Originally published February 5, 2017 and updated February 9, 2020 In his essay, “A Talk with Teachers,” James Baldwin wrote: “The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” This captures the value and the challenge of leveraging Black…
Before starting Listenwise, I had a career as an NPR reporter, most recently at the NPR station in Boston, WBUR. I was an audio storyteller. Capturing audio and sharing stories had captivated me from an early age. As I’ve built Listenwise, I’ve learned about the neuroscience of listening, the interconnectedness of listening and reading, the…
Teachers using Listenwise with their students through remote/hybrid instruction have observed that Listenwise helps them engage students in learning and cultivate student agency. Many also note that Listenwise broadens accessibility to curriculum content and allows them to differentiate instruction to support all learners, including English learners and those who struggle with literacy. We have collected…
The new year started out with some much needed new funding for schools. As 2020 came to a close, a COVID-19 relief package providing more than $54 billion in direct aid to K-12 schools was finally passed by Congress. That’s about four times the amount allotted to schools back in March 2020, at the start…
I’ve been listening to English language educators this fall as they share how they are reaching their students in what are likely the most challenging educational circumstances they have ever faced. In a series of webinars we called “Teacher Talks: What’s Working with ELs in Remote Learning,” I’ve heard both disheartening and uplifting stories. We…
Today’s guest blog is written by English Runyan. She has taught ELA at the secondary level in the Fort Worth, TX area and is pursuing an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is passionate about developing curriculum that infuses culturally conscious and responsive teaching with rigorous academic subject matter. Having previously taught high…
Last year’s school closings and this year’s remote and hybrid learning have disproportionately impacted English learners (ELs). Some students have limited exposure to spoken or written English at home, and for many, the months spent away from the classroom have resulted in significant language losses. Now, many teachers are working to help their ELs regain…
Today’s blog highlights educator Julie Waugh, a Listenwise advocate and 8th grade social studies, English, and ELD teacher at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy in Denver Public Schools, CO. Relationship building is key to Julie’s success with her English learners. Her school is currently fully remote. She exited 67% of her students from EL status last…
Guest post by Robbi Holdreith, a middle school ELL teacher and coordinator at Sojourner Truth Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota As I began to plan lessons for the new school year, I knew that Listenwise would be a part of my coursework for grades 5-8. For me, one of the top benefits of the Listenwise platform…
Never before have there been so many different learning environments for K-12 kids. If you are now in a pandemic pod or a homeschooling situation, Listenwise’s podcast lessons support your children’s learning in any setting, including outside a regular K-12 classroom. Whatever your curriculum, you can find engaging stories to help you teach listening and…
When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, virtually all students were expected to go home, turn on their computers, and start learning remotely. But the problem was that millions of students did not have a reliable way to get online. Federal data shows that 14% of students between the ages of 6 and…
