Publications

We study language and literacy development in young children who are culturally and linguistically diverse. 

Our research aims to increase our understanding of factors that impact the development of language, literacy and overall school readiness abilities in preschool children learning two languages in the context of linguistic, social, and economical diversity. This knowledge will provide the foundation for realizing our second research aim, that of developing and evaluating evidence-based assessment, treatment and instructional approaches that support school readiness for culturally and linguistically diverse preschoolers at risk for language, literacy and academic disparities.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapters: Invited Peer Reviewed

• Mendez, L.I. & Simon‑Cereijido, G. (2025). Trastorno del desarrollo del lenguaje en niños bilingües hablantes del español. In A. Auza & L. Andreu (Eds.), El trastorno del desarrollo del lenguaje (TDL) en niños hispanohablantes (Invited peer‑reviewed book chapter). Ediciones Pirámide. 
• Simon‑Cereijido, G., & Méndez, L. I. (2022). Culturally and linguistically responsive approaches to language intervention. In B. Goldstein (Ed.), Bilingual language development and disorders in Spanish‑English speakers (3rd ed., pp. 381–398) (Invited peer‑reviewed book chapter). Paul H. Brookes. 

Articles In Refereed Journals

• Fafulas , S., Méndez, L. I., Berríos, J., Perry, J., Holt, Y. & Winnick, C. (2026). Subject expression and cross-linguistic interference among bilingual Latino children in eastern North Carolina. International Journal of Bilingualism.  
• Méndez, L. I., Barragan, B., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (2025). The cognitive advantage in working memory through the lens of individual bilingual differences. Inquires in Language Learning: Forschungen zu Psycholinguistik und Fremdsprachendidaktik, 37, 29-46. https://doi.org/10.3726/b23173
• Dixon, J., Resor, J., Holmes, L., Hegde, A., Goodell, L.S., Méndez, L.I., McMillan, V., Stage, V.C. (2025). Building professional learning communities in head start: A mixed methods study on what it takes from teachers’ perspectives. International Journal of Early Years Education, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2025.2522894                                                                                                                                                           
• La Paro, K. M., Méndez, L. I., Stage, V. C., & Lee, T. (2025). Bilingualtek, a cultural-linguistic science-language instructional approach: Implementing engaging science activities with young dual language learners. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 1– 21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2025.2591191                                                                                 
• Lee, T. D., Stage, V., Hegde, A., Goodell, L. S., Méndez, L. I., McMillian, V. J., & Dixon, J. (2025). Observing pill bugs to develop phenomena based professional development for preschool teachers. Science and Children, 62(4), 67- 71. https://doi.org/10.1080/00368148.2025.2506761
• Dixon, J., Resor, J., Lewis, A., Lee, T.D., Hegde, A.V., Arnold, N.L., Méndez, L.I., Stage, V.C. (2024). Development of educational whiteboard videos for head start teachers on how to implement food-based Learning in the preschool classroom.  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.09.005 
• Hegde, A. V., Resor, J., Dixon, J.B., Méndez, L. I., Lee, T., McMillan, V., Goodell, L. S., & Stage, V. C. (2024). North Carolina Head Start teachers’ needs, resources, experiences, and priority for science education and professional development. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2024.2413596 
• Resor, J., Dixon, J.B., Wu, Q., Hegde, A.V., Lee, T.D., Goodell, L.S., Méndez, L. I., McMillan, V.J., Stage, V. (2024). Associations between preschool teachers’ food-based learning frequency, level of personal priority and identified resources and challenges: identified resources and challenges: A needs Assessment. Nutrients, 16(13), 2140. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132140 
• Dixon, J., Hegde, A. V., Goodell, L. S., Arnold, N. L., Swindle, T., Dev, D. A., Méndez, L. I., McMillan, V., Lee, T. & Stage, V. (2023). Integration of food-based learning with science in the preschool classroom: Implementation gaps and opportunities. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55(4), 266-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.01.002 
• Méndez, L. I., Bitetti D. & Perry,J.(2023). Across-cultural perspective of narrative retells in kindergarten children. Bilingual Research Journal, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080
• Méndez, L. I., Lee, T. D., Hegde, A. V., McMillan, V. J., Dixon, J. B., Goodell, L. S., Stage,V. (2023).Let’s talk: Linking science and language learning in the preschool classroom.Young children: the journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children,7(2), 66–76.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10441200/
• Simón-Cereijido, G., Greene, K. & Méndez, L. I. (2023). Teaching undergraduate students about cultural and linguistic diversity: Assessment and pedagogical challenges. Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 7(2), 13. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1393274 
• Stage, V. C., Resor, J., Dixon, J., Hegde, A. V., Méndez, L. I., Lee, T., Breinholt, R., Goodell, L. S., McMillan, V., & Gilliam, E. M. (2023). More PEAS please! Teaching teachers how to integrate food-based learning into preschool science. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 55(6), 457-463. 2024 Best GEM Award. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.02.005 
• *DuBay, M, Watson, L. R., Méndez, L. I., & Rojevic, C. (2021). Psychometric comparison of the English and Spanish Western-Hemisphere versions of the modified checklist for autism in toddlers. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 42(9), 717- 725. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000968 
• Holt, Y., Méndez, L.I., Mills, M.T., & O’Brien, K.F. (2021). Phonological and morphological awareness interventions with African American children. Journal of Negro Education 90(1), 26-37. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/820509 
• Crais, E., McComish, C. S., Kertcher, E. F., Hooper, S., Pretzel, R., Méndez, L. I., & Villalobos, M. (2020). Autism spectrum disorder identification, diagnosis, and navigation of services: Learning from the voices of caregivers. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 35(4), 246 – 256. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357620922165  
• Méndez, L. I., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (2019). A view of the lexical-grammatical link in young Latinos with specific language impairment using language-specific and conceptual measures, Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62(6), 1775-1786. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_JSLHR-L-18-0315 
• Perry, J. L., Kotlarek, K., & Méndez, L. I., Holt, Y., Fafulas, S., & Broadwell, K. (2019). Nasometric comparison between Spanish–English bilingual and English monolingual children. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 56(3), 331-339. https://doi.org/10.1177/1055665618786350 
• Simon-Cereijido, G. & Méndez, L. I. (2019). Similarities and differences in the lexical-grammatical relation of young dual language learners with and without specific language impairment. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 34 (1-2), 92-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699206.2019.1611926 
• Méndez, L. I., Crais, E., & Kainz, K. (2018). The impact of individual differences on a bilingual vocabulary approach for Latino preschoolers. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 61(4), 897-909. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-17-0186 
• Méndez, L. I., Hammer, C., Lopez, L., & Blair, C. (2018). Examining language and early numeracy skills in young Latino dual language learners. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 46, 252-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.02.004 
• Méndez, L. I., Perry, J., Holt, Y., Bian, H., & Fafulas, S. (2018). Same or different: Narrative retells in bilingual Latino kindergarten children. Bilingual Research Journal, 41(2), 150-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/15235882.2018.1456984 
• Simon-Cereijido, G. & Méndez, L. I. (2018). Using language-specific and bilingual measures to explore lexical-grammatical links in young Latino dual language learners. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 49(3), 537-550. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_LSHSS-17-0058 
• Castro, D., Gillanders, C., Franco, X., Bryant, D. M., Zepeda, M., Willoughby, M., & Méndez, L. I. (2017). Early education of dual language learners: An efficacy study of the Nuestros Niños school readiness professional development program. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 40, 188-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2017.03.002. 
• Gillanders, C., Franco, X., Seidel, K., Castro, D. C., & Méndez, L. I. (2017). Young dual language learners’ emergent writing development. Early Child Development and Care, 187(3-4), 371-382. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2016.1211124 
• Lewis, K., Sandilos, L., Hammer, C. S., Sawyer, B. E., & Méndez, L. I. (2015). Relations among the home language and literacy environment and children’s language abilities: A study of Head Start dual language learners and their mothers. Early Education and Development, 27(4), 478-494. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2016.1082820 
• Méndez, L. I., Crais, E., Castro, D., & Kainz, K. (2015). A culturally and linguistically responsive vocabulary approach for young Latino dual language learners. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 58(1), 93-106. https://doi.org/10.1044/2014_JSLHR-L-12-0221 
• Méndez, L. I. (2014) Supporting vocabulary development in Latino preschoolers: Cultural and linguistic considerations. Advances in Early Education and Day Care 18, 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0270-402120140000018003 

Selected Refereed Presentations

(* Denotes student collaboration)

• Fitton, L., Wofford, C., & Méndez, L. I. (November 2025). Multilingual SLP practice in the Carolinas: A problem-solving approach to challenging contexts. Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 
• *Kikkawa, A., Simon-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., & Barragan, B. (November 2025). Navigating word meaning: Codeswitching and sociolinguistic contexts in Spanish heritage speakers. Podium research presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 
• Méndez, L. I., La Paro, K. M., Lee, T., & Stage, V. C. (November 2025). Bilingualtek: Dual language and science learning in the classroom. Workshop presentation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. (Session selected as a CEU session and as one of the 10 most in Demand Sessions of the 2025 Annual Conference). 
• Méndez, L. I. (September 2025). Bilingualtek: Una intervención bilingüe-cultural que apoya el vocabulario científico en niños bilingües de edad preescolar. Virtual presentation at the XI International Language Acquisition Conference (Congreso Internacional de Adquisición del Lenguaje (AEAL)), Sevilla, Spain. 
• Simon-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., Barragan, B., & Kikkawa, A. (July 2025). Vocabulary depth and code-switching in Spanish heritage speakers: The role of language experience. Poster presentation at the Seventeenth International Cognitive Linguistics Conference (ICLC-17), Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
• *Kikkawa, A., Simon-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., & Barragan, B. (June 2025). The role of codeswitching and language entropy on semantic accuracy in heritage speakers. Podium presentation at the 15th International Symposium on Bilingualism, San Sebastián, Spain. 
• La Paro, K., & Méndez, L. I. (June 2025). Iterative professional learning for culturally responsive science teaching. Presentation at the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) 2025 Virtual Summer Conference. 
• *Hoerner, C., Barragan, B., Méndez, L. I., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (April 2025). The bimodal bilingual advantage. Poster presentation at the NBASLH Annual Convention Conference, Long Beach, CA. 
• Lee, T., Stage, V. C., Méndez, L. I., & La Paro, K. (April 2025). Engaging young children in scientific and engineering practices. Podium presentation at the International Conference on Education, Bangkok, Thailand. 
• Méndez, L. I., & La Paro, K., Lee, T., & Stage, V. C. (April 2025). Bilingualtek: An intervention to support children gains in science language learning. Poster presentation at the Society for the Research of Child Development Annual Convention (SRCD), Minneapolis, MN. 
• *Anguiano, A., Vargas, S., Simon-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., & Barragan, B. (November 2024). Exploring communication strategies in a vocabulary depth task among bilingual adults. (Meritorious Poster Award). Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. 
• Méndez, L. I., Barragan, B., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (November 2024). The role of individual differences in the bilingual cognitive advantage. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. 
• Barragan, B., Simon-Cereijido, G., & Méndez, L. I. (June 2024). Language proficiency and executive control in heritage language speakers and monolingual adults. Podium presentation at the Fifteenth Heritage Language Research Institute: Heritage speakers as real-world bilinguals, University of California, Irvine, CA. 
• Lewis, A., Lundquist, R., Dixon, J., Resor, J., Lee, T., Hegde, A. V., Goodell, L. S., Méndez, L. I., McMillan, V., & Stage, V. C. (August 2024). Developing educational whiteboard videos on integrating food into science learning in Head Start. Podium presentation at the International Society of Nutrition Education & Behavior Conference, Knoxville, TN. 
• Méndez, L. I., Simon-Cereijido, G., & Barragan, B. (June 2024). Vocabulary and short-term memory skills in adult heritage speakers. Podium presentation at the Fifteenth Heritage Language Research Institute: Heritage speakers as real-world bilinguals, University of California, Irvine, CA. 
• Resor, J., Dixon, J., Méndez, L. I., Hegde, A. V., Lee, T., McMillan, V., Goodell, L. S., & Stage, V. C. (August 2024). More PEAS please! Evaluating the impact of food-based learning on dietary quality, science, and language among preschoolers. Podium presentation at the International Society of Nutrition Education & Behavior Conference, Knoxville, TN. 
• Barragan, B., Méndez, L. I., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (January 2024). Exploring the influence of language proficiency on inhibition and shifting abilities in monolingual and bilingual adults from Southern California. Poster presentation at the Bilingualism in The Hispanic and Lusophone World 2024 Conference, Puebla, Mexico. 
• Simon-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., & Barragan, B. (January 2024). The impact of category, language order, and proficiency on verbal fluency performance in bilingual adults (Meritorious Poster Award). Poster presentation at the Bilingualism in The Hispanic and Lusophone World 2024 Conference, Puebla, Mexico. 
• Bitetti, D., & Méndez, L. I. (November 2023). The internal consistency of the narrative scoring scheme: A cross-cultural comparison. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 
• *Duarte, S., Mixon, A., Perez-Luna, B., Simon-Cereijido, G., Barragan, B., & Méndez, L. I. (November 2023). Quality over quantity: Language proficiency and executive control in bilingual and monolingual adults. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 
• *Loya, A., Enciso-Vasquez, M., Tapia, J., Simon-Cereijido, G., Barragan, B., & Méndez, L. I. (November 2023). Maximizing bilingual verbal fluency performance: The impact of language order and proficiency level. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 
• Méndez, L. I., & Bitetti, D. (November 2023). Similarities and differences in narrative retells in kindergarteners from two cultures. Podium presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 
• Méndez, L. I., Simon-Cereijido, G., & Barragan, B. (October 2023). Vocabulary and cognition in bilingual adults. Poster presentation at the Bilingualism Matters Research Symposium 2023, Columbia, SC. 
• Méndez, L. I., Simon-Cereijido, G., & Barragan, B. (July 2023). Un marco de referencia lingüístico y cultural para quiar el tratamiento de niño/as bilingües con TDL. Podium presentation at the II Congreso Hispanohablante sobre el Trastorno Específico del Desarrollo del Lenguaje (CHITEL 2023), Colombia. 
• Kayumova, S., Méndez, L. I., Quintos, B., Civil, M., & González-Howard, M. (June 2023). Applying translanguaging, culture & community-sustaining pedagogies and STEAM as asset-based approaches to broadening participation in STEM. Panel presentation at the DRK-12 National Science Foundation PI Conference, Arlington, VA (virtual). 
• Méndez, L. I., La Paro, K., Lee, T., Stage, V., & Su, H. (June 2023). Bilingualtek: An integrated language-science instructional approach for Latino/a dual language learners. Poster presentation at the DRK-12 National Science Foundation PI Conference, Arlington, VA. 
• *Perez-Luna, B., Jimenez, V., Enciso-Vasquez, M., Prieto, E., Simon-Cereijido, G., Barragan, B., & Méndez, L. I. (April 2023). Similarities and differences in measures of vocabulary depth and breadth in monolingual and bilingual adults. Poster presentation at the North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association Annual Conference, Durham, NC. 
• *Uribe, K., Duval, M., Sharpe, E., Obermeyer, J., & Méndez, L. I. (April 2023). Examining narratives across cultural contexts. Poster presentation at the North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association Annual Conference, Durham, NC. 
• *Loya, A., Tapia, J., Prieto, E., Riley, J., Simon-Cereijido, G., Barragan, B., & Méndez, L. I. (March 2023). The effects of order presentation and relative proficiency on verbal fluency in bilingual adults. Poster presentation at the California Speech Language Hearing Association Foundation Annual Conference, CA. 
• *Prieto, E., Duarte, S., Barragan, B., Simon-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., Mixon, A., & Perez-Luna, B. (March 2023). Inhibition and switching advantage in proficient bilinguals. Poster presentation at the California Speech Language Hearing Association Foundation Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA. 
• *Duarte, S., Loya, A., Prieto, E., Riley, J., Verdugo, C., Enciso-Vasquez, M., Barragan, B., Méndez, L. I., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (November 2022). Short-term memory, verbal fluency, and receptive vocabulary in bilingual healthy adults. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. 
• *Loya, A., Prieto, E., Riley, J., Verdugo, C., Enciso-Vasquez, M., Méndez, L. I., Barragan, B., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (November 2022). Emotional verbal fluency across two languages in healthy bilingual adults. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. 
• *Tapia, J., Prieto, E., Loya, A., Duarte, S., Verdugo, C., Méndez, L. I., Barragan, B., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (November 2022). Sixty-seconds go! Exploring semantic verbal fluency among bilinguals. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. 
• Méndez, L. I., La Paro, K., Lee, T., & Stage, V. (June 2022). Science and language instruction practices that support Latino/a dual language learners in Head Start. Poster presentation at the National Research Conference in Early Childhood, virtual conference. 
• Simón-Cereijido, G., Greene, K., & Méndez, L. I. (March 2022). The cultural and linguistic diversity of communication sciences and disorders Latinx students. Podium presentation at the California Speech Language Hearing Association Foundation Annual Conference, Pasadena, CA. 
• Simón-Cereijido, G., Méndez, L. I., Barragan, B., Baez, R., Luna, L., & Moreno-Rile, J. (November 2021). The strengths and educational needs of Latinx students in communication disorders programs. Podium presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, virtual conference. 
• Méndez, L. I., Bedore, L., Peña, E., & Simon-Cereijido, G. (June 2021). The lexical and grammatical developmental trajectory in preschool and school age dual language learners. Podium presentation at the Congreso Hispanohablante del Trastorno Específico del Lenguaje (CHITEL), Barcelona, Spain (virtual). 
• Simón-Cereijido, G., Greene, K., Méndez, L. I., & Barragan, B. (March 2021). A more subtle view of the cultural and linguistic diversity of communication sciences and disorders Latinx students. Podium presentation at the California Speech Language Hearing Association Foundation Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA. 
• Méndez, L. I., & Bitetti, D. (November 2019). A cross-cultural view of narratives. Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. 
• *Nazzal, L., Bates, L., & Méndez, L. I. (April 2019). Technology assisted academic vocabulary instruction for Latino preschoolers. Poster presentation at the North Carolina Speech, Language and Hearing Association Annual Convention, Winston-Salem, NC. 
• Méndez, L. I., & Simón-Cereijido, G. (November 2018). Lexical-grammatical associations in young Latino dual language learners with specific language impairment (Meritorious Poster Award). Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 
• Scarpino, S., Méndez, L. I., Bitetti, D., & Hammer Scheffner, C. (November 2018). Vocabulary and phonological awareness associations across languages in kindergarten Latino children. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 
• Simón-Cereijido, G., & Méndez, L. I. (October 2018). An examination of lexical-grammatical links in young dual language learners with and without primary language impairment using language-specific and bilingual measures. Podium presentation at the 17th International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Conference (ICPLA), St Julian, Malta. 
• Gillanders, C., Franco, X., Seidel, K., Castro, C., & Méndez, L. I. (July 2018). Young dual language learners’ emergent writing development. Poster presentation at the International Literacy Association Conference, Austin, TX. 
• Méndez, L. I., & Simón-Cereijido, G. (June 2018). Development of the lexical-grammatical association in Latino dual language learners. Poster presentation at the National Research Conference on Early Childhood (NRCEC), Arlington, VA. 
• *Capps, H., Gatlin, P., & Méndez, L. I. (November 2017). Same or different: Narratives in bilingual children. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA. 
• Simón-Cereijido, G., Conboy, B., Méndez, L. I., Peña, E., & Bedore, L. (November 2017). Trends in content-form associations in the language of dual language learners. Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA. 
• Méndez, L. I., & Simón-Cereijido, G. (June 2017). Exploring the lexical-grammatical relation in Spanish-English young dual language learners. Poster presentation at the 11th International Symposium on Bilingualism, Limerick, Ireland. 
• Méndez, L. I. (November 2016). An academic vocabulary approach for Latino preschoolers. Poster presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 
• Méndez, L. I. (June 2016). Individual differences and a bilingual vocabulary and literacy approach for Latino preschoolers. Poster presentation at the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) National Research Conference on Early Childhood, Washington, DC.