Ep. 110 - What Is the Science of Math and Why Does It Matter? // Nathan King
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Show Notes
There is a new term making its way through the education world right now — and researchers say it could change how we teach math the way the science of reading changed how we teach kids to read. Christy-Faith and Nathan King of CTC Math unpack the Science of Math movement and what it means for your homeschool.
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In this episode, you'll learn:
- What the Science of Math is and why it's gaining momentum now
- How it parallels the science of reading — and what that means for your homeschool
- What explicit instruction is and why the research supports it
- Why so many kids (and moms) develop math anxiety
- The difference between mastery-based and spiral math curricula
- Why homeschool families already have a built-in edge
- What math automaticity is and why it matters
- How to evaluate a homeschool math curriculum based on research, not marketing
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Resources Mentioned:
Education Week — "Debates Over Math Teaching Are Heating Up" (January 2026)
The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providers
Thrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith's membership community for homeschool moms
Other episodes for you:
From Struggle to Success: Building Confidence in Math with Pat Murray
What I Wish I Knew Before Buying Homeschool Curriculum
Is It a Learning Disability, a Skill Gap, or Something Else?
Connect with Christy-Faith:
Instagram — @christy_faith_homeschool
TikTok — @christy_faith
Website
Homeschool Rising — my book
⭐ Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!
- (00:00) - Introduction: The Science of Math
- (02:23) - Meet Nathan King of CTC Math
- (04:55) - What Is the Science of Math?
- (07:33) - Science of Math vs. Science of Reading
- (13:03) - What Ideal Math Instruction Looks Like
- (19:07) - What This Means for Your Homeschool
- (26:37) - Mastery vs. Spiral — What Every Parent Should Know
- (31:22) - Why Homeschoolers Have the Edge
- (32:38) - Fun vs. Effective: The Edutainment Question
- (39:55) - Why Math Automaticity Still Matters