Bethany Rittle-Johnson
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Galvanizing Impact: Vanderbilt’s Catalyst Grants fuel research
At Vanderbilt, research doesn’t just live in the lab. It moves into the world in the shape of new tools, treatments and technologies that improve lives, support communities and expand what’s possible. Read MoreNov 11, 2025
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Peabody’s federally funded research: Building knowledge to help children and families thrive
By Jenna Somers When parents need answers about their child’s cognitive and emotional development or mental health, they may first ask the child’s pediatrician or a specialist. The parents may find the help they seek, or the doctor might say something like, “The research isn’t clear on that yet.” Scientific… Read MoreMay 13, 2025
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Metacognitive-driven “exit tickets” could improve high school math performance, unlock STEM pathways
By Jennifer Kiilerich More than 60 percent of American students aged 12-18 are interested in a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to a 2023 Walton Family Foundation survey. On the road to a life in STEM, proficiency in high school math has been identified by researchers as… Read MoreMar 6, 2025
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Can a board game’s layout teach children essential math skills?
By Jenna Somers Many young children struggle in math due to difficulty in understanding place value and calculating with two-digit numbers. But would the burden of learning these foundational concepts ease if they were introduced to children through the fun of playing a board game? A multi-institutional research team, including… Read MoreFeb 17, 2025
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Toward inclusive math education: insights from Black students may support more effective teaching strategies
By Jenna Somers A recent study finds that Black high-school students tend not to believe that their teachers are adequately prepared to teach them math in appropriate ways, have negative perceptions of their math ability, and lack awareness about the intersection between math and their desired careers. Published in… Read MoreSep 30, 2024
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Bridging cultures, enhancing lives: the impact of Peabody’s global outreach
By Jenna Somers Scholars at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development travel across oceans and borders to answer pressing questions on improving the human condition, a mission shared by scholars the world over who collaborate in partnership with Peabody. To strengthen this mission and advance Peabody’s global… Read MoreAug 20, 2024
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Peabody faculty and alumna honored at AERA annual meeting
Ilana Horn Bethany Rittle-Johnson Chezare Warren Mariah Harmon Following Ilana Horn’s selection earlier this year as a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, she was inducted on Friday, April 12, at the AERA 2024 annual meeting… Read MoreApr 15, 2024
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Peabody College hosts Turkish scholar Serkan Özel through Vanderbilt’s Global Scholars in Residence program
By Jenna Somers Bethany Rittle-Johnson (Vanderbilt University) Bethany Rittle-Johnson, professor of psychology at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, recently hosted visiting scholar Serkan Özel through Vanderbilt’s Global Scholars in Residence program. Özel is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics… Read MoreFeb 14, 2024
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Peabody researchers receive funding to launch data science challenges to improve education
By Jenna Somers ChatGPT is here to stay, and educators need to adapt to their students using it—at least, that’s what news headlines have suggested for almost a year following ChatGPT’s unveiling. Much of the coverage has given voice to worries about the possibility that AI will hinder learning… Read MoreOct 19, 2023
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Value-Added Mentorship
Bethany Rittle-Johnson’s 20 years of investigating how to improve learning outcomes for students, particularly in mathematics, has launched a new generation of scholars pursuing similar lines of inquiry. Read MoreNov 8, 2019
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Early math knowledge related to later achievement
Findings will inform educators and school administrators developing curricula for the early years. Read MoreDec 6, 2016
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Study: Self-explanations don’t always enhance math learning
New research from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College looks at the constraints of a popular teaching practice. Read MoreAug 26, 2016
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MEDIA TIP SHEET: Experts available on education policy topics
As Tennessee lawmakers begin the 2016 legislative session Jan. 12, Peabody College has a wealth of experts available to speak to the press. Read MoreJan 11, 2016
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TIP SHEET: Vanderbilt experts available for back-to-school stories
Topics range from pre-K to post-secondary education. Read MoreAug 6, 2015
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Common Core math should include ‘pattern abstraction’
Exposing preschoolers to patterning activities builds the foundation for early math skills. Read MoreMar 18, 2015
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Abstract language may help preschoolers grasp early math concepts
Minor differences in language can have a large effect on how children think about learning materials, including the objects that make up a pattern. Read MoreFeb 3, 2015