That’s the conclusion of a new study that Dan Willingham brought to our attention. Particularly relevant if the NGA / CCSSO is going to toss out Shakespeare and others.
Willingham says the study shows that “[o]nce students can decode, background knowledge is crucial to reading comprehension. Ensuring that students have wide-ranging knowledge of the world ideally begins at birth, through a rich home environment. Schools must do everything possible to support and expand that knowledge base, and integrating material from other subjects into the reading curriculum is an important step in the right direction.”
We think this means students should be exposed to a rich variety of texts. On the other hand, proponents of the latest educational fad, 21st century skills, believe that students should spend their time analyzing magazine ads:
“From a favorite magazine, choose a variety of advertisements of products that are personally appealing. Analyze the techniques used by each advertisement to attract teen buyers.”
Which is more likely to give students the background knowledge they need to succeed? We know where our money is …
Tags: core content, national standards, P21