When the Science of Reading Meets the Science of Motivation

The So Cal Tri-Counties Branch of the International Dyslexia Association presents a symposium for educators and parents.
About this Event

The Science of Reading provides an essential roadmap for what and how to teach literacy. However, even the most robust evidence-based practices can fall short if a student becomes chronically disengaged. Drawing on a rich intersection of cognitive science, motivation science, and intervention research, this keynote explores how targeted motivational principles can be integrated into a structured literacy framework.

This session introduces a framework for understanding student motivation, moving beyond superficial extrinsic rewards to address the root causes of task avoidance and withdrawal. Crucial to this approach is leveraging neuroscientific evidence on the reading brain’s neuroplasticity. By explicitly teaching students about the malleability of their own reading circuitry and utilizing growth-mindset-oriented teacher talk, educators can cultivate a psychological environment that fosters challenge-seeking and persistence. Finally, translating theory into practice, recent intervention data will illustrate how these integrated principles empower students to endure the rigor of literacy acquisition and achieve lasting reading success.