Dyslexia and the Science of Reading with Maryanne Wolf

“The earlier the intervention, the better the results for that child over time,” says Dr. Maryanne Wolf about dyslexia screenings in Episode 9 of All for Literacy with host Dr. Liz Brooke. The wide-reaching conversation is detailed, rooted in science, and sure to enlighten educators, administrators, and parents about the science of reading.

In this episode, exploring the importance of early screenings for dyslexia is just the beginning of the insight-packed conversation with Brooke and Wolf. They also discuss:

• Wolf’s work connecting the science of reading with balanced literacy
• Using neuroscience to understand what the brain is doing at different times and how that allows or impedes development
• The positive and negative shifts created by the rise of digital media
• What parents and educators should consider regarding digital literacy tools

Wolf is director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and the author of several books including Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World. 

Listen to Episode 9 of All for Literacy to boost your scientific understanding of literacy and the brain, dyslexia, and digital media. 

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Episode Breakdown

(01:07) - How a love of literature led to a love of literacy

(04:40) - Wolf’s first literacy studies

(11:43) - Connecting the science of reading with balanced literacy

(19:48) - Neuroscience and the reading brain

(28:01) - The rise of digital media

(33:55) - The positives of digital literacy

(42:15) - Importance of early dyslexia screenings

(52:05) - Dyslexia and the brain

(58:22) - The future of the reading brain