The Teachthought Podcast

Drew Perkins welcomes education writer and author Natalie Wexler to the podcast to discuss her latest work and the evolving conversation around explicit instruction and the "Science of Reading." While the movement has successfully brought phonics to the forefront, Wexler argues that too narrow of a focus ignores the lessons of the Science of Learning.   Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode Wexler notes that the "Science of Reading" is often misunderstood as being synonymous with phonics. While foundational skills are non-negotiable, she explains that the "Mississippi Miracle" and other literacy success stories are incomplete without a focus on building background knowledge. The conversation dives into the biological and cognitive necessity of elaboration, the process of connecting new information to what a student already knows, as the primary engine for long-term retention and comprehension. A significant portion of the discussion centers on Cognitive Load Theory and why it is frequently missing