The Importance of Effective Reading Instruction

In this podcast episode, Peter interviews Dr. Pam Snow, a professor of cognitive psychology, about the importance of reading and literacy. Dr. Snow emphasizes that reading is a vital skill that needs to be explicitly taught, and simply adding adjectives to the word 'literacy' is not a substitute for instruction. She challenges the notion that children naturally learn to read and highlights the impact of quality instruction on their learning outcomes. Dr. Snow argues that reading instruction should be viewed as a public health issue, as education is a crucial intervention in children's lives. She calls for bipartisan support, data-driven decision-making, and specialized teacher training to ensure all children become proficient readers, writers, and spellers.