The introduction states: "The only reason our schools haven't made astonishing progress in the last 30 years of "reform" is quite simple: very few schools ever implemented 'what is essential'--the most powerful, simple actions and structures that would dramatically increase the proportion of students prepared for college or careers. What is 'essential' for schools? Three simple things: reasonably coherent curriculum (what we teach); sound lessons (how we teach); and far more purposeful reading and writing in every discipline, or authentic literacy (integral to both what and how we teach).

Available online at: https://wbb04811.follettshelf.com/shelf/servlet/presentshelfform.do?site=04811. Description based on print version record.

Section I. First Things First: What We Teach, How We Teach, and Literacy: 1. The importance of simplicity, clarity, and priority, 2. What we teach; 3. How we teach -- Section II. Curriculum, Instruction, and Literacy in the Content Areas: 3. English language arts made simple; A brief note on textbooks; 5. Social studies with reading and writing at the core; 6. Redefining inquiry in science; 7. Making math meaningful.