Knowledge building can’t wait, with HyeJin Hwang
Dr. HyeJin Hwang is an assistant professor and literacy researcher whose research interests revolve around reading comprehension and content learning in K–12 settings, particularly for multilingual students. In this week’s episode of the podcast, HyeJin Hwang talks with Susan Lambert about background knowledge (what it is, how it’s built, and more), the importance of broad knowledge, the connections between knowledge and vocabulary, and unit planning rather than lesson planning. English wasn’t Dr. Hwang’s own first language, and her research on supporting multi-language learners is informed by her own experiences learning English and later teaching English as a second language. Whether you’re just starting to establish a solid foundation on knowledge building or you’re looking to explore the topic from new angles, this episode is the one to listen to.
Meet our guest(s):
HyeJin Hwang, Ph.D.
HyeJin Hwang is an assistant professor in the department of educational psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies (Literacy, Language, and Culture) at the University of Michigan and worked as a postdoctoral scholar at the Florida Center for Reading Research. Her research interests revolve around reading comprehension and content learning in K–12 settings, particularly for multilingual students. Hwang’s work has been published in research journals such as Reading Research Quarterly, Scientific Studies of Reading, and AERA Open, as well as practitioner journals such as The Reading Teacher and Reading in Virginia. Her work has been supported by the American Educational Research Association, the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota, and the American Psychological Association Division 15 (Educational Psychology).
Meet our host, Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert is the Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Humanities at Amplify, and the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast. Her career has been focused on creating high-quality learning environments using evidence-based practices. Lambert is a mom of four, a grandma of four, a world traveler, and a collector of stories.
As the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Lambert explores the increasing body of scientific research around how reading is best taught. As a former classroom teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer, Lambert is dedicated to turning theory into best practices that educators can put right to use in the classroom, and to showcasing national models of reading instruction excellence.
