Description

In this insightful and timely book, education expert Natalie Wexler argues that ending the longstanding “reading wars” requires understanding that the process of learning to read is deeply interconnected to overall learning and knowledge development.

The “science of reading” movement has already greatly improved classroom practices around essential foundational skills. However, this important progress risks erosion if we do not also emphasize providing children with the knowledge base and vocabulary necessary to comprehend complex texts.

Alongside this, another critical movement—focused on the broader “science of learning”—has introduced educators to proven instructional principles that help all learners succeed. In Beyond the Science of Reading, Wexler tackles an overlooked aspect of the debate by revealing how standard approaches to reading comprehension and writing instruction often contradict these evidence-based methods.

Wexler provides clear, practical strategies for implementing literacy instruction informed by cognitive science on a wide scale and highlights key insights, including how teaching phonics alone is insufficient for developing proficient readers, why systematically building children’s background knowledge is the cornerstone of meaningful reading comprehension, how improving writing instruction can significantly enhance both literacy and overall learning outcomes, how teaching strategies rooted in cognitive science principles can effectively address achievement gaps, and why many current curriculum evaluation practices may be counterproductive.

Beyond the Science of Reading presents an ambitious vision for ensuring all children become fluent, engaged, and successful readers. It serves as a valuable and necessary resource for educators, policymakers, parents, and anyone dedicated to promoting equity and literacy for students in the United States.