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Chalk & Talk

Supporting students with math difficulties with Sarah Powell (Ep 41)

Feb 7, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Sarah Powell, a Professor of Special Education at the University of Texas at Austin, critiques a recent joint position statement on math instruction for students with disabilities. She highlights the lack of evidence-based practices, particularly the omission of explicit instruction, and argues for better recommendations to enhance learning outcomes. Powell emphasizes educators' ethical responsibility to employ effective methods and promotes research-backed strategies to tackle math difficulties, ensuring that every student can succeed.
58:53

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The recent NCTM/CEC position statement fails to include critical evidence-based practices like explicit instruction for teaching students with math disabilities.
  • Explicit instruction is emphasized as an essential strategy that deeply engages students and helps them understand complex mathematical concepts.

Deep dives

Critique of NCTM and CEC Position Statement

The recent joint position statement by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has faced criticism for its failure to adequately address the educational needs of students with math disabilities. The statement emphasizes the right of students with disabilities to access high-quality instruction but lacks essential research-based practices, particularly systematic instruction. Critics argue that many of the recommendations stem from beliefs rather than evidence, leaving key strategies absent that could effectively support these students. This omission not only undermines the importance of evidence-based teaching practices but also restricts educators' abilities to provide meaningful instruction to those who need it most.

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