Ep 20. Reading and math: parallels and pitfalls with Matthew Burns
Nov 24, 2023
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Join math professor, Anna Stokke, as she discusses reading and math with Dr. Matthew Burns, well-known for his research in reading and math interventions. They dive into the history of reading instruction and explore parallels with math instruction. The podcast addresses the shift happening in reading education towards phonics and suggests creating a similar shift for math. They also touch on the unethical promotion of ineffective programs and the importance of teaching the scientific method.
Evidence-based reading practices sparked a grassroots movement, emphasizing parental advocacy and research-supported approaches.
Math education lacks the same level of attention as reading, calling for a similar shift towards evidence-based practices and parental involvement.
Promoting automaticity with math facts is crucial for enhancing math learning outcomes and reading comprehension in mathematics.
Deep dives
The importance of evidence-based instruction in education
The podcast episode discusses the importance of evidence-based instruction in education, drawing parallels between reading and math education. The episode emphasizes the need for research-supported practices to ensure effective learning outcomes. It highlights the grassroots movement in the science of reading, driven by parents advocating for evidence-based reading instruction. The episode acknowledges the role of Emily Hanford's podcast in raising awareness about reading instruction. It also stresses the importance of parental involvement and calls for a similar movement in math education. The lack of scientific rigor in educational research is critiqued, and the need for a better system to vet instructional programs is highlighted. The episode encourages teachers and parents to be critical consumers of educational practices and leverage resources like Google Scholar and the What Works Clearinghouse to access evidence-based information. The importance of emphasizing the scientific method in education is also underscored.
Challenges in math instruction and the need for change
The episode discusses challenges in math instruction and the need for improvement. It highlights the tendency to accept struggles in math as normal and the lack of urgency in addressing math difficulties. The importance of valuing data and research in math education is emphasized. The episode also raises concerns about the lack of evidence-based practices in math and the need for a grassroots movement similar to the science of reading. The role of parental involvement and advocacy in driving change is underscored. The episode calls for a shift towards research-based math instruction to enhance learning outcomes and ensure foundational skills are developed.
The role of evidence-based practices in reading and math
The podcast explores the importance of evidence-based practices in reading and math education. It highlights the shift towards evidence-based reading instruction and the impact of parent advocacy in driving this change. The episode draws parallels between reading and math education, emphasizing the need for research-supported practices in both subjects. It discusses the challenges and misconceptions surrounding math instruction, including the acceptability of struggling in math. The importance of parental involvement, critical thinking, and skepticism in evaluating educational practices is emphasized. The episode calls for increased focus on the scientific method in education and the need for a concerted effort to improve math instruction through evidence-based approaches.
Promoting automaticity with math facts
The episode highlights the critical importance of promoting automaticity with math facts. It discusses the correlation between automaticity and reading comprehension in mathematics. The need for practice and repetition to develop fluency in math facts is emphasized. The episode challenges misconceptions about math instruction, such as the notion that struggling in math is acceptable. It highlights the role of parental involvement in supporting math fluency and underscores the significance of evidence-based approaches in promoting math fact automaticity. The episode encourages educators and parents to prioritize practice and repetition to enhance math learning outcomes.
The need for a stronger emphasis on the scientific method
The podcast episode advocates for a stronger emphasis on the scientific method in education. It highlights the necessity of teaching and understanding the scientific method from an early age. The episode emphasizes the importance of scientific thinking and critical analysis in evaluating educational practices. It calls for a shift towards evidence-based approaches and research-supported practices in education. The role of educators, researchers, and parents in promoting a scientific mindset and evidence-based decision-making is underscored. The episode emphasizes the need for a culture that values scientific rigor and encourages educators and researchers to engage in self-reflection and self-criticism.
Join math professor, Anna Stokke, for a discussion about reading and math with Dr. Matthew Burns. He is well-known for his research in reading instruction, including research on the effectiveness of the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System. He has also published research on math interventions. He gives a brief history of reading instruction and explains how ideas about how to teach reading became pervasive despite lacking scientific evidence. They then move on to discuss parallels with math instruction, which is the focus of the episode.
A noticeable shift is happening in reading, with educators and policymakers now recognizing the importance of phonics and other principles from the science of reading. Math has not received the same level of attention as reading, despite being extremely important. Anna asks Matt to discuss what turned things around for reading and to offer suggestions for how we might create a similar shift for math.
The resource page for this episode includes studies mentioned in the episode and resources for helping children develop automaticity with math facts.