Ep. 110 - What Is the Science of Math and Why Does It Matter? // Nathan King

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