A Vanderbilt University research project working to identify the role language comprehension plays in math problem-solving and reading comprehension will continue its work thanks to a four-year, $2.5 million grant by the 鈥檚 .
The research, which is being conducted at Vanderbilt鈥檚 of education and human development, represents one of four s established by the NIH in 2012 to address the causes, symptoms and treatments of learning disabilities affecting reading, writing and mathematics.
鈥淢ath problem-solving is the single best school-age predictor of success in the marketplace in adult life because it simultaneously reflects math skill, problem skill and reading comprehension,鈥� said co-principal investigator , Dunn Family Professor of Psychoeducational Assessment. 鈥淩eading comprehension represents a pivotal form of competence for success in school and life.鈥�
Fuchs and her colleagues are working to identify what connects math problem-solving to reading comprehension, with a focus on the needs of non-native English speakers.
鈥淟anguage comprehension is the most likely connection between these critical two areas of school performance,鈥� Fuchs said. 鈥淲e want to increase understanding about the specific ways that math problem-solving and reading comprehension are connected via language comprehension in order to see if work in one domain may simultaneously improve performance in the other domains.鈥�
Fuchs said schools have difficulty finding time to provide intensive support for both math and reading; and in most cases, reading usually gets priority. Research shows direct skills instruction, as an approach to teach children with learning disabilities, fails to meet the needs of many students with learning disabilities.
鈥淲e will work to structure an innovative approach that embeds language comprehension into math problem-solving and reading comprehension instruction,鈥� Fuchs said. 鈥淲e will look to see if improvement in language comprehension explains improvement in both areas of academic performance. If so, embedded language comprehension instruction in one area may prove successful for producing effects on both outcomes.鈥�
Additional members of Peabody鈥檚 trans-disciplinary team, and their specialties, are:
- , Nicholas Hobbs Professor of Special Education (reading comprehension);
- , Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Special Education (cognitive neuroscience and reading comprehension);
- , associate professor of literacy instruction (reading and English language learners); and
- Pamela M. Seethaler, research associate (special education).
There聽are four LD Hubs. They are located at Vanderbilt鈥檚 Peabody College, Georgia State University, Ohio State University and University of California, San Diego.