Conceptually Speaking
Conceptually Speaking is a show about exploring the cognitive processes and social practices that help us make sense of our world. As as teacher-scholar interested in the intersection of educational theory, practice, and scholarship, I host conversations with guests ranging from practicing educators to neuroscientists and literary scholars to YouTube video essayists. Each episode shares a common purpose: to consider, critique, and reconceptualize what we think and feel about education. If you enjoy the show and want to learn more, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, find me on Substack, and check out trevoraleo.com for more information, resources, and details on professional learning.
Conceptually Speaking
Drs. Jacy Ippolito, Christina Dobbs, & Megin Charner-Laird Talk Disciplinary Literacy
In this episode of Conceptually Speaking, I explore the evolving landscape of disciplinary literacy with three distinguished professors and teacher educators: Dr. Jacy Ippolito from Salem State University, Dr. Christina Dobbs from Boston University, and Dr. Megan Charner-Laird from Salem State University. Drawing from their collaborative work on the second edition of "Disciplinary Literacy Inquiry and Instruction," this conversation delves into how educators can authentically engage students in disciplinary literacies while challenging their traditional boundaries.
Key Concepts from the Episode:
Reimagining Disciplinary Literacy
- Moving beyond traditional apprenticeship models to critique and expand disciplinary boundaries
- Examining whose norms and traditions shape disciplinary practices
- Exploring how students remix and reinvent ways of belonging in academic communities
- Understanding disciplinary literacy as both access and transformation
Critical Inquiry and Identity
- Supporting teachers in examining their own disciplinary identities and biases
- Creating spaces for collaborative questioning and knowledge construction
- Embracing uncertainty and open-ended exploration in classroom discussions
- Connecting personal passion for disciplines with student engagement
Practical Implementation Across Grade Levels
- Extending disciplinary literacy practices into elementary education
- Balancing disciplinary practices with critique and remix
- Finding opportunities for change within existing curricular constraints
- Starting with small but meaningful adjustments to existing practices
The conversation highlights how disciplinary literacy can reignite both teachers' and students' love for learning when approached through a critical, inquiry-driven lens. The authors share practical insights for educators while acknowledging the complex challenges of implementing these approaches within current educational structures. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of making space for joy, authenticity, and student voice in disciplinary learning.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, educational researcher, or interested in the evolution of literacy practices, this episode offers valuable perspectives on creating critical and culturally sustaining ecologies of disciplinary learning. The authors demonstrate how educators can provide access to powerful academic discourses while opening new possibilities for student engagement and knowledge creation.