Burns, M. Susan
![](/assets/images/profiles/627.jpg)
Dr. M. Susan Burns
PhD, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
Professor Emerita of Education
Academic Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Science
Phone: (703) 993-5343
Fax: (703) 993-4370
George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall 202C
4400 University Dr.
MS 4C2
Fairfax, VA 22030
M. Susan Burns is a member of the Human Development and Family Science Faculty with appointments in the College of Education and Human Development and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She has a secondary appointment in the Early Childhood Education Program.
Her research centers on the development and learning of young children (preschool through Grade 3). Her work includes all children: those with diverse abilities (children with disabilities), those living in poverty, and those from multi-lingual and multi-cultural backgrounds. Of particular interest are young childrens approaches to learning, cognition, and language. Current research includes study of
- prekindergarten, kindergarten, and early elementary childrens writing,
- intentional teaching, including differentiated instruction, and
- effective professional development for adult learners.
Burns, M. S., & Kidd, J. K. (2016). Play and early writing. In D. Couchenour and J. K. Chrisman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Contemporary Early Childhood Education. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
McIlwain, M. J., Burns, M. S., & White, C. S. (2016). From Research to Evidence-Based Practice: An Account of the Scientific Implementation of Dialogic Buddy Reading. NHSA Dialog: A Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Childhood Field, 18, 47-71.
McIlwain, M. J., Burns, M. S., & White, C. S. (2016). The Implementation and Study of Dialogic Buddy Reading in a Head Start Classroom. NHSA Dialog: A Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Childhood Field, 18, 85-90.
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- Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence (ECED 401)
- Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence (ECED 501)
- Assessment of Diverse Young Learners (ECED 511)
- Language and Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Diverse Primary Grade Learners (ECED 512)
- Research in Early Childhood Education (ECED 585)
- Applied and Teacher Research in Early Childhood Education (ECED 685)
- Early Writing: Cognition, Language, and Literacy (ECED 702)
- Current Research and Trends in Early Childhood Education (ECED 801)
- Cognition, Language, and Literacy for Diverse Young Learners (ECED 802)
- Special Topics in Education (EDCI 597)
- Capstone Seminar in Early Childhood Education (EDCI 784)
- Education Research (EDRS 590)
- Midpoint Portfolio (EDSE 791)
- Final Portfolio (EDSE 792)
- Ways of Knowing (EDUC 800)
- Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (EDUC 897)
- Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (EDUC 998)
- Doctoral Dissertation Research (EDUC 999)
- Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence (EDUT 511)
- Internship in Early Childhood Education (EDUT 790)
- Current Research and Trends in Early Education of Diverse Learners (EDUT 801)
- Personnel Preparation and Professional Development in Early Education of Diverse Learners (EDUT 805)
- Individual and Family Development (HDFS 200)
- Internship and Analysis in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS 498)
- Advanced Internship and Analysis in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS 499)