Literacy & Numeracy

Watch

• Math isn't hard, it's a language | Randy Palisoc | TEDxManhattanBeach ↗TEDx Talks
• Financial Literacy - Full Video ↗izzitEDU
• Why the UK has a problem with maths | FT Film ↗Financial Times

Read

• Reading in the Brain: The New Science of How We Read ↗This neuroscientific exploration deciphers the brain's intricate mechanisms for reading, offering profound insights into how this fundamental skill is acquired and processed.Stanislas Dehaene
• The Number Sense: How the Mind Creates Mathematics ↗A companion to his work on reading, this book illuminates the innate human capacity for numerical understanding and how it forms the bedrock of mathematical thought.Stanislas Dehaene
• The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains ↗A trenchant critique of digital media's impact on deep reading and sustained concentration, essential for understanding contemporary challenges to critical literacy.Nicholas Carr
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed ↗This seminal work posits literacy not merely as a technical skill but as a transformative tool for critical consciousness and social liberation, challenging conventional educational paradigms.Paulo Freire
• The Matthew Effect in Reading: Some Consequences of Individual Differences in the Acquisition of LiteracyThis influential paper elucidates how early disparities in reading proficiency compound over time, creating a widening gap in literacy development.Keith E. Stanovich
• Why Don't Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom ↗This accessible guide applies cognitive science principles to classroom practice, offering practical insights into how students learn and retain knowledge, crucial for effective literacy and numeracy instruction.Daniel T. Willingham

Voices to follow

• Maryanne Wolf ↗Her profound research into the neuroscience of reading offers critical insights into how the brain acquires literacy and the challenges faced by dyslexic learners.Director, Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice, UCLA
• Daniel Willingham ↗He distills complex cognitive science into accessible principles, guiding educators on effective strategies for teaching reading and critical thinking.Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia
• Sugata Mitra ↗His pioneering 'Hole in the Wall' experiments advocate for self-organised learning environments, challenging conventional wisdom on literacy and numeracy instruction.Professor Emeritus of Educational Technology, Newcastle University
• Nell K. Duke ↗A leading voice in early literacy, she provides evidence-based approaches to fostering reading comprehension and writing skills from the foundational years.Professor of Literacy, University of Michigan

Glossary

• ArithmeticArithmetic is the most basic part of mathematics, dealing with numbers and the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It's the foundation for all other math skills. For example, quickly calculating the total cost of three items you want to buy at the store is using arithmetic.
• Critical ThinkingCritical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively, identify different viewpoints, and form your own reasoned judgments instead of just accepting things at face value. It means asking questions and evaluating evidence. For example, if you read an advertisement and think about whether the claims are truly realistic or just trying to persuade you, you are using critical thinking.
• Data InterpretationData interpretation is the ability to understand and explain information presented in charts, graphs, tables, or other forms of data. It means you can spot trends, draw conclusions, and make sense of what the numbers or facts are telling you. For example, looking at a graph showing how many students prefer different sports and then explaining which sport is most popular is data interpretation.
• GrammarGrammar is the set of rules for how words are put together to form correct sentences and phrases in a language. It helps make your writing and speaking clear and easy for others to understand. For example, knowing that "I went to the store" is correct, but "Me went to the store" is not, shows an understanding of basic grammar.
• LiteracyLiteracy is the ability to read, write, and understand what you read and write. It means you can use language to learn, communicate, and make sense of the world around you. For example, being able to read a news article, understand its main points, and then write a summary about it shows good literacy.
• NumeracyNumeracy is the ability to understand and use numbers and basic math in everyday life. It helps you solve problems and make decisions using mathematical ideas. For example, calculating how much money you need to save each week to buy a new video game by a certain date shows good numeracy.
• Problem-SolvingProblem-solving is the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. It involves understanding the problem, planning steps to tackle it, and then carrying out those steps to reach a solution. For example, figuring out the most efficient route to deliver newspapers to all houses on your street is a problem-solving task.
• Reading ComprehensionReading comprehension is your ability to understand the meaning of what you read, not just recognizing the words. It means you can grasp the main ideas, details, and even the author's purpose. For example, after reading a chapter in your history textbook, if you can explain the causes and effects of a historical event, you have good reading comprehension.
• VocabularyVocabulary is the collection of words you know and understand. Having a strong vocabulary means you have many words at your disposal to read, write, and speak more precisely and effectively. For example, if you know the difference between "happy," "joyful," and "ecstatic," you have a richer vocabulary for describing feelings.
• Writing SkillsWriting skills are your ability to clearly and effectively express your thoughts, ideas, and information in written form. This includes organizing your ideas, using correct grammar, and choosing the right words. For example, when you write an essay that clearly explains your opinion on a topic and uses good arguments, you are showing strong writing skills.

Threads 3

Where this connects to other fields, and why it's worth knowing.

• Linguistics Literature

  A few languages have no exact word for numbers like 'seven,' only vague words like 'a few' and 'many.' People who speak them struggle to line up seven objects against seven others. That's a strong clue that counting isn't something we're born knowing; it rides in on the words your culture gives you.

• Neuroscience Psychology

  When you learned to read, your brain didn't grow a new reading part, it stole one. A patch of visual cortex that evolved to recognize faces and objects gets hijacked to recognize letters instead. That's why a reading brain and a non-reading brain are physically wired differently: culture reached in and repurposed the hardware.

• Philosophy of Technology Philosophy

  Learning to read doesn't just fill your head with facts, it rewires how you think. People from spoken-word cultures and people raised on reading actually reason differently, with readers leaning more abstract. So when a kid learns to read, you're not just loading them with information, you're changing the very machinery of their mind.