Knowledge Matters Campaign

Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning?

Very pleased that @NYtimes has highlighted the power of knowledge-building ELA and history curricula and the great work of @knowledgematrs.bsky.social (I'm on their sci adv board).
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/u...

Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning?

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/u... @knowledgematrs.bsky.social @learnwithsap.bsky.social

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...

Explore our Knowledge Matters Review Tool, a key guide for evaluating K-8 ELA Curriculum: knowledgematterscampaign.org/review-tool/

Five years since COVID, Louisiana's readers are thriving. This is their secret. In 2019, Louisiana's fourth graders ranked 50th in the country for reading. Now, they're 16th. Here's how the state, and one rural district, pulled it off.

“What we've been able to do over the last five years is really train our educators and empower educators to utilize those high-quality instructional materials," says Jenna Chiasson, deputy superintendent at the state's Office of Teaching and Learning.

www.npr.org/2025/03/13/n...

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

Tune into our bonus episode of Knowledge Matters podcast! 🚗📚

This special episode features insights from experts like Kristen McQuillan, Kyair Butts, Dr. Susan Neuman & Dr. Margaret McKeown on how content knowledge impacts reading comprehension.

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

Reading comprehension loses out in the classroom New study says few teachers use methods tested by years of research

Teachers spend too little time reading texts with kids—especially in SS & science, where PowerPoints replace books.

The result? A cycle where poor reading instruction leads to less reading altogether.

The fix? Better curriculum with real books.

hechingerreport.org/proof-points...

Three good reasons teachers shouldn’t D.I.Y. their lessons (and shouldn’t be asked to) Oregon professor Siegfried Engelmann wasn’t your typical education guru. He didn’t peddle feel-good platitudes or promote classroom fads—he treated teaching like a hard science, and he built Direct In...

Teachers shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel! This article from Fordham Institute explains why quality, structured curricula matter—and why expecting teachers to DIY their lessons does a disservice to students. #CurriculumMatters

Read more: fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...

What’s Knowledge Got to Do With It? Knowledge building creates a bridge for older students - the road must be rich in vocabulary and composed of interrelated, engaging topics.

“Too many students do not know enough about enough topics to independently read complex texts in later grades. Therefore, we must strategically leverage existing funds of knowledge and build new ones to provide access to our grade level complex texts.”

www.education4500.com/post/what-s-...

Robert Pondiscio highlights why teachers need a strong curriculum—hands-on activities are most meaningful when students have the knowledge to engage deeply.

Full piece: open.substack.com/pub/thenext3...

#CurriculumMatters
#KnowledgeMatters

Reading Aloud From Real Books To Build Fluency, Attention and Meaning, Teach Like a Champion [caption id="attachment_18477" align="aligncenter" width="468"] Engaged, attentive students learning to read productively[/caption]   In our...

Reading aloud is a powerful way to build knowledge! When teachers read entire books aloud, they expose students to rich vocabulary, complex ideas, and background knowledge that fuels comprehension.

Doug Lemov unpacks this in his recent blog: teachlikeachampion.org/blog/reading...

#KnowledgeMatters

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...

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

Don’t miss this #KnowledgeMatters Podcast bonus episode! Experts Kristen McQuillan, Kyair Butts, Dr. Susan Neuman & Dr. Margaret McKeown break down how content knowledge shapes reading comprehension.

🎧Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Current reading tests overlook the crucial role of background knowledge in comprehension. It’s time for assessments that truly reflect how students learn to read.

Discover a better approach in our latest blog post: knowledgematterscampaign.org/post/reading...

📢 A clarion call to assessment stakeholders: Do better for teachers, so they can do better for students.

Reading tests are out of step with reality—there’s a better way.

We break it down in our latest blog: 🔗 knowledgematterscampaign.org/post/reading...

#KnowledgeMatters #RethinkAssessment

“Public education has no more right to continue to foster segregated knowledge than it has to foster segregated schools.” — E.D. Hirsch

Don’t miss Robert Pondiscio’s latest Substack on knowledge!

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/thenext3...

“A knowledge-rich curriculum ensures ALL students gain the cultural & intellectual capital to thrive in civic & professional life.” – Robert Pondiscio

Don’t miss his latest Substack on why #knowledgematters: open.substack.com/pub/thenext3...

Didn't get a chance to watch Knowledge: The Unsung Hero of Comprehension Webinar yet? 🎧

We got you! 🥰

The webinar is now available as a bonus episode of the Knowledge Matters Podcast.

🔗: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

#knowledgematters #comprehension #unsungheroes

Kyair Butts on strategies vs knowledge building: "If we focus too much on teaching strategies, kids lose their passion for reading. To help them fall in love with reading again, it's about building knowledge."

Watch Webinar 4 of #UnsungHeroes: knowledgematterscampaign.org/post/webinar...

Want the biggest bang for your buck in the classroom?

Dr. Susan Neumann says: Focus on vocabulary tied to the text—words that boost comprehension & build knowledge. Stronger vocab = stronger readers! #UnsungHeroes #KnowledgeMatters

📢 "Reading is a knowledge-building activity." – Dr. Margaret "Moddy" McKeown 📖✨

One of our favorite quotes from Webinar 4 of the Unsung Heroes Series: Knowledge—Why It Matters.

What was yours? Drop it below! ⬇️

#KnowledgeMatters #UnsungHeroes

🚨 Almost game time! 🚨

Join top literacy experts as they break down why knowledge is the quarterback of comprehension 🏈📖

📅 Feb. 6 | 5:00 PM ET
🎟️ Register now: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

P.S. Attend live & get a certificate of attendance!

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

Louisiana’s success shows that phonics is essential—but so is building knowledge. A must-read from @natwexler.bsky.social on what really moves the needle in reading.

Read more: www.facebook.com/share/p/1BS3...

📖 Join us for Webinar #4: “Knowledge: Why It Matters” in our Unsung Heroes of Comprehension series, featuring top literacy experts!

📅 Feb. 6, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. ET
🎟️ Register now: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

🏈 If knowledge is the quarterback of comprehension, what’s the game plan for building it in students? Our panel of literacy experts will break it all down.

🎟️ Register before it’s too late: bit.ly/40ZI4u7

P.S. Attend live and get a certificate of attendance!

This is where I went wrong with the 1999 curriculum. Obsessed with the skills and blinded by a drive to let the children ‘discover’. Now I know, teach first, discover later. #EdChatIE

You can’t teach students to 'think like a scientist' without first teaching them science. The same goes for history, critical thinking, and reading comprehension.

Education isn't a shortcut to cognitive riches; it's about deep knowledge.

Read more: thenext30years.substack.com/p/curriculum...

🏆 If reading comprehension were a football team, which skill would be the MVP?

🧠 Knowledge
📝 Writing
🗣️ Student Discourse
📚 Vocabulary

Drop your answer in the comments and join our expert panel as they tackle the role of knowledge in comprehension: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

📖 Don’t miss this powerful blog post by Matthew Levey on the case for storytelling in history curriculum!

Read here 👉 knowledgematterscampaign.org/post/the-cas...

#HistoryMatters #KnowledgeMatters

Will probably be adding this to “The Knowledge Gap” and “The Writing Revolution.” #EduSky