Sonja Brandt

Undergraduate Courses:

TL 324 Integrating the Arts in the Elementary Classroom

TL 328 Survey of Children's Literature

TL 409 Reading in the Content Areas

TL 410 Teaching Reading in the Elementary School Classroom (Elementary TEAM Methods)

TL 440 Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School Classroom (Elementary TEAM Methods)

TL 443 Mathematics for Primary Grades 

TL 444 Assessing and Correcting Mathematics Difficulties

Graduate Courses:

TL 524: Reading in the Content Areas

TL 536: Innovations in English Language Arts Instruction

TL 528: Children's and Young Adult Literature in the Classroom 

Dr. Brandt's research is centered on elementary teacher's nonverbal immediacy behaviors during instruction. Her goal is to lead current and preservice teachers to become more aware of their instructional and non-instructional nonverbal behaviors to positively impact student learning and engagement. Across her years at UND, Dr. Brandt has researched and incorporated active learning components into her teachings for university students to experience and then use themselves as they plan lessons and activities for today's preK-12 students. Her newest research endeavors are on the Science of Reading, including co-creating an online professional development course for teachers and redesigning current classes in Teacher Education here at UND.

Spring 2020 North Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics and North Dakota Science Teachers Association STEM Conference Accepted Presenter

Spring 2021 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Conference Presenter

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award for the College of Education and Human Development at UND, 2023

Finalist for the Excellence in Service Award for the College of Education and Human Development at UND, 2023

UND Foundation Award for Outstanding Departmental Service for the Department of Teaching, Leadership and Professional Practice (TLPP) at UND, 2020

Dr. Sonja's educational background includes degrees from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (B.A. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Communication/Language Arts), St. Mary's University of Minnesota (M.A. in Education), and the University of North Dakota (Ph.D. in Teacher Education). Her varied educational experiences at these higher education institutions and working in different school districts has shaped her into the educator she is for teaching elementary students, preservice teachers, and graduate students alike.

Dr. Brandt has 15 years of teaching experience in preschool and elementary classrooms. She comes to UND with prior experience teaching undergraduate courses at UND as well as the University of Minnesota Crookston.

Member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Member of the National Council of Teachers of English

Department 

Elementary Education Department Committee (2019-present)

College 

Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice (TLPP) Committee (2019-present)

Undergraduate Assessment Committee (2020-present)

Teacher and School Professionals Education Committee (TSPEC) (2019-present)

University 

University Senate Honors Committee (2020-present)

Alice T. Clark/UND Alumni Association & Foundation Scholars Mentoring Program (2019-present)