Opening the Slow Read of Natalie Wexler's *The Knowledge Gap* to All Subscribers

Hi Everyone:

I’ve decided to open up my slow reads to all subscribers, not just those with paid subscriptions. You’ll find more information below. I’m looking forward to talking to you about some fantastic books!

This is the first of several slow reads that I hope to facilitate over the course of the year (including one focused on my book Failing Our Future in the fall) so that we can engage as a community with books about education.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the first book we’ll read and discuss together (if you choose to do so—it’s completely an opt-in situation!) together is

Natalie Wexler

’s The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It. We’re starting with Wexler’s book, because she has some important insights into the reasons why we are now seeing some fissures in the foundation of our educational framework in America that we haven’t seen before, and the problems that are occurring as a result. This book uncovers some of the more pressing concerns related to educational reform, and it illuminates these issues in sometimes rather shocking ways.

Over the next four weeks, we’ll read pages 1-63, and you can respond in the comment section to the discussion questions I’ll list below at any time in that four-week period. So this will be a book club that moves at your own pace and that you can jump into and out of whenever it is convenient for you.

Here is the first set of questions:

1. Why is the distinction that Wexler makes between knowledge and skills so critical for a) her argument about the failures of educational reform and b) our own understanding about the purpose of education?

2. Do you think Wexler’s characterization of the Common Core is a fair one?

3. Dan Willingham thinks it is possible to bring principles of cognitive science to individual classrooms, and Wexler is more skeptical. Who do you think is right?

After four weeks have passed, I’ll share the next page range and some new discussion questions too. I’m looking forward to this and to hearing what you have to say. I hope you enjoy the book!