Contact
Rannóg
Role
Dr Gene Mehigan is Vice President for Education & Strategic Development at MIE
Biography
Gene has been a primary school teacher, a literacy specialist, an educational consultant, and a teacher educator over the past thirty years. He completed his Master’s in Education at St Patrick’s College, Dublin and was awarded his PhD in Education from University College Cork. His research interests are in teacher education, early literacy development and struggling readers, particularly among children living in disadvantaged settings. Gene is a member of a wide range of academic, professional and administrative committees at a regional and national level. He has worked in The Gambia as a Government advisor to the Department of State for Education on the development of a sector wide approach for the reform of literacy education and serves as a board member and consultant for a number of education and policy organisations. He is past President of both the Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI) the Irish Learning Support Association and a former chair of the Standing Committee of Heads of Education and Teacher Unions.
Qualifications
B.Ed. (NUI), Dip Remedial Ed., Dip Ed Admin., M.Ed., PhD
Publications and other outputs
Books
Mehigan, G. & Wilson, M. (Eds) (2020). Literacy beyond Borders: Engaging Literacy Learners in Diverse Settings. Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI).
Mehigan, G. & Culligan, B. (Eds) (2017). Exploring the Literacy Landscape: Celebrating 40 Years of Research and Practice. LAI.
Mehigan, G., Brennan, C., Devereux, & A., Gilliland, A., (2017). The Essential Parent’s Guide to the Primary School Years. Primary ABC.
Mehigan, G., (2016). Ireland 1916. Commemorative Volume of 1916. C.J. Fallon.
Mehigan, G., Willoughby, K., & Kelly, A. (Eds.). (2013). From Literacy Research to Classroom Practice: Insights and Inspiration. RAI.
Mehigan, G., Dwyer, B., Kelly, A. & Watson, G. (Eds.). (2012). Creating Multiple Pathways to Powerful Literacy in Challenging Times. RAI.
Book Chapters
Mehigan, G. (2022). Learning for Life: Ethos and Lifelong Learning. In D. Robinson (Ed.) Living Ethos: Promoting human flourishing in educational environments. Veritas.
Journal Articles
Mehigan, G. (2020). Effects of Fluency Oriented Instruction on Motivation for Reading of Struggling Readers. Education Sciences, 10(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10030056
Thesis
Mehigan, G. (2016). Effects of Fluency Oriented Instruction on Reading Achievement and Motivation among Struggling Readers in First Class in Irish Primary Schools. [Unpublished PhD Thesis].
Educational Resources
Mehigan, G., O’Sullivan, J., Fiorentini, C. (2019). Sounds like Phonics. C.J. Fallon.
Mehigan, G. (2018). Rainbow Reading Programme Expository Texts. C.J. Fallon.
Mehigan, G. (2005) Education in the Republic of The Gambia, West Africa: Report on Teacher Education (Inservice), World Bank, Banjul.
Mehigan, G. (2004) Education in the Republic of The Gambia, West Africa: Report on Teaching of Literacy, World Bank, Banjul.
Educational Consultant to Wonderland Phonics Programme (2012).
Educational Consultant to Wonderland English Literacy Programme (2009-2012).
Professional Journal Articles
Mehigan, G. (2021) Literacy and Disadvantage: Something in the Water? Leadership+, Vol. 119.
Mehigan, G. (2013). Oral Reading Fluency: A Link from Word Reading Efficiency to Comprehension. From Literacy Research to Classroom Practice: Insights and Inspiration (pp 99-113).
Mehigan, G. (2010). Direct Vocabulary Instruction in the Primary Classroom. Reading News. RAI.
Mehigan, G. (2009). Word Knowledge and Vocabulary Development. The Changing Landscape of Literacy – Building Best Practice (pp. 183-196). RAI.
Conference Contributions
Developing Oral Reading Fluency with Reluctant Readers (2021). Literacy Association of Ireland Winter Series. Navan Education Centre.
LAI Connects: A closer look at early literacy instruction (2021). Literacy Association of Ireland Autumn Series. Tralee Education Centre.
LAI Connects: A Closer Look at the Science of Reading (2021). Literacy Association of Ireland Autumn Series.
Vocabulary Knowledge: Knowing more words or knowing more about words? (2019) 43rd Literacy Association of Ireland Annual Conference, DCU, St. Patrick’s Campus.
Effects of Repeated Reading on Reading Motivation among Struggling Readers in First Class in Irish Primary Schools (2018) Literacy Research Association, 68th Annual Conference, Indian Wells, CA, USA.
Literacy without Borders: Whither are we bound? (2018) Presidential Address at Literacy Association of Ireland Annual Conference, Marino institute of Education, Dublin.
Raising Motivation for Reading of Struggling Readers in High-Poverty Irish Primary Schools. (2018) Literacy Association of South Africa International Conference, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Language and Identity in a Multilingual World (2018). Invited Keynote Address. Conference on Language, Identity and Education in Multilingual Contexts, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin.
Effects of Fluency Oriented Instruction on Reading Achievement and Motivation Among Struggling
Readers in First Class in Irish Primary Schools (2017). Literacy Research Association, 67th Annual Conference, Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, Tampa, FL, USA.
Reading Vocabulary: Practical Strategies for Vocabulary Instruction in the Primary School (2015). Reading Association of Ireland, Spring Seminar. St. Patrick’s College Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Developing the Reading Habit: To juggle or to smuggle? (2014). Invited Keynote Address: Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) Annual Conference, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin. Keynote Address.
Initial Teacher Education in Ireland: Crossroads or Spaghetti Junction? (2014). Invited by Irish National Teachers Organisation to address Norwegian Teacher Educators at Marino Institute of Education, Dublin.
Reading Fluency: The Ultimate Goal of Reading Instruction in the Primary School? (2013). Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) Annual Meeting, City West Hotel, Dublin.
Other Outputs
Mehigan, G. & Dunne J. (2023). Interactive apps in re-engaging children in story writing: views from within the primary classroom.
Interactive apps in re-engaging children in story writing: views from within the primary classroom
Research/Professional Interests
Teacher education; Early literacy development, Literacy instruction and the struggling reader; Motivation and engagement perspective in reading and literacy policy.