15. Black Language & Structured Literacy with Dr. Jasmine Rogers

In this heartfelt, powerful, and impactful episode, I am joined by Dr. Jasmine Rogers, a leading national voice in literacy instruction and a trailblazer in culturally competent teaching practices. Dr. Rogers specializes in approaches that affirm Black Language (Black English) in the classroom and has dedicated her career to revolutionizing literacy instruction by honoring every student's linguistic heritage.

With nine years of classroom experience in charter and DC Public Schools, Dr. Rogers witnessed firsthand how traditional reading instruction often left Black Language-speaking students behind. Her groundbreaking research at American University’s School of Education challenges long-held misconceptions and shows that even minimal training on Black Language significantly improves teacher effectiveness.

In this episode, Dr. Rogers shares insights from her research, discussing how recognizing and celebrating Black Language—rather than correcting it—is essential to honoring students' identities and supporting their academic growth. She explains how Black Language is not a dialect or slang but a fully developed linguistic system with its own phonology, morphology, and syntax, and why we must celebrate this diversity in our classrooms.

We dive deep into misconceptions about Black Language, explore the difference between deficit-based and asset-based approaches, and discuss how educators can integrate culturally responsive literacy practices into their teaching - especially in the Structured Literacy classroom. Dr. Rogers introduces the concept of the "Revolutionary Love Response" as a powerful teaching move, emphasizing the importance of affirming students’ linguistic choices while still guiding them toward proficiency in generalized English.

This episode is a clarion call for educators to reflect on their teaching practices, embrace linguistic diversity, and create classrooms where every student’s language and identity are celebrated. Dr. Rogers’ mission is clear: to transform literacy instruction by affirming students' linguistic heritage, and in this conversation, she equips us with the knowledge & tools to get us started.

Resources Mentioned:

• Linguistic Justice by Dr. April Baker Bell 
• Black Communications and Learning to Read by Terry Meier 
• Revolutionary Love: Creating a Culturally Inclusive Classroom by Kamania Wynter-Hoyte, Eliza Braden, and Michele Meyers 
• Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton’s Website
• Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton’s Podcast: Honeybee Connection Podcast by MB
• Dr. Dionna Latimer-Hearn’s Website
• Dr. Dionna Latimer-Hearn’s Podcast: The Culture We Speak

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Where to Find Dr. Jasmine Rogers:

• DC Reading Clinic
• Website: www.jasminerogers.com 
• LinkedIn: Jasmine Rogers
• Twitter/x: @drj_indc 
• IG & Threads: @drj_indc