The Craftsmanship of Learning: Building Agency Through Instructional Equity with Zaretta Hammond
In this thought-provoking two-part conversation, Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift and Zaretta Hammond unpack the deeper work of culturally responsive teaching—far beyond relationships and representation. Zaretta Hammond explores how educators can braid the science of learning and the science of reading to develop students' cognitive capacity, agency, and academic prowess. Together, they examine the role of productive struggle, the criticality of word wealth, and the hidden barriers that keep underserved students from accelerating. With powerful insights on equity, rigor, and metacognition, this interview challenges educators to move beyond compliance and center the learner as an active participant in the craftsmanship of learning.
Thought Leader: Zaretta Hammond
Zaretta Hammond, M.A., is a teacher, educator and national education consultant. She is the author of the bestselling Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (Corwin, 2015) and the newly released Rebuilding Student Learning Power: Teaching for Instructional Equity and Cognitive Justice (Corwin, 2025). Ms. Hammond is a former writing instructor who currently supports educators in how to integrate culturally responsive practices, the science of reading, and the science of learning to support deeper learning.
Get to Know the Host: Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift
Cheryl holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, is a distinguished educational leader, and has been recognized with multiple awards for her achievements. She served as the lead curriculum developer for Learning Without Tears' Get Set for School Language and Literacy curriculum, which received an AEP Distinguished Achievement Award, and was awarded the Investors Bank Educator of the Year Award.
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