Core Knowledge will Makre Its K-8 sequence availabel to Schools for Free

[Anonymous]

I think the Core Knowledge curriculum sequence is fantastic and wish my child's school in MD would use it, especially for social studies and science.

Apparently there's some kind of national movement afott to have common standards in Language Arts and Math across the country; and in light of that, the Core Knowledge folks are making their entire curriculum free (they are a non-profit and selling the standards is a big part of their revenue) in order to support this effort.

Here's an article about it:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/02/03/20standards.h29.html?tkn=SP%5bFshoYAcf2hGKCahUpS9YYx1%2BU%2BCcLMRGT

[Anonymous]

from the article:

Core Knowledge’s approach is based on the belief that children should know specific content at each K-8 grade level in English, mathematics, science, music, visual arts, world history, American history, and geography. It is only on a base of such “shared, specific, and sequenced” knowledge, the foundation argues, that skills such as critical thinking and reading comprehension can be built.

Those who debate curriculum issues differ on the extent to which skills must be blended with subject-matter knowledge, and the common standards—like many state standards—focus more on skills than on specific chunks of content. Core Knowledge believes its K-8 sequence supplies key content for the common standards’ framework of skills and ideas.

[Anonymous]

stupid typos in title! Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from the article:

Core Knowledge’s approach is based on the belief that children should know specific content at each K-8 grade level in English, mathematics, science, music, visual arts, world history, American history, and geography. It is only on a base of such “shared, specific, and sequenced” knowledge, the foundation argues, that skills such as critical thinking and reading comprehension can be built.

Those who debate curriculum issues differ on the extent to which skills must be blended with subject-matter knowledge, and the common standards—like many state standards—focus more on skills than on specific chunks of content. Core Knowledge believes its K-8 sequence supplies key content for the common standards’ framework of skills and ideas.

This is a great opportunity for parents to take a look at the Core Knowledge Sequence for free and see what their children have been missing. I taught the CK Sequence for several years and pulled my own child out of DCPS to homeschool in order to continue the sequence through grade 8. DCPS should be encouraging schools to supplement the weak DC Standards with this Sequence. Students of all abilities benefit from this rich content.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP!

I looked at the Core Knowledge syllabus samples because I wanted to supplemtn what my own child was learning in his well regarded MD public school. What he's learning in math and language arts seems fine, but I'm seeing very little learning in Science, and next to nothing in Social Studies. I was the person who recently posted a comparison between VA public schools and MD public schools in what the objectives were grade by grade in Social Studies, because I just couldn't believe how little was expected of kids in MD. The curriculum seems very skills and inquiry based, whic is fine, but some actual facts really need to be expected, too, IMO.

Anyhow, I didn't want to spend the money to buy anythig, but a week later (I joined their email list) they announced they were making it available for free later this month. I think even if schools don't want to use this to cupplement, PTAs could consider encouraging its use for enrichment or afterschool clubs.

[Anonymous]

Free material is not all that good an idea.
The pink-lady/candy-striper brush often makes the free course, free literature, free advice lowly regarded.
Very skilled volunteers often experience this costs nothing worth the same attitude!
Whatever the price, something of a charge is better than nothing. It's a funny fact.

[Anonymous]

I went to the Core Knowledge site. I was not able to see the curriculum, but looking at the 4th grade science threw up some red flags. Can't be critical without reading how those topics are meant to be used, but it does raise questions about a potential gap between what kids are learning and what you think you are teaching. What is the scientific and educational research that supports this curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to the Core Knowledge site. I was not able to see the curriculum, but looking at the 4th grade science threw up some red flags. Can't be critical without reading how those topics are meant to be used, but it does raise questions about a potential gap between what kids are learning and what you think you are teaching. What is the scientific and educational research that supports this curriculum?

All that is available right now is a sample. What was it about the 4th grade sample that caused concern?

[Anonymous]

Actually at the moment it doesn't appear anything is available! But I found this scope and sequence for grades 3-5.

http://coreknowledge.org/CK/about/3-5glance.htm

Science for Grade 4 covers these topics:

Human Body (Circulatory and Respiratory Systems)
Chemistry (Atoms; Matter; Elements; Solutions
Electricity
Geology: Earth and Its Changes
Meteorology
Science Biographies


specific topics under electricity include:

Electricity as the flow of electrons
Static electricity
Electric current
Electric circuits: closed, open, and short circuits
Simple circuit (battery, wire, bulb, filament, switch)
Conductors and insulators
How electromagnets work
Using electricity safely

Other specific topics would be covered in more detail in the sequence.

[Anonymous]

I've taught the 4th grade sequence. It's exciting content for both students and the teacher. My students especially enjoyed the electricity unit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually at the moment it doesn't appear anything is available!

The complete CK Sequence will be available for download at the end of February.

[Anonymous]

For the electricity unit, the question is: What are you really teaching? Are you teaching systems*, or are you teaching facts about electricity when a comprehension of electron behavior is, for the most part, above the level of 4th graders? It's true, kids at this age love building circuits, seeing the bulb turn on, etc.. It's a fine line between learning the names and parts of things, and walking away with misconceptions about what is really happening.

* How all the inter-related parts of a circuit are necessary in order for the whole thing to work, etc.

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood school in FCPS is a Core Knowledge school. We haven't made it past 2nd grade at that school (my oldest transferred to a GT center for 3rd and now I have another in K), but so far it has been great. They seem to revisit and expand on the content year by year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the electricity unit, the question is: What are you really teaching? Are you teaching systems*, or are you teaching facts about electricity when a comprehension of electron behavior is, for the most part, above the level of 4th graders? It's true, kids at this age love building circuits, seeing the bulb turn on, etc.. It's a fine line between learning the names and parts of things, and walking away with misconceptions about what is really happening.

* How all the inter-related parts of a circuit are necessary in order for the whole thing to work, etc.

We're building circuits and batteries and exploring how they work. We're also teaching rare-word vocabulary. In my experience teaching in DCPS, a basic understanding of electron behavior is not beyond the level of 4th graders. I'm not that worried about misconceptions. I think ignorance is much worse.

[Anonymous]

Now I know a lot of adults that don't understand how a circuit works!

We all have gaps in our knowledge base. That's why everyone needs a little Core Knowledge.