Curriculum Matters

Our Professional Learning Network has been growing! We're thrilled to introduce a number of new additions to our Squad in recent months – a reflection of the growing use of high-quality curriculum in districts across the country. #CurriculumMatters

Episode 5 Of the #KnowledgeMatters podcast begins addressing the AI elephant in the room.🐘 @natwexler discusses the cognitive benefits of writing about learning and what we need to do to ensure students get that instruction! 📝 Listen here: 🔗tinyurl.com/ynnhd8jd

Worth reading this piece about England embracing cognitive science in ed, vs U.S. This shouldn't be political. But I wonder: are there risks to having an administration (especially a conservative one) embrace evidence-backed teaching? Could it lead some educators to reject it ?

🚨This new piece from @gtoppo in @The74 is EXCELLENT!!🔥 You can hear many of these experts in our current season of the Knowledge Matters Podcast discussing literacy and the science of learning, too! knowledgematterscampaign.org/podcast/

☕️Your weekend learning is here! 📦Our brains can only hold 3-4 pieces of new information in working memory at once. ➡️In Ep. 5 @natwexler speaks with John Sweller + Jeff Karpicke about WHY we need to move information from working memory to long term memory and HOW we do it!

We’re excited to see our President & Exec. Director, @bdavidsonKMC, join @educationweek & @HMH this Friday (7/25, 11AM ET) to talk about where the Science of Reading goes next—including the role of AI in literacy. Learn more 👉 edweek.org/events/the-fut… #SOR #KnowledgeMatters

🥣🧂Students need 2 ingredients to make retrieval practice a meaningful learning opportunity: 💡Something to learn. 📝Challenging AND successful practice retrieving what was learned. @natwexler talks writing + retrieval practice w/ Purdue Researcher, Jeff Karpicke, in Ep. 5!🎯

Next in the Knowledge-Building for Teachers Series: Colonial America. This has been a fascinating study between the founding of the American Colonies compared to the Spanish Colonies. What favorite resources do you have on this topic? open.substack.com/pub/lstam/p/co…

✍️Sentence structure in written language is almost always more complex than syntax in conversational language. ➕In Ep. 5 @natwexler discusses the benefits to READING when we teach complex syntax and vocabulary in WRITING. 🎧Listen here: tinyurl.com/ynnhd8jd

🚧The Worked Example Effect🚨 In Ep. 5 of the #KnowledgeMatters Podcast you’ll hear @natwexler and John Sweller discuss the findings of The Worked Example Effect! ✅Studying exemplars + worked examples produces BETTER problem solvers than ❌simply engaging in problem solving!🤯

Writing prompts that require elaboration can improve learning in the classroom. However, inexperienced writers can experience cognitive overload. Natalie Wexler explains how teachers can ease this burden and improve learning. One of my favorite episode of the series!

“In these knowledge-building classrooms, teachers don’t lean on films alone to deliver content. They provide students with context so that the knowledge they learn sticks.” @levey_matt48204 writes about the knowledge + depth people crave in this piece in @EducationNext

In history classrooms, students don’t just memorize. They wrestle with ideals and contradictions. With choices and consequences. With humanity. Read @levey_matt48204 thoughtful article here: tinyurl.com/438ku7ht @KnowledgeMatrs #HistoryMatters

Want to explore the links between literacy & cognitive science? This new 6-episode podcast provides an accessible way to do it. My 2 episodes focus on writing. The first drops today & the second on 7.29. @TheWritingRevol Find out more in my new post: open.substack.com/pub/nataliewex…

“If America is, as Lincoln called it, ‘the last best hope of earth,’ we need to demand more of our instructional materials—more knowledge, more understanding, and a greater sense of civics, history, and self.” @levey_matt48204 educationnext.org/what-joe-rogan… #KnowledgeMatters

✏️🪩Are you ready for it?!?📕⌨️ 🎉Episode 5 of the #KnowledgeMatters Podcast is LIVE! Host @natwexler discusses Memory and the Writing Effect with guests Jeff Karpicke from @Purdue and John Sweller, Developer of Cognitive Load Theory! 📝🧠 🎧Listen here: tinyurl.com/ynnhd8jd

The K–12 curriculum problem cannot improve until states adopt unified, content-rich standards. Groups like @KnowledgeMatrs and @Standards_Work are pushing for this. Without it, teachers keep picking their own materials with no consequences for weak curriculum.

You can learn more about the work @scottlangford72 has done in Sumner County watching our webinar series about the unsung heroes of comprehension! @mcglynn3 moderates a panel about Curriculum w/ Scott, @PamelaSnow2 and Staria Alexander. Webinar 🔗: vimeo.com/1090126327?fl=…

Really important insights in this episode--which, by coincidence, I listened to while attending an education conference near @AmarilloISD . I hope other districts (and schools within the district) are paying attention to what's happening at Eastridge Elementary!

📖Persistence in a challenging text is a gift in education! All students should have this opportunity!💙 🔋@Doug_Lemov discusses the POWER of whole BOOKS in Episode 4 of the #KnowledgeMatters Podcast. 🎧Listen here or on your favorite streaming service: tinyurl.com/ynnhd8jd

Writing is obviously a tool for communication. But it is so much more than that. It is a means of expanding limited working memory and a tool for thinking. AI can write really well - but if you want to develop your own thinking you need to be able to write yourself!…