Keynote: What Reading wars? Making Progress Amidst the Crossfire.

In this presentation, Pamela Snow discusses the findings of Project Follow Through, a large-scale educational experiment conducted in the US in the 1960s and 70s. The study found that direct instruction produced the best outcomes for at-risk children across basic academic skills, problem-solving skills, and self-esteem.

However, these findings were not widely adopted due to political and ideological reasons, leading to the persistence of pseudoscience and neuromyths in education.

Snow encourages teachers to become more literate in learning and reading science, to critically appraise research, and to join communities of practice to share best practices and continue learning.