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In this provocative and timely book, education writer Natalie Wexler argues that the best way to end the "reading wars" is to recognise that learning to read is inextricably linked to learning in general.
The science of reading movement has done much to improve instruction in foundational skills. But that hard-won progress may be reversed unless we also help children acquire the knowledge and vocabulary they need to understand complex text.
At the same time, the science of learning movement has introduced many educators to evidence-based teaching principles that can be effective for all students. In Beyond the Science of Reading, Wexler addresses a missing piece of the conversation: the ways in which typical reading comprehension and writing instruction conflicts with those principles.
Wexler also offers practical solutions for bringing science-informed literacy instruction to scale and reveals why:
Beyond the Science of Reading charts a bold path forward with a new way to equip all children to read with fluency, understanding, and joy. This is an essential resource for educators, policy makers, parents, and anyone who cares about the future of literacy and equity.
Front Matter
Chapters
References
About the Author
"Learning science is both complex and rapidly evolving. The knowledge it encompasses is essential for anyone concerned with education, but much of it is buried in research journals that are inaccessible to most educators. We need a superb communicator capable of intelligibly explaining complex issues. Natalie Wexler is that person. Her latest book is superb. If you need to know what learning science is currently saying about instructional issues, do not go past this book."
- John Sweller, emeritus professor of educational psychology School of Education, University of New South Wales
"Natalie Wexler makes a compelling case that America's reading crisis is actually a learning crisis. She argues that by expanding the science of reading to include knowledge-based literacy instruction and insights from cognitive science, we can improve not only reading outcomes but overall student learning. Educators stand to gain much from the numerous examples and references to how the science of learning can be effectively integrated into the curriculum."
- Hugh Catts, professor, Florida State University
"The field of education is sadly dominated by bad ideas. Teachers are trained in the opposite of what is true. Those who want to pursue what has become known as the science of learning are therefore a diffuse band of rebels sharing contraband sources across the internet. Now, Natalie Wexler has brought this hidden knowledge together in an accessible and punchy book written with fierce intelligence. Start here if you want to understand how cognitive science should be at the centre of the education project."
- Greg Ashman, writer, researcher, and deputy principal at Ballarat Clarendon College, Australia
"If you are looking for the best source for acquiring a full understanding of the science of reading, then Natalie Wexler's Beyond the Science of Reading is your book. It makes an eloquent case and lays out a plan for right-sizing phonics instruction, for accelerating knowledge acquisition, and for building effective, coherent curriculum. Wexler's recommendations would maximize intellectual engagement as they impart critical reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills—facilitated by the proven elements of high-quality, explicit instruction. If these things matter to you, read this book."
- Mike Schmoker, author of Results Now 2.0 and Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning
"Natalie Wexler offers a masterclass in why the reading debate is about more than just phonics or reading, why it matters, and how leaders can cut through the debate to help students learn far more than most do today. This book is a tutorial for anyone interested in this vital issue and a road map for policymakers who want to expand access to opportunity by giving people the gift and power of literacy."
- Andy Rotherham, Eduwonk.com, Bellwether, Virginia Board of Education
"It's about time that the science of how we learn was connected to how we learn to read! Reading, together with writing, is the basis for all further learning. Natalie Wexler makes this connection perfectly. We can only learn to read, and enjoy reading, if we heed the general principles of learning (the science of learning) and apply them to reading instruction within a content-rich environment. Both are prerequisites for successfully learning to read, and being able to read and understand is a precondition for being a knowledgeable and good citizen. This book is a large and important step toward science-informed reading instruction."
- Paul A. Kirschner, emeritus professor of educational psychology Open Universiteit, The Netherlands
"Natalie Wexler has a unique gift for synthesizing research, connecting it with classroom practice, and communicating why that intersection matters for teachers and students alike. Educators across the country credit her with opening their eyes to the important relationship between content knowledge and literacy. Her new book is a worthy sequel to The Knowledge Gap—and can help classroom teachers, parents, and policymakers connect the dots between literacy and the fascinating field of learning science."
- Barbara R. Davidson, president, StandardsWork, Inc. executive director, Knowledge Matters Campaign
"Natalie Wexler's latest book is an important and necessary reminder of the power of teaching knowledge. It's a vital part of learning to read and, by extension, a vital part of learning to learn."
- Daisy Christodoulou, director of education, No More Marking
"As we intentionally address our nation's stagnant literacy rates, we cannot afford to overlook a key element: the science of learning. Every child deserves a teacher who understands the integration of the science of reading and the science of learning. Natalie Wexler's book merges that schism; this book gives every teacher and school leader a user's guide to learning, memory, and cognition."
- Molly Ness, author and reading researcher
"Natalie Wexler makes a compelling and evidence-based case that knowledge building is an essential component of the science of reading and the science of learning and is the cause of educational equity. The great news is that teaching young children about the world is joyful and fun. Bring these insights to every elementary school in America, please!"
- Michael J. Petrilli, president, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
"Natalie Wexler brings her intellect, insights, and depth of knowledge to this brilliant book about what works in our schools, what doesn't, and why. It should be read by educators, policymakers, and anyone who cares about the dangerously low levels of literacy in the United States. Even after decades as a teacher and an administrator, I learned something new or found something to think about more deeply on every page. This book addresses our reading and learning crises—in terms of history, current challenges, and proposed solutions—as clearly and persuasively as anything I've read."
- Judith Hochman, coauthor of The Writing Revolution
"This book is indispensable to anyone invested in the future of education. In this inviting yet hard-hitting volume, Natalie Wexler carefully weaves the often-separated threads of learning to read, learning to write, and learning in general. She shows how these bodies of knowledge are deeply interlocked, demonstrating how the chasms between research and practice underscore fundamental issues in education today. By illuminating relevant research and case studies, Wexler skillfully guides readers to understand the disconnect between educational practice and scientific research and the challenges of teacher preparation, curriculum specificity, standardized testing, and education polarization. Her call to action is both insistent and inspiring.
For policymakers and school leaders, this book is essential reading. Wexler doesn't shy away from hard truths; she highlights the many barriers standing between today's reality and future education systems that truly serve all students. She argues that realizing the educational potential of the science of reading requires expanding the scope to the science of learning itself, urging us to envision bold, new paths to improvement. In this essential work, Wexler asserts that only a unified view of educational reform can begin to meet the needs of all students and reshape the future of our schools. This book isn't merely a critique of education in the United States and abroad but a road map toward real, systemic change."
- Nathaniel Swain, instructional coach and author of Harnessing the Science of Learning
"Accessible, informative, and timely! Wexler skillfully merges the conversation on the science of reading with the science of learning, while centering the role of knowledge building. Understanding how people learn is foundational to understanding how to teach. This book is an essential resource for teacher preparation programs!"
- Sonia Q. Cabell, associate professor of reading education, Florida State University lead editor of Handbook on the Science of Early Literacy
"For too long, we've allowed unproven, half-baked ideas into our classrooms. Beyond the Science of Reading makes the strong case for using evidence-based practices and cognitive science to improve instruction. It artfully connects what we know about the science of reading with the science of learning, giving education leaders a road map for building better schools."
- Lynne Munson, founder and CEO, Great Minds
