Host Dr. Liz Brooke and Washington kick off the new season of the All For Literacy podcast with a thought-provoking conversation about language variation and literacy rates. A professor in the School of Education at the University of California – Irvine, Washington shares her expertise about how dialect variation and density, code-switching, and translanguaging play into literacy assessment and success. 

Learn ways to help students boost their literacy success through:

• Using the full spectrum of their language skills


• Adjusting mindset and prior expectations


• Boosting comfort levels in the classroom


• Adding dialect into teaching

Washington and Brooke also present a fascinating look into the syntax behind the reading wars, and whether or not “the reading revolution” is a more accurate label. Listeners will better understand how initial terminology can influence a society’s approach to solving or interacting with a concept. 

Dr. Brooke kicks off the latest season of All For Literacy, and walk away with an in-depth look into how dialect and language interplay with literacy acquisition in the classroom. And as a bonus, use this related infographic to start a conversation within your learning community. 

Episode Breakdown

(00:30 ) – What sparked Washington’s interest in literacy

(03:16 ) – How she sees her work translating into the classroom

(06:50 ) – Dialect vs. language variation

(10:03 ) – Relationship between code switching and translanguaging

(12:43 ) – Encouraging students to use their full spectrum of skills

(16:00 ) – Why students need to understand the purpose of the lesson

(21:00 ) – How language variation affects assessments

(27:10 ) – The reading revolution

(42:51 ) – What makes Washington hopeful for the future of literacy and language