How Children Learn: Insights from Cognitive Science

I’m a Franco-American cognitive scientist at the Collège de France, where I study how children’s brains learn during the early school years — especially in foundational subjects like reading and math. My research investigates how education shapes the developing brain, and how, in turn, the brain’s architecture places constraints on which teaching methods are most effective.

My book — Learn & Play

Learn & Play brings the Science of Reading directly into your home or classroom. As decades of reading research coalesce into a clear understanding of how children learn to read, this systematic phonics guide transforms evidence-based research into clear, actionable lessons.

Drawing from both my research and experience teaching my own children to read in English and French, I write this book to bridge the gap between cognitive science and practical application. The result is not another balanced literacy program masquerading as phonics, but rather a pure, systematic approach.

This comprehensive child’s reader makes the Science of Reading accessible and actionable. Give your child the gift of skilled reading through a method that’s: ✓ Aligned with current reading science ✓ Systematically structured ✓ Clear and implementable ✓ Designed for lasting results

Join the Science of Reading movement and give your child the proven path to reading success!

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Cassandra Potier Watkins PhD