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Karen Tzanetopoulos, M.S., CCC-SLP
Co-author: How Children Learn Math: The Science of Math Learning in Research and Practice (Routledge, 2023)
Current Research: Two-year National Science Foundation Grant from NC State University, Conversations Across Boundaries. Karen is one of 24 math-learning experts invited to debate different approaches to math instruction, including cognitive research, education research, and explicit instruction vs. exploration/inquiry approaches.
Owner: Learning to Full Potential, LLC
Karen is an expert in:
- The cognitive processes of learning math based on the most recent scientific research which leads to improved math instruction for all students.
- The impact of language in learning math and how to modify language to improve math understanding easily.
- The science of reading and structured literacy.
Currently, Karen:
- Greatly enjoys providing training to teachers in a variety of schools on how to improve math instruction for greater student success.
- Loves providing in-person and online instruction to students who struggle with math and reading. It brings her great joy to watch them learn, gain confidence and succeed.
- Speaks at international, national, and regional conferences on improving math instruction and literacy.
- Is a podcast guest and author of journal articles.
Karen’s background includes:
- Working as a speech and language pathologist in a neurosurgical hospital which helped her understand the brain.
- Working as an SLP in public schools.
- 3 National Science Foundation grants.
- Co-author of How Children Learn Math: The Science of Math Learning in Research and Practice (Routledge, 2023).
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Professional Development on how to incorporate the latest cognitive research into daily math instruction with any math curriculum.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Karen provides in-person and online professional development for teachers, math interventionists, and parents on how to build foundational math skills from pre-K through pre-algebra, based in the cognitive science of how children learn math.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT INSTRUCTION
Math
Karen brings unique and expert knowledge to helping struggling students learn math. She helps students in all grades catch up on foundational skills and teaches math in a way that is much easier to understand and learn. Karen works with students from the earliest grades through pre-algebra and algebra.
Reading, Spelling and Writing
Karen uses structured literacy to teach reading, spelling, and writing, specifically a speech to print approach. Many schools use a leveled literacy approach which is insufficient for children with most reading disorders, thus leaving many students to struggle unnecessarily.
SPEAKING
Karen is an experienced and well-received presenter on the pedogogy of math instruction.
RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
As a result of Karen’s research and expertise in the role of language in learning math and in the science of math learning, she has been invited to speak at a variety of conferences and conventions.
Upcoming conference presentations:
- Big Sky Literacy Summit 2025
Recently Karen has presented at:
- International Dyslexia Association DyslexiaCon 2023 and 2024
- International Dyslexia Association - Rocky Mountain Branch 2023 and 2024
- Illinois Speech Language Association 2023
How Children Learn Math: The Science of Math Learning in Research and Practice
by Nancy Krasa, Karen Tzanetopolous, and Colleen Maas
Written for pre-service and in-service teachers, parents, and grandparents of children in pre-school through grade 6, this book connects research in cognitive development and math education to offer an easily understood and practical introduction to the science of math learning. It is the first book to review the cognitive research on how children learn math and includes practical activities and strategies to help children develop their math brain from early childhood.
Podcast: Karen Tzanetopoulos on the Science of Math Learning in Research and Practice
"In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Karen spoke with host Brendan Lee, sharing how she started working out of an office that was like a janitor’s closet to quietly do her own structured literacy with students and how her interest in math began while working in the public schools, as she observed that many of her students with language disorders also struggled to learn math and then she made a connection between the two."
Article: Five Ways To Start Teaching Fractions
"Following on from last year’s successful series of blog articles on 5 ways to implement the science of reading, this year experts will be providing ready-to-use tips on the science of maths....The second blog post of the series comes from Karen Tzanetopoulos, co-author of the book, “How Children Learn Math: The Science of Math Learning in Research and Practice” (2023)."
Karen's Latest News
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National Science Foundation Grant Awarded
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New Journal Publication: Learning Difficulties Australia
KAREN TZANETOPOULOS, M.S., CCC-SLP
LEARNING TO FULL POTENTIAL, LLC
Math and Language Therapy and Speaking Nationwide
