Leveraging Family and Cultural Insights to Enhance Literacy with Judy Paulick
The Be Podcast Network, an organization of more than four dozen engaging shows dedicated to education, and Reading Is Fundamental are partnering during National Literacy Month to share high-impact conversations about literacy with more than 40 unique episodes featuring conversations about the state of children’s literacy nationwide, best practices for reading instruction and engagement, strategies to foster the joy of reading in school and at home, and much more.
In this episode of Make It Mindful, host Seth Fleischauer dives into the intersection of literacy, family engagement, and cultural responsiveness with Judy Paulick, Associate Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Virginia. As part of the 2024 National Literacy Month and in partnership with Reading Is Fundamental, Judy shares how to create transformative educational experiences by understanding and leveraging the cultural and literacy assets of students' families. She explores how home visits, family engagement, and asset-based approaches can reshape literacy instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The importance of asset-based home visits and how they can deepen teacher-student-family connections.
- How family engagement enriches literacy practices by incorporating storytelling, cultural values, and everyday literacy activities from home.
- Strategies for teachers who may not have access to home visits but still want to leverage family assets in the classroom.
- Using culturally responsive teaching techniques to create a classroom environment where every student sees themselves in the curriculum.
- The challenges and opportunities AI presents in education, particularly around culturally relevant pedagogy and differentiation.