Getting to the Core with Wayne RESA Jason Siko

What is “Culturally Responsive Mathematics?”

Using the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM.org) definition, Culturally Responsive Mathematics seeks to promote a positive mathematical identity in students by providing tasks that are relevant, personal and meaningful to students.

What does this approach look like, how does it differ from previous approaches to teaching mathematics, and how are students in Washtenaw, Oakland and Wayne County responding to this Tri-County initiative?

Join us as we learn from our regional experts, who are pioneering this work across our three counties:


Jennifer Banks, Ph.D., Director of Instruction, Washtenaw ISD
Yarisha Johnson, Mathematics Education Consultant, Oakland Schools
Cherron Ramsey, Mathematics Education Consultant, Wayne RESA

Intro Music by Wataboi from Pixabay

Length - 25 minutes

On May 16, 2022, Great Start Collaborative Detroit/Wayne had the distinct pleasure of hosting Chelsea Clinton on a “Talking is Teaching” tour of Detroit and Wayne County. With some support from Wayne RESA’s Communications Department, Great Start Detroit/Wayne successfully planned and executed a fabulous tour of four community organizations that exemplify the mission and approach of this early childhood literacy campaign. Joining us today are Kathleen Alessandro and Carmen Colón of Great Start Detroit/Wayne, who will walk us through the exciting event that has since garnered nationwide attention to the important work with early childhood literacy in Detroit and throughout the state of Michigan.

Intro Music by Wataboi from Pixabay

Length - 49 minutes

Do you remember all the facts you learned in your history or geography classes? Does it still matter?  Are you an actively engaged, responsible citizen? In this episode, we sit down with David Hales, Social Studies Consultant at Wayne RESA, to discuss changes to the social studies curriculum over the past few years. Yes, facts and knowledge do matter, but we also need to learn the tools to use them to engage civically. David discusses how the C3 Framework for social studies instruction helps teachers address both the knowledge and action aspects to create responsible citizens.

Intro Music by Wataboi from Pixabay

Length - 23 minutes

Since schools first shut down in the spring of 2020, our students have experienced things that none of us really imagined, from emergency remote teaching, social distancing, packets being sent home, Zoom classrooms, wearing masks, and an ever changing set of circumstances. The 2020-2021 school year was unlike anything we had ever seen. This school year has also been different, and while we’re never going back to 2019, things are slowly looking like they once did.

So, we thought it would be a good idea to hear directly from students on how things have evolved over the past two-plus years.  What do they like?  What has changed and what has stayed the same? What do they want the adults to know?  To that end, we asked several students throughout the region about their experiences…learning in the pandemic.

Intro Music by Wataboi from Pixabay

Background Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

Length - 15 minutes

In this episode, Wayne RESA Career Counselors Brad Minton, Tanji Lilly, and Chris Ferrell discuss how the Ready to Launch program assists local districts and students (and their parents!) by accelerating students' exposure to career resources by working with individuals and small groups and providing individual action plans. The counselors provide resources that help students explore career interests, expose them to careers they had not thought about before, pathways to achieving career goals, and opportunities for internships and financial assistance.

Length - 27 minutes

Music by Wataboi from Pixabay

In this episode, Kyle Gnagey is joined by Heather Vaughan-Southard (Professional Learning Director - MAEIA), Brenda Bressler (Music Educator - Huron School District), and Susan Briggs (Art Educator - Dearborn Public Schools) to discuss the role of Arts Education in social emotional learning (SEL). Our three guests discuss the importance of student development through the arts, as well as the role art plays in supporting learning across the curriculum.

Length - 20 minutes

Music by Wataboi from Pixabay