Reading, Culture, and Achievement with Zaretta Hammond

In this episode, our co-hosts, Dr. Christy Lamb and Terri K. Hunt, M.Ed., are joined by Zaretta Hammond, CEO of Transformative Learning Solutions. Together, they delve into the crucial topic of literacy and culturally responsive teaching. Hammond emphasizes the need for educators to create an environment that supports students to excel in reading and underscores the importance of reimagining professional learning for teachers. 

The conversation also addresses the challenges of addressing reading achievement gaps for African-American, indigenous, and multilingual students. Listeners can expect a deep dive into the role of district leaders in promoting effective reading instruction and the significance of understanding culturally responsive teaching in the context of literacy. 

Stay tuned for a thought-provoking discussion that explores the intersection of reading, education, and culturally responsive teaching.

Timestamps

05:38 Defining psychological safety in education to create equity.

06:56 Culturally responsive teaching creates conditions for learning.

13:27 Collectivist culture emphasizes engagement in classrooms.

14:23 Large groups of minority students face challenges.

18:57 Hammond discusses competitive culture, contrast of analysis, and linguistic diversity.

22:39 Teaching advanced decoding and syllabication through professional development to better support reading development.

24:41 Culturally responsive teaching is about instructional decision-making.

27:18 Discussion around instilling the love of reading in children.

30:30 Potential of overselling reading as teachers, but still feeling it’s worth the effort for the students.

36:45 Emphasizing word study to engage student interest.

Connect with Zaretta Hammond

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaretta-hammond-2b122ba/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ready4rigor 

Website: https://www.transformative.in/