Smith does feel that while workplace demands don't outstrip school curricula, those curricula do not match the workforce well. Many times workers we spoke with spontaneously commented that the purpose of mathematics escaped them in school and became clear only at work. Situated, problem-based curricula may help to narrow the gap between 'abstract' mathematics and its uses in the world. Many reasons have been put forward for the lower academic performance of low SES students. She notes at the beginning people generally agree that when it comes to developing literacy, the more print experience the better.
Scholars recommend extensive reading practice, daily read-aloud, and routine writing.
Qualifiers such as 'substantial' and 'ongoing' are frequently used to suggest the quantity of textual experience necessary for acquisition of a particular form of text. While quantity is important, but so is variety. She looked at the kinds and amounts of print experience children in these classrooms were having. Two shelves were hard for the kids to get to, but it didn't seem to matter since the books on those shelves were seldom used, being mostly textbooks from the 1960's and some reference books not designed for early elementary grades. New books added during the year were almost all those purchased by the teacher with her own money, or gifts to the teacher from friends.