Why Syntax Matters: The Hidden Key to Reading Comprehension

During this EDVIEW360 podcast, we sit down with Dr. Julie Van Dyke, a leading psycholinguist whose research has transformed our understanding of how students build meaning from text. While many learners can decode accurately, Dr. Van Dyke explains why comprehension often breaks down—and why syntax, the way words combine to create meaning, is one of the most overlooked foundations of skilled reading.

Drawing on decades of cognitive science, Dr. Van Dyke unpacks how students process sentences in real time, what happens when syntactic demands exceed their language skills, and why strengthening sentence‑level understanding is essential for deep comprehension. She also connects these insights directly to classroom practice, offering clear guidance about how educators can support students who struggle with complex text.

Dr. Van Dyke will discuss intervention: What it must include, why traditional approaches often miss the mark, and how educators can design supports that build syntactic awareness, vocabulary, and background knowledge alongside decoding. Dr. Van Dyke highlights practical strategies educators can use to help students navigate challenging sentences, make sense of academic language, and ultimately become more confident, capable readers.

Whether you teach early grades, support adolescent learners, or lead district-wide literacy initiatives, this episode will deepen your understanding of how comprehension works—and how targeted, evidence-aligned instruction and intervention can change outcomes for students who need it most.