President of StandardsWork, Inc. which is the parent organization of Knowledge Matters @KnowledgeMatrs @HistoryMatrs @CurriculumMatrs @Standards_Work
Washington, DC
Joined April 2017
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Great piece by @natwexler raising important questions about a possible new National Reading Panel. nataliewexler.substack.com/p…
Thanks for consistently reminding us, David, that “The humanities furnish the mind with stories that move us, art and music that inspire us, and informed questions that probe the fundamental nature of mortality, love, sacrifice, and evil.” fordhaminstitute.org/nationa…
"What's the equivalent of cardio for our ailing brains? A good candidate is reading." Can't recommend this NYT piece enough. And it even quotes @MaryanneWolf_ (Reader Come Home)! nytimes.com/2026/03/27/opini…
Seems obvious, but this sidebar we witnessed on our @KnowledgeMatrs School Your visit at Nautilus Elementary is really important background knowledge!
Challenge Accepted: Making Room for All Content Areas open.substack.com/pub/benzul…
Guess who just made the 2026 Eduwonk In and Out List by @arotherham? @Natwexler - of course. We think she very "in." open.substack.com/pub/eduwon…
I really appreciate the way @oliviajune82 has distinguished here between knowledge-building programs and the knowledge-building concept. Looking forward to much more from her on some of these "rich topics" she hints at in the months to come! @KnowledgeMatrs
Couldn't agree more @rpondiscio. Jon & Gary @4qmTeaching surface one of the most important issues in elementary social studies, IMHO. @HistoryMatrs @KnowledgeMatrs
Had a "When Harry Met Sally" moment reading this piece, pounding the table and shouting "Oh my God YES!"
"We don’t think that the mere presence of primary sources in a history classroom is ipso facto evidence of good teaching and learning."
knowledgematterscampaign.org…
Just relistened to my interview with Ouachita Parish teachers using @doelouisiana's Bayou Bridges social studies curriculum – and got excited all over again. This kind of experience should be available to all elementary school students across the country. We can do this you'all!
📢Episode 3 is OUT NOW!📢
Lauren Cascio—a 5th Grade Teacher in West Monroe, LA.—describes the struggles she and her colleagues had before they used Bayou Bridges.
These educators echo @rpondiscio and Sean Dimond—a coherent curriculum is essential!
🔗 bit.ly/42pw3j1
Barbara Davidson retweeted
👏 There were many great points made by @rpondiscio in this first episode of @HistoryMatrs podcast. A must listen for educators!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Yet more great reading! Lauren Brown @USHistoryIdeas artfully reflects on some important questions, including "should history teach empathy?" @HistoryMatrs laurenbrownoned.substack.com…
Glad I made time to catch up on reading this weekend. @ChadAldeman's @The74 piece on the need to revisit reading tests is spot on! the74million.org/article/are…
This was one of my very favorite @KnowledgeMatrs School Tour visits!!!
When districts like @AldineISD lean into HQIM and social studies, they’re not just adopting materials. They’re rewriting their story. From leadership to building trust with communities, the focus remains on giving students knowledge-rich learning that lasts.
#HistoryMatters
Jimmy Kim citing Hugh Catts at Reading League event in DC. Doesn’t get much better… @KnowledgeMatrs @ehanford
I tend to be a “glass half-full” kind of gal, so love the line about current grant priorities promoting instruction that prioritizing knowledge-rich materials…@KnowledgeMatrs Thanks @SusanBneuman for your consistently insightful commentary! edweek.org/teaching-learning…
Teachers and parents should take 10 minutes to read this great Substack article by Lauren Brown, who makes a powerful case for reading history texts/stories aloud to students well into middle school. @HistoryMatrs @USHistoryIdeas laurenbrownoned.substack.com…
Love this piece by the always brilliant @smarick. educationnext.org/the-surpri…
Rightfully proud mama of fifth grade Avery who, with her classmates, provided expert testimony on “How did our country meet the challenges of a changing by nation?”
“They’ve been working on this moment since kindergarten!”
Today, @bdavidsonKMC joined @hcpss_tres for a We the People Simulated Congressional Hearing.
Students aren’t just learning history--they’re living it as constitutional experts.
Civics. Literacy. Voice.
#HistoryMatters
Heard great things about @Smithre5 presentation at #TRLSummit2025. Exciting to hear about such a positive reception for the research findings he shared. @HistoryMatrs @KnowledgeMatrs
If you are sacrificing social studies & science instruction in favor of literacy, you are hindering the very background knowledge that strengthens students' reading comp & overall learning, finally not fully supporting their academic growth. #TRLSummit2025 #ReithSmith
We couldn't have picked a better district to celebrate 50 @KnowledgeMatrs School Tour visits. In ELA, social studies, and science, Ouachita Parish is using HQIM. These guys TOTALLY get knowledge building, and their kids are thriving!
Ouachita Parish Schools gets it. We are here for the 50th #KnowledgeMatters School Tour and this districts belief and support of building background knowledge is evident from very start of our day! @bdavidsonKMC @levey_matt48204 @IOnlySpkEbonycs @KnowledgeMatrs #HistoryMatters
