She began her career in 1970 teaching elementary school and high school English, and has remained a committed teacher. In 1994 she received the University of Regina's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and in 1997 she was awarded a national Canadian 3M Teaching Fellowship. Dr. Cherland is the author of "Private Practices: Girls Reading Fiction and Constructing Identity," and of many articles on literature teaching, gender and reading, and teaching for social justice.