Archive - Minding the Gap

The Key to Motivating Students--and Maybe Everyone Else Too

Students won’t learn unless they’re motivated. But the best way to motivate them is to enable them to experience achievement.

Jan 2 •

December 2024

The Top 11 Minding the Gap Posts of 2024

Everyone else is listing their top posts, as my inbox can attest. So why not me?

Dec 29, 2024 •

Scores for Adults Are Dropping on Tests of Basic Skills

As with kids' test scores, a crucial question is the role of knowledge

Dec 15, 2024 •

Has the "Science of Reading" Gone Overboard on Phonics?

Some educators are spending too much time on phonics instruction in the early grades, experts warn.

Dec 7, 2024 •

Becoming a Nation of Non-Readers

Students are reading fewer books than they used to, but there's a lot schools can do to reverse the trend.

Dec 1, 2024 •

November 2024

October 2024

Do We Need to Teach Comprehension Strategies Explicitly?

The answer might depend on whether the strategy involves abilities that are "biologically secondary."

Oct 31, 2024 •

Bringing Politics into the Classroom

Should teachers steer clear of current political issues in the classroom—or is it educational malpractice to act as if those issues don’t exist?

Oct 27, 2024 •

Want Students to Be Good Speakers? Teach Them to Write

A push for "oracy" in England points up connections between writing and oral language

Oct 11, 2024 •

Clearing Up Misconceptions About "the Baseball Study"

Critiques of an iconic experiment on knowledge and reading comprehension miss the mark.

Oct 6, 2024 •

September 2024

A Recipe for Student Success Glosses Over a Key Ingredient

A new report from TNTP lists some important factors but downplays the role of curriculum.

Sep 25, 2024 •

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