Why does learning to read come easily for some students but feel like an uphill battle for others? Can the science of the brain teach us how to better support young readers in this effort?

This week, we’re sharing an episode from Stanford’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute’s podcast From Our Neurons to Yours, hosted by Nicholas Weiler. Originally released in August 2025, this episode features Stanford Graduate School of Education professor Bruce McCandliss, who studies how the brain learns to read. He explores how reading reshapes the brain, why some students struggle to reach fluency, and what educators can do to support that process. McCandliss covers several topics, including:

• (01:28) How the brain learns to read
• (07:12) How reading reshapes the brain and builds expertise
• (12:43) Word recognition, phonics, and the path to fluency
• (19:05) Why some students struggle
• (29:28) What educators can do: instruction, support, and outcomes

Bruce McCandliss is The Pigott Family Graduate School of Education Professor and a leader of the Stanford Educational Neuroscience Initiative. His research focuses on how the brain learns to read and how insights from neuroscience can inform classroom instruction and educational practice. Learn more about his work on his faculty profile.

From Our Neurons to Yours explores the frontiers of brain science and brings listeners into conversations with researchers studying how the brain shapes how we think, learn, and experience the world. Learn more about this episode on the show’s website.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

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Growth mindset is everywhere, but does it really work? Can we turn buzzwords into lasting change in education?

On this episode of School’s In, Dan and Denise sit down with Stanford Professor Eric Bettinger to explore the research and real-world applications of growth mindset. They dive into what a growth mindset is, what kinds of interventions work, and how those lessons can help students succeed. Bettinger shares evidence from a large-scale study in Norway that reveals surprising long-term benefits for students exposed to growth mindset concepts. He covers several topics, including:

1. (03:47) Inside the growth mindset study
2. (08:53) Long-term impact: Tracking students over time
3. (13:11) The support system behind lasting change
4. (17:25) AI, the easy button, and growth mindset
5. (20:04) Measuring growth beyond the classroom
6. (25:50) Takeaways for parents and teachers

Eric Bettinger is the Conley DeAngelis Family Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. His research focuses on improving educational outcomes for students, particularly through the lens of economics, decision-making, and policy design. He has conducted extensive research on college success, financial aid, and interventions like growth mindset. Learn more about his work on his faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What would it look like if pediatricians and early childhood educators worked hand in hand to prepare every child for kindergarten?

On this episode of School’s In, Dr. Lisa Chamberlain joins the hosts to explore how health and education systems can work together to support young children and their families. Drawing from her work as both a pediatrician and researcher, Dr. Chamberlain examines what kindergarten readiness means and how pediatric care can play a critical role in early learning and development. They cover several topics, including:

1. (02:59) The role of pediatricians: Beyond check-ups
2. (06:24) What does kindergarten readiness look like?
3. (11:00) Creating a learning environment: Innovations in clinics
4. (18:50) Funding and sharing data across systems
5. (24:17) A family-centered approach: Advice for parents and providers

Lisa Chamberlain is a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine and a practicing pediatrician. Her work focuses on early childhood development, health equity, and improving policies and systems of care for children and families. Through research and practice, she explores how healthcare settings can better support learning, development, and family well-being during the critical early years of life. Learn more about her work on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What do you really know about concussions? Can education increase self-reporting and help prevent long-term damage from brain injuries?

On this episode of School’s In, Dan and Denise are joined by Piya Sorcar, Adjunct Professor, Stanford School of Medicine and founder and CEO of TeachAids and Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and a concussion researcher. Together, they discuss concussion symptoms and treatment protocols, how to reach young people in ways that make them most receptive to learning about challenging health topics, and strategies for building partnerships and scaling public health initiatives about brain health for young athletes, parents, and educators. They cover several topics, including:

1. (04:25) What is a concussion? Understanding an invisible injury
2. (08:02) Creating CrashCourse: Education that engages and motivates
3. (12:04) The near-peer effect: Why kids trust other kids
4. (17:01) Proving it works: The science behind behavior change
5. (20:13) Scaling the impact
6. (23:46) Expert takeaways for parents and coaches

Piya Sorcar is an Adjunct Professor, Stanford School of Medicine and the founder and CEO of TeachAids, a nonprofit that creates research-based learning experiences to improve health outcomes. Daniel Daneshvar is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School whose research focuses on the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury and how to improve outcomes through education and intervention. CrashCourse, created by Sorcar's TeachAids with medical advisors including Daniel Daneshvar, delivers interactive concussion education for athletes, coaches, and parents.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What does truly inclusive education look like for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)?

On this episode of School’s In, Stanford Professor Chris Lemons joins us to explore the idea of “presumed competence” and how educators, schools, and school systems can better serve students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From outdated assumptions to promising classroom practices, Lemons breaks down what inclusion can, and should, look like. He covers several topics, including:

• (02:29) Understanding intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
• (04:05) Reading instruction approaches and interventions
• (08:48) Beyond high school: Pathways to college
• (18:01) Success stories: Employment and job training
• (21:59) The role of AI in special education

Chris Lemons is a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education whose research focuses on improving academic outcomes for children with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities. He is known for developing and evaluating reading interventions for students with down syndrome and other IDD. Before entering academia, Lemons taught in a range of special education settings, from preschool autism programs to middle school life-skills classrooms. Learn more about his work on his faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

Can edtech really teach kids to read? What works, what doesn’t, and what does the research say about tools for decoding versus comprehension?

On this episode of School’s In, Stanford Professor Rebecca Silverman joins us to explore how educational technology can meaningfully support reading development. From helping students learn to decode words to supporting deeper reading comprehension, she explains what the latest research tells us about what works and what doesn’t – and the dangers of over-gamification. She covers several topics, including:

1. (03:34) Differentiation: The promise of literacy edtech
2. (05:45) Games, motivation, and what the research says
3. (13:19) Decoding vs. comprehension, and why some skills are harder to teach with tech
4. (18:03) Effective strategies for teaching comprehension
5. (22:03) Practical takeaways for parents and educators

Rebecca Silverman is a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Her research explores how children learn to read and how educational tools can help improve literacy outcomes. She began her career as an elementary school teacher, and today her teaching emphasizes the importance of connecting research and classroom practice. Learn more about her work on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What does it mean to make an ethical decision in the classroom? And how can schools prepare for dilemmas that don’t have a single right answer?

On this episode of School’s In, we’re joined by Stanford GSE Professor Meira Levinson, a leader in the emerging field of educational ethics. She walks us through the complex terrain of real-world ethical decision-making in schools – where competing values, pressures, and priorities often collide. From everyday classroom challenges to district-wide decisions, Meira shares how the field of EdEthics can help educators and policymakers navigate those moments with greater clarity and confidence. She covers several topics, including:

• (02:57) Understanding ethical decisions in education
• (06:19) The need for a field of educational ethics
• (10:00) The myth of the value-free classroom
• (11:15) Case study: Ethical dilemmas in the classroom
• (18:56) Developing ethical frameworks for educators
• (24:22) Ethics as community practice: Advice for working through hard decisions together

Meira Levinson is a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education whose work focuses on civic education, justice, and the ethics of teaching and learning. She founded JusticeInSchools.org, a site that offers real-world ethical case studies for educators and policymakers. Levinson's current mission is to formally establish the field of educational ethics, aiming to bring clarity, conversation, and support to the morally complex world of schooling. Learn more about her work on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

Could the “word gap” be more myth than fact? Or is it a useful tool for understanding inequality in early childhood?

On this episode of School’s In, Stanford Assistant Professor Monica Ellwood-Lowe joins the show to unpack one of the most cited – and most debated – ideas in early childhood development: the so-called “word gap,” or idea that children from lower-income families hear fewer words than those from more affluent homes. She explains what the latest research says about the quantity and quality of early language exposure, the effects of structural and economic inequities on parental engagement, and how brain development might differ not because of what children lack, but because of how they adapt. She covers several topics, including:

• (03:07) The word gap: Origins and controversy
• (05:47) Do parents just need to talk more? How financial and structural stressors affect parental attention
• (13:55) Beyond “motherease”: Cultural differences in child language development
• (18:20) Parenting, pressure, and perspective

Monica Ellwood-Lowe is an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education. With a PhD in developmental psychology, she studies how the structure of society shapes caregiving and early child development. She dives into questions about children’s language and brain development that continue to drive her work today. Learn more on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.