Isabelle, thank you for another very thoughtful newsletter. I was curious if you had thoughts about Dr. Suskind's word gap research and work with respect to issues of race, culture, and equity. This 2020 article by Conor Williams (https://www.edutopia.org/article/new-research-ignites-debate-30-million-word-gap) is one of the articles I had in my mind when I read what you wrote here today. I imagine some of these questions and concerns Conor touches on have only magnified as systems are being more intentional about DEI and equity more recently. I look forward to reading the "Parent Nation" book this spring as these issues may be covered more directly than they have been in the past, but, honestly, I'm somewhat surprised to see the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading make the word gap alone a point of emphasis in this way. Curious for your thoughts!
Thanks for all the interesting info, Isabelle! It's great to see that you're reading about the Sudbury School.
In the 1980s I was inspired by "Teach Your Own" by John Holt (along with "How Children Learn"). In case you're interested and don't already know about this, there's an expanded/updated edition: "Teach Your Own: The Indispensable Guide to Living and Learning with Children at Home" by John Holt and Pat Farenga.
Isabelle, thank you for another very thoughtful newsletter. I was curious if you had thoughts about Dr. Suskind's word gap research and work with respect to issues of race, culture, and equity. This 2020 article by Conor Williams (https://www.edutopia.org/article/new-research-ignites-debate-30-million-word-gap) is one of the articles I had in my mind when I read what you wrote here today. I imagine some of these questions and concerns Conor touches on have only magnified as systems are being more intentional about DEI and equity more recently. I look forward to reading the "Parent Nation" book this spring as these issues may be covered more directly than they have been in the past, but, honestly, I'm somewhat surprised to see the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading make the word gap alone a point of emphasis in this way. Curious for your thoughts!
Thanks for all the interesting info, Isabelle! It's great to see that you're reading about the Sudbury School.
In the 1980s I was inspired by "Teach Your Own" by John Holt (along with "How Children Learn"). In case you're interested and don't already know about this, there's an expanded/updated edition: "Teach Your Own: The Indispensable Guide to Living and Learning with Children at Home" by John Holt and Pat Farenga.
Happy Thanksgiving!