Janette Pelletier

Janette Pelletier, Ph.D., is Professor of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study. Janette’s research interests are in the area of early child development and education. Her current longitudinal research project is examining the implementation and impact of Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten in collaboration with the Region of Peel, the Peel District and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Boards. This work builds on research in Toronto First Duty and Peel Best Start which describe the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative integrated approaches to kindergarten, child care and parenting supports. Another major focus is parent involvement and its relation to children’s learning in kindergarten and primary classes, including a longitudinal study of family literacy programs. Her research includes participants from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, many of whom are recent immigrants to Canada. This research extends to other second language contexts such as early French immersion. A related area of her research is young children’s literacy development and communication through writing and drawing. In 2013 Janette and her colleagues Shelley Stagg Peterson and Eunice Jang received a 7-year $2.8 million SSHRC Partnership Grant to develop a play-based assessment of oral and written language development in northern Canadian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. In 2015 Janette and co-applicant Sejal Patel received a 5-year SSHRC Insight Grant to continue the FDK research until children reach Grade 6.

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