The Knowledge Gap Episode 1

Throughout May and June, we are thrilled to discuss The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler with you. If you're an SLP who works in schools, you're going to want to read this book! This week, we're starting with chapters one and two. Chapter one is called "The Water They've Been Swimming In" and covers the way educators are currently teaching children in schools. Natalie discusses the move toward teaching reading comprehension as a set of abstract skills and the move away from teaching social studies and science. She warns us about the impact of state-mandated testing on the way students are being taught. Chapter two, "A Problem Hiding in Plain Sight," presents us with the knowledge gap. Children from wealthier families are coming to school with an advantage in the amount of knowledge they've been exposed to, and reading comprehension depends greatly on background knowledge (not comprehension "skills"). These first two chapters have set the stage for what we know will be a great book. Our eyes are open and we're ready to learn more!

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