From Classroom Gaps to Knowledge Gains: Natalie Wexler on Education Reform
In this episode of TransformED with StepUp, we’re excited to welcome Natalie Wexler, a prominent education author known for her groundbreaking insights into education reform. Natalie’s acclaimed book, The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—And How to Fix It, along with her works on effective writing instruction, have sparked meaningful discussions on improving U.S. schools. She also hosts Reading Comprehension Revisited as part of the Knowledge Matters Podcast series and has written for top publications like The New York Times And The Atlantic.
Natalie brings a wealth of experience as a reporter, lawyer, and historian to our conversation. Together, we explore the hidden causes of educational inequities and practical solutions for creating knowledge-rich classrooms. Key insights from this episode include Natalie’s perspective on how current teaching methods often fail to equip elementary students with the academic knowledge and vocabulary essential for success in later years. She discusses the benefits of reading aloud to engage young learners, introduces new topics through storytelling, and underscores the value of discussion in helping children retain new information. Join us as we dive deep into how we can transform education to better serve all students.
Show Notes:
The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—And How to Fix It
Reading Comprehension Revisited
