A Professor of Psychology at Temple University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Hirsh-Pasek was declared a “scientific entrepreneur” by the American Association of Psychology. Writing 14 books and 250+ publications, her Einstein Never Used Flashcards won the Book for a Better Life Award in 2003 with her Becoming Brilliant (2016) reaching the NYTimes Best Sellers List in education. Co-founder of the global Learning Science Exchange Fellowship, she brings together scientists, journalists, policy makers and entertainers, to put learning science in the hands of educators. Her newest initiative Playful Learning Landscapes re-imagines cities and public squares as places with science infused designs that enhance academic and social opportunities. Read her newest book Making Schools Work: Bringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice (2022) co-written by teachers, school administrators and scientists to bring about joyful teaching and deeper learning.
“Following the science to end the reading wars: A false dichotomy won’t help Johnny read” – Brookings Institute, December 7, 2023
“Two out of every three students in the United States are not proficient readers. This was the headline that ricocheted across the United States in 2022 and 2023 following the release of the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Just 33% of fourth graders met or exceeded proficiency on a test of their reading skills, while 37% of fourth graders performed below the basic level on the same assessment. Recognizing that NAEP proficiency is not equivalent to grade-level proficiency but a higher standard, most fourth graders still struggled with deeper critical thinking about texts.” READ MORE…
“S5 Ep7: Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University” – Remaking Tomorrow Podcast, November 14, 2023
Kathy joined the podcast “Remaking of Tomorrow” to discuss the importance of empowering communities to make public spaces into playful learning spaces. LISTEN HERE…
“Episode 266: Why we learn best through play, with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD” – Speaking of Psychology, APA Podcast, December 13, 2023
“Playtime isn’t just for fun—psychologists who study children’s learning have found that kids learn best through play. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, of Temple University, talks about why kids need playtime, what playful learning looks like in a classroom, how technology is changing children’s play, why adults need recess too, and what parents can do to encourage more play in their kids’ lives.” LISTEN HERE…
“Smart toys pose potential risk with the data they gather” – WAAY TV, December 7, 2023
“Artificial intelligence enabled smart toys may be improperly collecting and storing children’s information, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.Temple University’s Paul R. Anderson Distinguished Chair Professor of Statistics, Operations and Data Science Subodha Kumar says many AI-enabled toys collect audio and video data.” READ MORE…
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Kathy's work appears in news publications around the world.
Check out some of the latest...
“Following the science to end the reading wars: A false dichotomy won’t help Johnny read” – Brookings Institute, December 7, 2023
“Two out of every three students in the United States are not proficient readers. This was the headline that ricocheted across the United States in 2022 and 2023 following the release of the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Just 33% of fourth graders met or exceeded proficiency on a test of their […]
Read full story >
“S5 Ep7: Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University” – Remaking Tomorrow Podcast, November 14, 2023
Kathy joined the podcast “Remaking of Tomorrow” to discuss the importance of empowering communities to make public spaces into playful learning spaces. LISTEN HERE…
Read full story >
“Episode 266: Why we learn best through play, with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD” – Speaking of Psychology, APA Podcast, December 13, 2023
“Playtime isn’t just for fun—psychologists who study children’s learning have found that kids learn best through play. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, of Temple University, talks about why kids need playtime, what playful learning looks like in a classroom, how technology is changing children’s play, why adults need recess too, and what parents can do to encourage […]
Read full story >
Some of Kathy's books include:
Making Schools WorkBringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice
User’s Manual for the Quick Interactive Language Screener™: English–Spanish (QUILS™: ES)A Measure of Vocabulary, Syntax, and Language Acquisition Skills in Young Bilingual Children
User’s Manual for the Quick Interactive Language Screener™ (QUILS™)A measure of Vocabulary, Syntax, and Language Acquisition Skills in Young Children
Becoming Brilliant:What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children
A Mandate for Playful Learning in Preschool:Presenting the Evidence
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Kathy is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, where she contributes articles to her Blog on a regular basis.