). Introduction. In Rush, L., &, Eakle, A. J., & Berger, A. (Eds.), Secondary school literacy: What research reveals for classroom practice (pp. xi-xvii). Urbana, Ill: The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). 

Eakle, A. J. (2005). Literacy in the art museum: A theatre of values [dissertation completed for partial requirements of Ph.D.]. The University of Georgia. Major adviser, Donna E. Alvermann. Committee members: James Baumann, Ronald Bogue, Linda Labbo, and Elizabeth Adams St. Pierre.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2004). International reports on literacy research: Malaysia and Sultante of Oman. Reading Research Quarterly, 39, 478-481.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2004). International reports on literacy research: Australia and Eastern Europe. Reading Research Quarterly, 39, 356-359.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2004). International reports on literacy research: Israel, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Reading Research Quarterly, 39, 290-233.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2004). International reports on literacy research: China, Nigeria, and Egypt. Reading Research Quarterly, 39, 114-118.

Alvermann, D. E., & Eakle, A. J. (2003). Comprehension instruction: Adolescents and their multiple literacies. In C. Snow & A. Sweet (Eds.), Rethinking reading comprehension (pp.12-29). New York: Guilford Press. [Translated into Korean by Hankookmunhwasa Publishing, 2007.]

Eakle, A. J. (2003). A content analysis of second language research in Reading Teacher and Language Arts, 1991-2001. The Reading Teacher, 56, 828-836.

Labbo, L.D. & Eakle, A. J. (2003). Early literacy. In B. Guzetti (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Literacy. New York: ABC-CLIO.

Reinking, D., Eakle, A. J., Hubbard, B., Hung, H., Lim, H., & Park, M. (2003). Commentaries on new technologies of reading and writing: A Database modeling a dynamic, collaborative scholarly resource. Version 1.0. Reading Online, 7 (3). 

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2003). International reports on literacy research: Columbia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Reading Research Quarterly, 38, 524-528.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2003). International reports on literacy research: Canada. Reading Research Quarterly, 38, 414-417.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2003). International reports on literacy research: Estonia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Reading Research Quarterly, 38, 288-290.

Eakle, A. J. & Garber, A. M. (2003). International reports on literacy research: Africa, Australia, and Malaysia. Reading Research Quarterly, 38, 142-144.

Labbo, L. D., Eakle, A. J., & Montero, M. K. (2002). Digital Language Experience Approach (D-LEA): Using digital photographs and creativity software as a Language Experience Approach (LEA) innovation. Reading Online, 5 (8). 

Labbo, L. D., Montero, M. K., & Eakle, A. J. (2001). Learning how to read what’s displayed on school hallway walls -- and what’s not. Reading Online, 5, (3). 

Eakle, A. J. (1986). Figure in Space, graphite drawing on paper [ 8X11 in]. Published in Qualitative Inquiry, 2020.  

Eakle, A. J. (1981). Signs to Broadway, silver gelatin print [10X13 in.]. In Exchanges in Imagination with Clarence John Laughlin [museum catalog]. Original work in permanent collection, New Orleans Museum of Art.

Eakle, A. J. (accepted, 2025). Cutting and making gendered art in the affective flows of an education yet to come. Paper to be presented in Affective cunning: Curriculum with/in relational networks of gender, knowledge, and violence, symposium session (Bessie Dernikos, chair). American Educational Research Conference. Denver, Colorado. 

Eakle, A. J. (2025). Making the Cut. Creating Subjects and Education Dissertations. Workshop and presentation in Post-Qualitative Inquiry Lecture Series with Dr. Elizabeth St. Pierre. University of Georgia, Athens. 

Eakle, A. J., Zhang, X. & Crump, E. (2024, October). Planning a Logic of Sensation with New Painting, New Theatre, and New Music. Paper presentation in the methodological stream of the Society for the Study of Affect Conference. Lancaster, PA.

Eakle, A. J., Zhang, X. & Crump, E. (2024, October). Performing a Logic of Sensation with New Painting, New Theatre, and New Music. In an “evocative pit” performance component of the Society for the Study of Affect Conference. Lancaster, PA.

Eakle, A. J., *Zhang, X. & *Zhou, W. (2024, April 14). Moving Research on the Outside: Traveling with Desire, Buddhas, and Beats through Three Art Museums. American Educational Research Association Conference. Philadelphia, Pa.

Eakle, A.J., *Pratt, A., *Sharp, C., *Zhang, X. & *Zhou, W. (2024, April 14). Another Present Moment: Re-Crafting and Re-Activating a Better World. American Educational Research Conference. Philadelphia, Pa.

Eakle, A. J. (2023, April 13). Charting Baroque lines of escape for education movements with Jackson Pollock. American Educational Research Conference. Interrogating Consequential Educational Research in Pursuit of Truth. Chicago, Ill.

Eakle, A. J., Bailey, E., & Crump, E. (2023, April 16). Extensive Research in and of Theatres, Museums, and Gardens: A Continuing, Moving Investigation. American Educational Research Conference. Interrogating Consequential Educational Research in Pursuit of Truth. Chicago, Ill.

Eakle, A. J., Monte, J. Zhang, X. & Zhou, W. (2023, April 15). A content analysis of a massive open online course of artworks and thinking routines. American Educational Research Association Conference. Interrogating Consequential Educational Research in Pursuit of Truth. Chicago, Ill.

Eakle, A. J., Bailey, E., & *Crump, E. (2022, April). Education movements of a garden, museum, and theatre: A participatory investigation. American Education Research Conference. Cultivating Equitable Education Systems. San Diego California.

Bailey, E. & Eakle, A. J. (2021, April). Digital literacy coaching in the wake of Covid-19. American Education Research Conference, Accepting Educational Responsibilities. Online due to pandemic. 

Eakle, A. J. (2020, April). A geology of morals, migratory flows, and the warmth of other suns in an art museum. In 21st Century Inquiry After Methodology Symposium Session (E.A. St. Pierre, Chair). Accepted to American Education Research Conference, “The Power and Possibilities for the Public Good When Researchers and Organizational Stakeholders Collaborate. 

Eakle, A. J. & *Bailey, E. (2019, April 19). Affective literacies in an art museum and first grade classroom. Presented to American Education Research Conference, Leveraging Education Research in a “Post-Truth” Era: Multimodal Narratives to Democratize Evidence. Toronto Canada.

Eakle, A. J. (2018, May 19). Painting and inquiry on a plane of immanence, Paper presented to the 14th Annual International Congress of Qualitative Research. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Eakle, A. J. (2018, April 16). Making love and desire in an art museum school. In Affective Turn in Literacy Research: Theories, Potentials, Difference Symposium session (C. Ehret, K. Leander, chairs) presented to American Education Research Conference, The Dreams, Possibilities, and Necessity of Public Education. New York, NY. 

Eakle, A. J., & *Crump, E. (2018, April 15). Assembling Affective Non-Human Literacies for Education.  Paper presented to American Education Research Conference, The Dreams, Possibilities, and Necessity of Public Education. New York, NY.

Eakle, A. J., *Crump, E., *Harrington, C., *McInerney, K., *Short, M.E., *Talbert, R. & *Yang, B. (2018, April 13). A Multi-Vocal Review of AERA’s Handbook on Teaching. Paper presented to American Education Research Conference, The Dreams, Possibilities, and Necessity of Public Education. New York, NY.

Eakle, A. J. (2016, April). Affects of sensational true crime sex and violence texts. Affect Theory (Symposium session with E. Dernokis, N. Lesko, and A. Niccolini). American Educational Research Association. "Public Scholarship to Educate Diverse Democracies.” Washington, DC. 

Eakle, A. J. & Niccolini, A. (2016, April). Literacies of terror. Paper presented to American Educational Research Association. "Public Scholarship to Educate Diverse Democracies.” Washington, DC. 

Niccolini, A. & Eakle, A. J. (2016, May). Terror walks: Moving subjects and states of perception. 12th Annual International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Larson, K. E. & Eakle, A.J. (2014, November 7). Using blogs to examine culturally responsive classroom practices. Annual Conference of the Council for Exceptional Children. Indianapolis, IN.

Eakle, A. J. (2014, October 10). Becoming artist and literacies in and out of school.Paper presented to the 35Th Annual Bergamo Conference on Curriculum Theory and Classroom Practice. Dayton, Ohio. 

Eakle, A. J. (2012, May). Museum literacies and pan-institutional possibilities for creating other education spaces. Presentation to the Culture, Language, and Media Seminar Series. Malmö University School of Education, Malmö, Sweden. 

Eakle, A. J. (2011, April 8). Re-imagination of language-based and visual literacies with The Bluest Eye. Paper presented to the American Educational Research Association. Inciting the Social Imagination: Education Research for the Public Good. New Orleans, Louisiana.

Eakle, A. J., & Chavez-Eakle, R. A. (2009, December 4). Museum literacies in Mexico City: An examination of texts, spaces, and practices of expert designers. Pape presented to the 59th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Eakle, A. J. (2008, December 3). Figures, rings, and escape lines: Using the logic of sensation and art in conducting, deconstructing, and assembling literacy education research. Paper presented to the 58th annual conference of  the National Reading Conference. Orlando, Florida. 

Eakle, A. J. (2008, May 3). Museum literacies as lines of escape for adolescents and educators. Paper presented to the 53rd annual conference of the International Reading Association. Atlanta, Georgia. 

Alexander, P., Alvermann, D., Eakle, A.J., Hruby, G. Moorman, G. Risko, V. (2007, December 7). Handbooks, yearbooks, and other edited volumes of record: From within and beyond. The 28th Annual Conference of the American Reading Forum. Sanibel Island, Florida.

Eakle, A. J. (2007, December 8). The abstract diagram and reading comprehension: Mapping movements between the actual and virtual. Paper presented to the 28th annual conference of the American Reading Forum. Sanibel Island, Florida.

Eakle, A. J. (2007, November 28). Adolescents and multiple literacies in art museums. Paper presented to the 57th annual conference of the National Reading Conference. Austin, Texas. 

Eakle, A. J. (2007, May 15). Museum literacy, art, and space study. Paper presented to the 52nd Annual Conference of the International Reading Association. Montreal, Canada. 

Eakle, A. J. & Dalesio, B. (2007). Museum literacies in and out of school. The 97th Annual Conference of the National Council of Teachers of English. New York, NY.

Eakle, A. J. (2006, November 29). Literacy of a Christian School. Paper presented to the 56th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference. Los Angeles, CA.

Eakle, A. J., Alvermann, D. E., & Chavez, R. A. (2004, December). Visual media production and literacies. Presentation given to the 25th annual meeting of the American Reading Forum. Sanibel Island, Fla.

Eakle, A. J. (2004, November). Literacy in the art museum: Examining the theories, text, and spaces for multimodal literacy learning and subject formation. Paper presented to the 54th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference. San Antonio, Texas. 

Eakle, A. J. (2003, November). Critical museum literacy in Mexico City. Paper presented to the 53rd Annual Conference of the National Reading Conference.

Labbo, L. D., Eakle, A. J., & Love, M. K. (2002, December 6). Overview of case technologies enhancing literacy: Making the complex visible. Paper presented to the 52nd annual convention of the National Reading Conference.  

Boone, R., Alvermann, D. Garber, A., Eakle, J. Dalton, B. & Grisham, D. L. (2002, November) Alternative format issues in electronic publishing: An irresistible force? Presentation to the 52nd meeting of the National Reading Conference, Miami, FL.  

Eakle, A. J. (2002, November) Second language research: What’s available to classroom teachers? Presentation to the 52nd Annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Miami, FL.

Eakle, A. J., & Stahl, K. D. (2002, May). The effect of word study instruction in a second grade classroom. Paper presented to the 45th annual conference of the International Reading Association, San Francisco, California. 

Eakle, A. J., & Kouvack, J. (2002, May). Pathways to a concept of word. Research presented to the 45th annual session of the International Reading Association. San Francisco, CA.

Labbo, L. D., & Eakle, A. J. (2002, March). CTELL Anchor Cases: The construction and components of principle-based anchor cases. Paper presented to the annual convention of American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Labbo, L. D., Eakle, A. J., & Montero, M.K. (2001, December). Computer composing and classroom snapshots: Young children’s multimedia opportunities for literacy development. Paper presented at the 51st annual convention of the National Reading Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Stahl, S. A., McKenna, M. C., Kovak, J. & Eakle, A. J. (2001, December). Phonological awareness, word recognition, and spelling: Rethinking the relations. Paper symposium of the 51st annual convention of the National Reading Conference. San Antonio, TX.

Labbo, L. D., Montero, K., & Eakle, A. J. (2000, November). Computer center conversations: Purpose of children’s talk during kindergarten computer-center literacy-related work. Paper presented at the 50th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona.

  • October 2024 - Dr. Jonathan Eakle, his current doctoral student Xiaoyue Zhang, and alumnus Dr. Evan Crump (Curriculum and Instruction) presented a paper and performed a “Logic of Sensation with New Painting, New Theatre, and New Music,” for an international audience at the Society for the Study of Affect Conference.
  • May 2024 - Dr. Eakle and his doctoral students Xiaoyue Zhang and William Zhou, of his research team in the Arts and Humanities, presented their papers, “Moving Research on the Outside: Traveling with Desire, Buddhas, and Beats through Three Art Museums,” and “Another Present Moment: Re-Crafting and Re-Activating a Better World,” at the American Educational Research Conference in Philadelphia. 

 

Dr. Eakle and Students on the Kennedy Center Rooftop Terrace

Literacy Education Students Developing Curriculum Project at Kennedy Center

Dr. Jonathan Eakle and his literacy education students are developing a curriculum project about the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Dr. Eakle and Doctoral Students Presented Three Papers at AERA

Dr. Jonathan Eakle and students in the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program presented at the 2023 American Educational Research Association Conference.