Natalie Wexler

Reading Comprehension Studies Can Mislead Us About What Works A new meta-analysis takes on the “strategy instruction vs. knowledge-building” question. But that’s a false dichotomy.

A new reading comprehension meta-analysis seems to cast doubt on the effectiveness of building knowledge.

But it omits at least 2 important studies and uses an unrealistic framework for evaluating results.

More in my new post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/reading-co...

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Reading Comprehension Studies Can Mislead Us About What Works A new meta-analysis takes on the “strategy instruction vs. knowledge-building” question. But that’s a false dichotomy.

For yet another commentary on what this study may show, here is @natwexler.bsky.social raising the issue (amongst other comments) that it misses out a couple of knowledge programmes that do show far transfer on standardised tests.

open.substack.com/pub/nataliew...

A New Book Translates Research into Effective--and Joyful--Classroom Practice If you’re a teacher looking for a practical guide to implementing the science of learning in your classroom, I have a recommendation for you.

It can be hard for teachers to translate cognitive science into classroom practice on their own. A new book from Doug Lemov & team can help them boost reading comprehension for older students--& introduce them to the joy of reading.

More in my new post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/a-new-book...

Is Texas Getting a Mandatory Literacy Curriculum? Texas may soon require all of its 5.5 million public school students to read the same books—and take state tests based on them.

Texas may adopt a required statewide reading list--& tests aligned to it.

There would be benefits to that approach. But there are also some big risks.

More in my new post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/is-texas-g...

Is Testing the Next Frontier in Ed Reform? A short-lived experiment in Louisiana suggests the power of tying reading tests to content that students have been taught.

Tying reading tests to specific content can shift teacher practice to a focus on enabling kids to understand the content--not just practice skills.

Louisiana tried a new kind of reading test & that's what happened.

Read more in my latest post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/is-testing...

Is relying on AI cognitive “offloading” or “outsourcing”? The terminology we use makes a difference.

Using AI is cognitive outsourcing--not, as many term it, cognitive offloading.
Offloading: we do the thinking ourselves and need a place to store it (e.g., notes).
Outsourcing: someone (or something) else does the thinking for us. That can be a problem.

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/is-relying...

If Research Looks Too Good to Be True, Be Cautious I've made some mistakes, and so have others.

Research can be misleading--especially if it looks too good to be true.

Even when an initiative is grounded in evidence, before we spend massive amounts of money on it, we need to ask if that money could be better spent elsewhere.

More in my new post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/if-researc...

Don't Forget to Elaborate Explicit instruction and retrieval practice are fundamental components of learning, but students need more than that to acquire deep knowledge.

Explicit teaching & retrieval practice are key--but not enough to ensure deep learning.

Students with some knowledge of a topic can deepen it by making connections and engaging in analysis--as long as we modulate cognitive load.

More in my new post:
nataliewexler.substack.com/p/dont-forge...

The Top 10 Minding the Gap Posts of 2025 NAEP reading scores, a new approach to teaching history, and ... Australia?

Everyone else is doing it, so ... I reviewed the posts on Minding the Gap this year and identified the ten that got the most views.

Some were perhaps predictable, while others were surprises:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/the-top-10...

Using Knowledge-Building Curriculum Doesn't Guarantee 'Robust' Reading Comprehension Teachers at schools that have adopted content-rich curriculum often don’t guide kids to think deeply about the content, researchers say.

Even in districts using knowledge-building curricula, most comprehension instruction focuses on literacy standards.

That results in only "surface-level" comprehension, according to a new SRI study.

More in my latest post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/using-know...

Reading Whole Books, and "Miracles" in Education Yes, kids are reading fewer books in school--and that's a big problem.

Why it's important for kids to read whole books--plus why what happened in Mississippi isn't a "miracle" but evidence that science-aligned teaching can lead to dramatic improvements.

So can having kids read whole books.

My latest post on Minding the Gap:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/reading-wh...

Beyond Excerpts

Does it really matter if students read only brief texts & excerpts, and no whole books?

In a new piece in American Educator, I argue that it does--a LOT. And I offer ideas that can enable kids to get the valuable experience of, e.g., reading novels as a whole class.

www.aft.org/ae/winter202...

Could It Happen Here? England has made great strides in aligning its education system with cognitive science. Why hasn't the U.S.?

Why has England been more successful than the US in aligning education with cognitive science?

Maybe because England uses a different kind of test for accountability.

Read more in my latest post, on a new book by former schools minister Nick Gibb.

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/could-it-h...

Middle Schoolers' Reading Skills Are Declining, New Report Finds A recent report from NWEA found that middle schoolers are showing a noticeable decline in reading abilities. Here, we’ll unpack what the researchers uncovered, what factors are influencing middle scho...

“Many middle schoolers are struggling with reading and writing, and that's especially likely to be true if they come from less highly educated families."- @natwexler.bsky.social, author of #TheKnowledgeGap.

How can schools remedy this? Learn more on Parents.

www.parents.com/new-report-f...

Finally, an international perspective with @natwexler.bsky.social commenting on the "Southern Surge" in the USA. Why are states like Mississippi and Louisiana improving reading scores dramatically (albeit from a low base)? There are lessons for the UK here and it isn't all about phonics...

We spoke to the class teacher of the student who made the most progress in our recent writing redraft project.

We asked her which of our new AI feedback reports she found the most useful. Here is what she said.

Read more here.

substack.nomoremarking.com/p/how-do-stu...

What Happens When Students Get Feedback on Their Writing? Often, nothing much.

Students do need to get feedback on their writing. But it may only work if it's connected to things they've been taught how to do.

More in my latest post on Minding the Gap:

open.substack.com/pub/nataliew...

How Generative AI Can Rot Your Brain Over-reliance on tools like ChatGPT prevents learning and critical thinking.

ChatGPT has its uses, but if students rely on it to do their thinking FOR them, they risk missing out on learning & critical thinking.

We already have evidence of that from cognitive psychology. Now there's more from neuroscience.

More in my latest post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/how-genera...

Struggles with 'Bleak House' Should college students be expected to read and understand nineteenth-century novels?

English majors can't understand Dickens on their own, a study finds. Professors need to provide students with more support.

It would help if students read more novels, including at least one by Dickens, in high school.

More in my latest post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/struggles-...

Author @natwexler.bsky.social‬ explains how to align writing instruction with cognitive science: edut.to/4muKdYp

#literacy #EduSky

Thanks!

Knowledge-Building in the News The mainstream media is beginning to take note of the trend towards building knowledge in elementary school. Let’s hope that leads to deeper coverage.

Kudos to the NY Times for giving some attention to the shift to knowledge-building in elementary schools that is sweeping the country.

Next (I hope): the deeper dive this significant & complex issue deserves.

More in my latest post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/knowledge-...

Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning?

Glad the @nytimes.com is taking notice of @knowledgematrs.bsky.social & the rise of the knowledge-building movement.

Would love to see more in-depth coverage too. There's a lot more to be said on this topic!

Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/u...

Some Education Issues Don't Belong in Court The legal system isn't designed to answer nuanced questions.

The court system isn't always the best place to resolve education issues. Two pending Supreme Court cases--one on LGBTQ-themed books in elementary school & the other on religious charter schools--show why.

More in my latest post on Minding the Gap:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/some-educa...

Thanks !

Test Scores, Budget Cuts and Equity If we don't know how students are doing, does the problem disappear?

Funding cuts have led to cancellations of some national tests of student achievement.

I've been a critic of some of those tests--but eliminating them won't solve the underlying problem. It may just make it worse.

Test Scores, Budget Cuts and Equity open.substack.com/pub/nataliew...

A New Way to Teach History A curriculum now being developed enables students to engage with the subject at a deeper level.

'“It’s really hard to get a history teaching job if you’re not a coach,” a Texas teacher told me recently.'

This line in @natwexler.bsky.social’s piece on history curriculum stopped me in my tracks.

More on history curriculum landscape:

substack.com/@nataliewexl...

Do Students Who Rely on ChatGPT "Benefit"? AI has its uses, but it's not a substitute for writing--or learning.

Researchers are concerned that wealthier students "benefit" more from ChatGPT. But if they get the bot to do their work, are they really benefiting? Or are they losing out on learning?

More in my latest post on Minding the Gap:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/do-student...

Go Beyond the Science of Reading with Explicit Writing Instruction - edWeb This edWebinar will explore how the Hochman Method strengthens reading comprehension and elevates student proficiency in both reading and writing.

Join me for a free webinar next week on using writing instruction to boost reading comprehension--and learning in general. Sponsored by The Writing Revolution.

For more info and to register, click here:

bit.ly/3G6n9P5