In this episode of the Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie Megrian hosts Whitney Whealdon, a career educator and learning architect. They discuss the critical role of background knowledge in reading comprehension, the development of Louisiana's ELA guidebooks, and the importance of coherent and aligned literacy curricula. Whitney shares insights from her career journey, innovation in curriculum development, and the Wonderwood app, designed to help children build knowledge. They also explore practical ways parents can support their children's literacy development at home. Key takeaways include cultivating curiosity, leveraging interconnected knowledge, and advocating for robust science and social studies instruction.
00:00 Welcome to the Reading Symphony Podcast
00:30 Introducing Whitney Whealdon
01:33 Whitney's Journey in Education
03:23 The Importance of Background Knowledge
08:58 Curriculum Transformation in Louisiana
32:43 Building Knowledge at Home with Wonderwood
43:09 Final Thoughts and Resources
Where to find Whitney:
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