The Knowledge Gap

 Book: The Knowlege Gap

Author: Natalie Wexler

Pages: 352

This is my 232nd read for the year

What Amazon says:

It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comesto providing every child with a quality education.  The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilites, lack of accountability.  It was something no one was taking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge.  Welxer brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system.  It follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed.  

This was an interesting book.  I learned a lot from Natalie's research and talking with teachers who are in the classrooms of these elementary schools everyday.  How high schools are seeing widening gaps because the problem lies in the younger kids and the way they are learning.  I did find the content a little dry though.  It didn't hold my attention as well as I was hoping. Also I wish she would have broaden her reach as far as who she met with and talked to.  This is a vast country with vastly different education systems and it would have been nice to see a bigger picture.

Stars: 3.5