Science of Reading: The Podcast

• Science of Reading Essentials: Comprehension

  In this special Essentials episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert pulls from past episodes to distill reading comprehension insights from experts Hugh Catts, Ph.D.; Sharon Vaughn, Ph.D.; and Reid Smith, Ph.D. Listeners will walk away from this episode with a foundational introduction to the complexities of reading comprehension, and gain an understanding of topics such as reframing comprehension as an outcome rather than a skill, choosing the right texts and asking the right questions, cultivating long term memory and knowledge recall, and understanding the real purpose of reading. Show notes: Access the listening guide—and other free, high-quality resources—at our brand new professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning Join our community Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/scienceofreadingQuotes:“This Essentials episode does not answer everything about comprehension. All we're doing here is building a foundation, understanding that comprehension isn't a skill, it's complex.” —Susan Lambert“ For the most part, if we're paying attention, if we can read words efficiently and know what they mean and have background knowledge, it yields comprehension.” —Sharon Vaughn“ Some people say that the purpose of reading is comprehension. It's not the purpose of reading. The purpose of reading is whatever you're comprehending for.” —Hugh Catts “[There’s] a strong literature base that tells us that one of the differences between poor readers and strong readers is their ability to notice when there are inconsistencies in the text, and have strategies that they can employ to resolve those inconsistencies.” —Reid SmithEpisode Timestamps*01:00 What are “Science of Reading: Essentials” episodes02:00 Introduction to comprehension05:00 Defining comprehension07:00 Reading comprehension as an outcome09:00 The purpose of reading with Hugh Catts11:00 Comprehension vs foundational reading skills17:00 The importance of text and asking the right questions with Sharon Vaughn20:00 Discussion on leveled reading26:00 Background knowledge with Reid Smith28:00 Long term memory and knowledge recall31:00 Final thoughts, tips, & encouragement34:00 Key takeaways from Susan36:00 Season 10 preview39:00 Coming up next: Tim Shanahan*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

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• Summer ‘25 Rewind: The missing link in reading comprehension, with Anne Lucas

  In this rewind episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, we revisit a Season 1 conversation between host Susan Lambert and Anne Lucas, former curriculum director and current Associate Vice President of Product, Literacy Suite Initiatives & Supplementals at Amplify  on the complexities of reading comprehension.Together they dive into the complex nature of comprehension and why it’s so difficult to teach. Show notes:Access free, high-quality resources at our brand new, companion professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning  Resources:Read: Understanding and Teaching Reading Comprehension by Jane OakhillRead: The missing link in comprehension white paperListen: Science of Reading Essentials: WritingJoin our community Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/scienceofreadingConnect with Susan Lambert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-lambert-edd-b1512761/Find our more information – and register – for our Science of Reading Summer Learning Series: https://amplify.com/sorsummerlearning Quotes:“We often think about comprehension as a product, or something that happens after kids read, but … the ability for a student to build a model or a network of ideas or a picture in their mind happens while they're reading.” —Anne Lucas“You know, you don't have to completely change your curriculum; you don't have to completely change the way you're teaching.” —Anne Lucas“Comprehension is making sense and meaning while you read, so you have the ability to discuss, analyze, and form an opinion about something after you read it.” —Anne LucasEpisode timestamps*03:00 Introduction: Who is Anne Lucas?07:00 Defining comprehension09:00 The missing link in comprehension10:00 Comprehension micro skills vs decoding14:00 End goal vs. process16:00 Current research18:00 Significance of “small” words20:00 Targeting micro skills in the classroom22:00 Comprehension skills vs strategies27:00 Teacher response to learning about micro skills29:00 Background knowledge31:00 Final takeaways on comprehension*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

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• Unlocking reading: Comprehension strategies vs. knowledge building, with Daniel Willingham, Ph.D.

  In this episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert welcomes back researcher and author Daniel Willingham, Ph.D., to discuss reading comprehension. With only so much instruction time in the day and research supporting both comprehension strategies and knowledge building, it can be tough to know what to prioritize in the classroom. Daniel holds nothing back in outlining exactly where educators should focus their time. Together, he and Susan explore the limitations of comprehension strategies, the place for critical thinking skills in relationship to knowledge, and recognizing when messaging around knowledge has gone too far.Show notes:Access free, high-quality resources at our brand new companion professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning  Resources:Read: Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking: The Knowledge Revival, multiple authorsRead: Raising Kids Who Read, Daniel WillinghamRead: The Reading Mind, Daniel WillinghamListen: The basic science in reading instruction, with Daniel WillinghamListen: Background knowledge, with Susan Neuman Listen: ​​Research, comprehension, and content-rich literacy instruction: Sonia CabellJoin our community Facebook groupConnect with Susan LambertQuotes:“Your brain is really good at only bringing out the information from long-term memory that is relevant for the context. All of that's happening outside of awareness.”  —Daniel Willingham, Ph.D.“When reading is really humming, when it's really working well, it's like visual perception. You're just enjoying the view and you're oblivious to all of the cognitive machinery in the background that's letting you see.”  —Daniel Willingham, Ph.D.“Expecting that knowledge-rich curriculum is going to solve all problems… that's [not] what a reading program is. No, a reading program is multifaceted and needs to have lots of components.”  —Daniel Willingham, Ph.D.“Knowledge accrues slowly and it's going to take a while. You need to be patient.”  —Daniel Willingham, Ph.D.Episode timestamps*2:00 Introduction: Who is Daniel Willingham?05:00 Knowledge and reading comprehension08:00 What it takes to be comfortable reading10:00 Academic or disciplinary knowledge11:00 Comprehension strategies20:00 Applications of knowledge that can be difficult to appreciate25:00 Inferences can be automatic26:00 Taking the “knowledge is important” message too far31:00 Critical thinking and knowledge building32:00 How to decide what knowledge is important to teach36:00 Book: Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking39:00 Final thoughts and advice*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

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• The truth behind learning, with Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D.

  In this episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert is joined by Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D. He’s a teacher, instructional coach, and author of the recent book Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement.  Emphasizing the science of learning as an ever-growing resource for updating instruction practices, he provides a comprehensive look at how knowledge powers learning, how to identify knowledge-rich curricula, how cognitive load affects learning, and how to understand several common learning misconceptions. Show notes:Access free, high-quality resources at our brand-new companion professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning  Connect with Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D.: Website: nathanielswain.comResources:Book: Harnessing the Science of LearningThink Forward EducatorsDeans for ImpactListen: Chalk Dust Join our community Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/scienceofreadingConnect with Susan Lambert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-lambert-edd-b1512761/Quotes:“The greatest thing about the science of learning is that it's never really gonna be finished. Much like the science of reading, it's constantly being updated and it's something that we should be constantly turning to.” –Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D.“When we have knowledge at our fingertips—or in this case, in our synapses—ready to be used, we can overcome all these limitations that cognitive load theory talks about.” –Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D.“We're kidding ourselves a little bit if we think that we can replace that rich content knowledge with generic skills and generic competencies.” –Nathaniel Swain, Ph.D.Episode timestamps*02:00 Introduction: Who is Nathaniel Swain?03:00 Science of learning book11:00 Knowledge powers all learning15:00 Addressing common learning myths18:00 Knowledge retrieval21:00 Misconception: Productive struggle22:00 Misconception: “Preparing students for the 21st century”26:00 Enriching schema29:00 Background knowledge and confirmation bias30:00 Knowledge rich curriculum32:00 Knowledge that is manageable and achievable37:00 Skills AND knowledge44:00 Chalk Dust podcast45:00 Final thoughts and advice*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

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• Science of Reading Essentials: Writing

  In this special Science of Reading Essentials episode, Susan Lambert pulls from past episodes of the podcast to give you everything you need to know about science-based writing instruction. Experts include Steve Graham, Ed.D.; Young-Suk Grace Kim, Ed.D.; Natalie Wexler; and Judith Hochman, Ed.D. Listeners will walk away from this episode with a solid foundation for creating a classroom of confident and capable writers, and gain a better understanding of the connection between reading and writing, the role of handwriting and spelling, the power of sentences, and the importance of applying cognitive load theory to writing.Show notes:ResourcesAccess the listening guide—and other free, high-quality resources—at our brand new professional learning page: http://amplify.com/science-of-reading/professional-learning Join our community Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/scienceofreadingQuotes:“This is not learned by osmosis. And it's not learned by vague feedback, like, ‘make it better’ or ‘add more details.’ You've got to be very granular.” —Judith Hochman, Ed.D. "What we see with exceptional teachers is they have their kids write." —Steve Graham, Ed.D.“The Science of Reading encapsulates decades of research about both reading and writing—because if writing was never invented, we would not have to teach kids how to read.” —Susan LambertEpisode timestamps*02:00 The importance of writing05:00 Mental models: Understand reading and writing, with Young-Suk Grace Kim10:00 Handwriting and spelling, with Steve Graham16:00 The power of sentences, with Judith Hochman21:00 3 ways of thinking about the reading and writing connection, with Steve Graham21:00 Shared knowledge23:00 Rhetorical relations25:00 Functional approach26:00 Learning science and cognitive load theory, with Natalie Wexler30:00 Final thoughts, tips, and encouragement*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

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