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Words Do the Math: Connecting Language & Literacy to Math in PreK-3
Thursday, May 14, 2026 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kateri Thunder, Ph.D., Educator, Researcher, Author, and Coach
Sponsored by Sadlier
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Math is often thought of as the subject where words get out of the way and numbers do the talking. But research tells a different story.
Language is at the heart of mathematical thinking and doing. From reading and interpreting a problem to reasoning through a solution to defending an answer to a peer, every step of the mathematical process depends on a learner’s ability to engage with language purposefully and confidently.
In this edWebinar, Dr. Kateri Thunder explores what decades of research tell us about the critical role language plays in mathematical problem solving. Educators walk away with a deeper understanding of how literacy skills and mathematical practices are deeply intertwined and what that means for classroom instruction.
Viewers explore:
- Why mathematical proficiency requires far more than computational skill
- How contextualized language, multiple representations, and mathematical discourse deepen conceptual understanding for every learner
- What research-backed routines look like when language is treated as a tool for mathematical thinking
- How structured language supports open access to math for all students, including early readers and English learners
Whether you teach kindergartners just learning to read or third graders tackling complex problem solving, this session reshapes the way you think about language in your math classroom. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-3 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenter
Kateri Thunder, Ph.D., is an educator, researcher, author, and coach who collaborates with learners and educators around the world to translate research into practice. Her work centers on equity and access in education, with a strong focus on teaching and learning at the intersection of literacy and mathematics. Dr. Thunder is a best-selling author for Corwin, including Visible Learning in Early Childhood and The Early Childhood Education Playbook, and she regularly presents on research-based instructional practices that support young learners. She collaborates with William H. Sadlier, Inc. as a consultant, contributing to the development of research-based instructional programs and playing a pivotal role in the creation of Sadlier PreK with Wiley Blevins, as well as the Progress in Mathematics series. She is also the author of Math Foundations, a collection within the Sadlier Decode & Discover Series, featuring decodable texts for Grades K–2 that integrate early literacy and mathematics learning.
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