S10 E9: From research to reality: Breaking down comprehension barriers, with Phil Capin, Ph.D.

In this episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert is joined by Phil Capin, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. They explore why recommended reading comprehension practices aren't widely implemented in schools, and what educators can do to change that. Together, they also discuss how knowledge building is foundational to reading comprehension, how writing is a powerful tool in supporting reading comprehension, and why we should structure reading instruction based on what happens before, during, and after reading. Show notes: Submit your questions on comprehension: Access free resources at our professional learning page: Connect with Phil Capin: Read Hugh Catts' article, "Rethinking How to Promote Reading Comprehension": Read Catherine Snow's article, "Reading for Understanding": Learn more about Dolores Durkin's report, "What Classroom Observations Reveal about Reading Comprehension Instruction": Read How People Learn : Listen to the podcast episode with Nancy Hennessy: Listen to Season 2 of Amplify's Beyond My Years podcast: Join our Facebook community: Quotes: "We've underestimated the value of writing in supporting reading comprehension." —Phil Capin, Ph.D. "Reading and writing rely on a lot of the same language processes, and writing supports the consolidation of knowledge." —Phil Capin, Ph.D. "Students should engage with meaningful problems, and they should have a reason for learning." —Phil Capin, Ph.D. Timestamps* : 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Phil Capin's career path 08:00 Reading comprehension is the byproduct of a constellation of competencies 11:00 The complexity of comprehension 16:00 Dolores Durkin's findings on comprehension testing vs. teaching 22:00 Students should engage with meaningful problems 24:00 Comprehension instruction is organized by before, during, and after reading. 27:00 The value of writing for comprehension 31:00 Where comprehension strategies could be helpful 39:00 How much time should teachers dedicate to strategy instruction? 41:00 The strongest predictor of whether you're going to understand the text is the knowledge you bring. 46:00 Every teacher is a reading teacher 48:00 Closing thoughts *Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

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S10 E9: From research to reality: Breaking down comprehension barriers, with Phil Capin, Ph.D. is an episode from Science of Reading: The Podcast by Amplify Education.

This episode is 51:59 long.

This episode was published on Jan 14, 2026.

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