EDVIEW360

Award-winning actor, author, and nationally recognized dyslexia advocate Ameer Baraka joins EDVIEW360 for a powerful conversation about the life-changing impact of literacy, identity, and second chances. Diagnosed with dyslexia in his mid-20s while incarcerated, Baraka’s journey from illiteracy to Emmy-nominated actor and global advocate is a testament to the transformative power of education and the educators who refuse to let students slip through the cracks.
During this inspiring episode, Baraka reflects on the years he spent struggling in school without anyone recognizing his learning difference and how that silence shaped the trajectory of his youth. He shares the moment he finally received a diagnosis, the educators who helped him reclaim his confidence, and why he now dedicates his life to ensuring no child—especially those in underserved communities—goes unnoticed or unsupported.
You will hear Baraka’s insights about:
How early, accurate identification of dyslexia can change a child’s life
Why students who act out or disengage may be communicating an academic struggle
What teachers can do to create safe, empowering spaces for learners who feel defeated
How literacy became the key that unlocked his future
Along the way, Baraka also discusses his acting career—from ZATIMA to American Horror Story—and how his lived experience shapes the roles he chooses and the stories he tells. But at the heart of this conversation is his unwavering message: Every child deserves to be seen, supported, and believed in.
This episode is a must-listen for teachers, literacy leaders, and anyone committed to helping students overcome barriers and discover their potential. Baraka’s story reminds us that with the right support, every learner can rewrite their future.

If you’ve ever wondered why some students seem to “get” reading more easily than others—or why comprehension struggles persist even when decoding improves—this episode is for you. Join us for a dynamic, eye‑opening conversation with Dr. Tiffany Hogan, one of the most respected voices in literacy education and a leading expert on oral and written language development.
Dr. Hogan brings clarity, warmth, and deep expertise to a topic every educator needs to understand: Oral language is the foundation of all literacy. Long before children ever pick up a book, they are developing the linguistic systems that will shape how they read, write, think, and communicate. And that development doesn’t stop when school begins—it continues to evolve through every interaction, every read‑aloud, every conversation, and every exposure to written language.
During this lively discussion, Dr. Hogan explores:
Why oral language begins before birth—and what that means for early learning
How vocabulary, syntax, pragmatics, and listening comprehension work together to support reading
Why the traditional “word gap” narrative misses the strengths children bring to school
How to move beyond deficit thinking and recognize the linguistic richness in every student
How read‑alouds bridge the “age gap” between what students can decode and what they can understand
The remarkable, bidirectional relationship between reading and oral language
Whether you teach early childhood, elementary, or secondary students, this episode will deepen your understanding of how language develops—and how to nurture it in ways that accelerate literacy for all learners, including those with Developmental Language Disorder, dyslexia, and other language-based differences.
Tune in and be inspired by a researcher, clinician, and advocate whose work is reshaping how we think about reading. Dr. Hogan reminds us that when we honor the complexity and beauty of oral language, we give students far more than literacy skills—we give them the power to learn, connect, and thrive.

During this episode of EDVIEW360, we welcome Dr. Ann P. Kaiser, renowned professor at Vanderbilt University and one of the nation’s leading experts on early language development. With decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Kaiser has illuminated how the earliest years of language learning—long before children enter school—lay the foundation for reading and academic success. Her work bridges developmental psychology, linguistics, and education, offering educators and administrators a holistic framework for understanding how language, cognition, and environment interact to shape learning outcomes.
Listeners will gain practical insights into how responsive adult-child interactions, linguistically rich environments, and intentional teaching strategies can transform early language development and, ultimately, reading proficiency. Dr. Kaiser’s contributions have not only advanced the science of reading but also provided educators with actionable tools to support diverse learners from the start.
Listeners will learn:
Why language development in the first three years is a powerful predictor of later reading success
How biology and environment interact to influence children’s language growth
The role of responsive, linguistically rich adult-child interactions in accelerating development
Practical strategies for supporting oral language skills in preschool and early elementary classrooms
How early language differences can signal later reading challenges such as dyslexia or developmental language disorders
Ways educators can strengthen oral vocabulary, syntax, and phonological awareness to support struggling readers
How social-emotional and cognitive development are intertwined with language learning
Why intentional teaching of language foundations is essential for equity and long-term student achievement

Join author and respected mathematics expert Dr. John Woodward for a provocative look at how technology—from microcomputers to AI—has shaped, challenged, and often overpromised its impact on math education. Drawing on decades of research and classroom experience, Dr. Woodward explores how shifts in computing power, curriculum design, and student motivation has influenced what we teach, how we teach it, and why it matters.
This session will begin by drawing on historical trends in educational computing to today’s much discussed and possibly overhyped promise: Can AI tutor students in math in ways that match if not exceed human capabilities? Parallels to this kind of promise can be found during the last 45 years since microcomputers emerged in education in the early 1980s. Dr. Woodward will also drill down into what tutoring and curriculum mean in light of AI.
 
What You’ll Learn
How technology has historically influenced math instruction—and what’s different about AI
Why motivation and mindset matter more than ever in today’s tech-saturated classrooms
Why tutoring students who are struggling with this week’s material in math is a different issue from meeting the instructional needs of students who are months or years behind grade level
What educators should consider before adopting AI tools for math learning

During this insightful episode of EDVIEW360, literacy expert Dr. Antonio Fierro joins us to unpack the critical role of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) frameworks in ensuring explicit, Structured Literacy instruction reaches every learner. Dr. Fierro provides a clear, operational definition of language and explains the importance of embedding oracy across all language systems and across all tiers of instruction. His perspective highlights why collaboration between language and literacy is not optional—it is foundational to building equitable systems that serve all students.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how Structured Literacy can be implemented with fidelity across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 instruction, and why oracy, when intentionally embedded, is foundational to reading proficiency. With a special emphasis on English learners, Dr. Fierro challenges educators to rethink how language and literacy intersect, and how intentional, evidence-based practices can transform outcomes for diverse classrooms.
What You’ll Learn
How a clear, operational definition of language strengthens MTSS by promoting coherence and consistency across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 instruction
Why oracy must be intentionally embedded across language systems and instructional tiers, rather than treated as a standalone or developmental component
How Structured Literacy instruction, when aligned with oracy, better supports reading proficiency—particularly for English learners
Practical ways educators can foster meaningful collaboration between language and literacy to improve outcomes for all students