Natalie Wexler

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-...

“Writing instruction has tremendous potential power as a lever for reinforcing knowledge and deepening learning. But because writing imposes such an overwhelming cognitive load, many students never get those potential benefits. If we make writing less difficult for students, we can enable them to become not only better writers but also more effective and engaged learners.” —Natalie Wexler, Education Writer

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

What Do We Mean by "Reading Comprehension Instruction"? And is there too little of it in schools or too much?

Do teachers spend too little time on reading comprehension instruction, as a recent report says--or too much?

The answer may be "both." It depends on where you look--& how you define "comprehension instruction."

More in my new post on Minding the Gap:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/what-do-we...

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

Kids often find history boring. But a new curriculum based on the Four Question Method, shows how to make the subject engaging AND take it to a deeper level.

More in my latest post on Minding the Gap:

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

Bonus Episode: Writing: An Unsung Hero of Reading Comprehension Podcast Episode · The Knowledge Matters Podcast · Bonus · 1h 2m

🎧 Bonus Episode! The #KnowledgeMatters Podcast presents Writing: An Unsung Hero of Reading Comprehension—featuring @natwexler.bsky.social, Doug Lemov & more!

Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

What Makes a School "Good"? Assumptions about school quality can conflict with reality.

What makes a school "good"? Test scores could indicate quality--or just a lot of test prep.

A school in the UK has great test scores AND great quality. The secret? They base instruction in principles of cognitive science.

More in my latest post:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/what-makes...

The evidence is clear: prioritizing so-called “general skills” over knowledge-building has failed our kids for decades.

Read @natwexler.bsky.social’s take: substack.com/@nataliewexl...

What Nobody Is Saying About the NAEP Reading Scores They're not just about phonics.

Thanks, Mark! I recently wrote about Louisiana and the NAEP here (refuting the common refrain that its success is JUST about phonics instruction):

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/what-nobod...

Appreciate @natwexler.bsky.social for the shoutout in her new book on our support of #edprep programs to embed #cogsci!

At DFI, we work directly w programs AND drive policy change at scale. The path to system change is long, but we’re making it happen. www.the74million.org/article/cont...

Is the "Buzz" About Knowledge Justified by the Evidence (Part 2)? The answer is still yes, but we have to be realistic in our expectations.

Just out: Part 2 of my post explaining why there IS enough evidence to justify a switch to knowledge-building curricula.

If we wait for definitive experimental evidence, we'll be waiting a long time--and many kids will continue to suffer academically.

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

Is the "Buzz" About Knowledge Justified by the Evidence (Part 1)? In short: yes. But it's complicated.

Has there really never been a study showing that knowledge-building boosts reading comprehension? That's what some claim.

I beg to differ--strongly.

More in my latest post (first of a two-parter).

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

Natalie Wexler: Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning Join us as we discuss author, Natalie Wexler's, latest book and how it impacts the way we teach reading.

News flash: I'm participating in a free webinar about my new book, Beyond the Science of Reading, on 2/17 at 7 p.m. Eastern--hosted by Marnie Ginsberg of Reading Simplified.

Register here: my.demio.com/ref/JTOfuP7h...

How much do you really know about the #ReadingWars? Dive into @natwexler.bsky.social's insights on the failure of education reforms and the path to effective reading comprehension. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...

Book Cover: *This critical volume, in which Natalie Wexler deftly lays out the case for knowledge, should begin tipping the scales back toward what best serves students of every age and background." -DOUG LEMOV, author of TEACH LIKE A CHAMPION 2.0 The Knowledge Gap THE HIDDEN CAUSE OF AMERICA'S BROKEN EDUCATION SYSTEM-AND HOW TO FIX IT Natalie Wexler

Struggling with student comprehension in your class? Here's why content matters more than "skills." @natwexler.bsky.social, author of "The Knowledge Gap" joins me on Critically Speaking. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...

#educationreform #knowledgegap

It was a pleasure and an honor to appear on the Critically Speaking podcast, hosted by Dr. Therese Markow. We had a great conversation!

Is there a science to teaching kids how to read?
🤔 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
@natwexler.bsky.social uncovers the truth behind educational approaches and why many fall short.

#Education

Natalie Wexler: America's Knowledge Gap Podcast Episode · Critically Speaking · 02/11/2025 · 44m

Delighted to have been interviewed by Dr. Therese Markow for her podcast, Critically Speaking.

She got interested in The Knowledge Gap after noticing undergraduates were coming into her courses with poorer vocabulary.

Listen here:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...

How to Improve the NAEP Reading Test Can we make the national tests more useful, or at least less harmful?

The NAEP reading test doesn't give us much useful information--and can actually mislead us about why so many students are not proficient readers.

Is there a way to change that? I have thoughts.

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/how-to-imp...