The LP: Literature in Practice

Promoting Self-Care and Resistance in Education with Rita Kohli | EP 8

The term "teachers of color" refers to educators who do not identify as white, encompassing diverse racial and ethnic groups. Despite their unique backgrounds, teachers of color share the experience of underrepresentation. With only 20% of teachers being teachers of color, they face challenges like invisibility and pressure to conform to racist education norms. Join us as we explore Professor Rita Kohli's book, Teachers of Color: Resisting Racism and Reclaiming Education, highlighting their stories, promoting self-care, resistance, and innovative teaching. Discover the collective experiences of teachers of color and their journey towards equitable education.

The Power of Literacy for Liberation with Kimberly N. Parker | EP 7

One of Frederick Douglass’ famous sayings is, “Once you learn to read, you’ll be forever free.” As someone who was explicitly forbidden from reading, there was inherent freedom in learning to read and the access it provided during chattel slavery in America. But what about those who are completely literate but are still psychologically jailed? When it comes to becoming literate in written English, it seems like the purpose matters a LOT. From African Americans like Frederick Douglass, we receive a tradition and purpose called “freedom for literacy, literacy for freedom.” Kimberly N. Parker and I discuss her book Literacy is Liberation: Working Toward Justice Through Culturally Relevant Teaching and nerd out on practical steps to practice “freedom for literacy” and “literacy for freedom.” 

Equity in Education and Lessons from Philly with Camika Royal | EP 6

Inequities in public schools today didn’t start during the pandemic. Until we understand the complex legacy of people, perspectives, policies, and practices that inform today's people, perspectives, policies, and practices, it will be challenging to understand inequities in our systems and expand opportunities for educational justice. Dr. Camika Royal’s book Not Paved For Us: Black Educators and Public School Reform in Philadelphia is based in Philly, but it tells a widely-relatable story about public school system dysfunction, backlash, justice-seeking, and its impact on the students it is supposed to serve. 

Artificial Intelligence, Student Intelligence, and Equity with Varun Arora | EP 5

We are in an era where excitement, fear, promise, and paranoia about the capabilities of artificial intelligence are a part of everyday conversation in our society as we are steadily integrating AI into essential elements of our lives. What does this mean for how we teach, learn, and do school? Will the inequities that exist in analog instruction continue to improve or worsen as digital technologies for teaching and learning evolve? Varun Arora invites us to explore opportunities to guide AI development in a manner that enhances teacher ownership of equitable instruction, instead of replacing or negating it, in his book Artificial Intelligence in Schools: A Guide for Teachers, Administrators, and Technology Leaders.

Why Equitable Math Instruction Matters with Pamela Seda | EP 4

To many, the numbers, procedures, and concepts covered in the average mathematics course are completely neutral and require no cultural considerations. But if you ask somebody like Dr. Pamela Seda, she would say that that conclusion just doesn't add up. Dr. Seda takes some time to discuss her book Choosing to See: A Framework For Equity in the Math Classroom, and we cover the best practice, worst myths, and the urgent need to deepen mathematical strengths through leveraging assets that students already have.

Allies, Co-Conspirators, and Mirrors with Zachary Wright | EP 3

The beliefs, practices, and policies common in the United States school system are cultivating inequities in classrooms across the country. Activist, professor, and author Zachary Wright has thoughts about how to recognize, repudiate, and reverse these inequities. He shares these insights as we discuss his book Dismantling a Broken System: Actions to Bridge the Opportunity, Equity, and Justice Gap in American Education.

Revolutionary Education and the Legacy of Black Teachers with Jarvis Givens | EP 2

For too long, receiving an education in the United States has been a dangerous and revolutionary act for African Americans. Becoming authentically literate in the written word, history, math and the sciences was a literal and psychological escape to freedom. Exploring who led these efforts, how they led these efforts, and what we can apply from them today is important and undervalued work that can change how we do education. This is the work of author Jarvis Givens who joins me to discuss his book Fugitive Pedagogy, Carter G. Woodson and the Art of BlackTeaching.

Culturally Responsive, to Culturally Sustaining, and Beyond with Lorena Escoto Germán  | EP 1

What happens when classroom instruction is focused on building academic skills, while at the same time, teaching social justice? What's to gain when students are exposed to teaching that is student-driven and community-centered, but is also flexible, connected to other subjects, and deeply interactive? That's the work of author Lorena Escoto Germán who joins this episode to discuss her book Texture Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices.   

UnboundEd continues the GLEAM™-ification of the nation with a brand NEW podcast series, The LP: Literature in Practice. Join the host, our very own Brandon White, as he interviews the authors of today's thought-provoking educational literature. Here's a sneak peek! Episode 1 launches October 26, available wherever you get your favorite podcasts.