Core Knowledge
Thompson School District offers the Core Knowledge curriculum at the elementary and the middle school levels. The Core Knowledge program is rich in history, geography, sciences and the arts and maintains a strong focus on literacy and mathematics. The key word with Core Knowledge is sequence. The Core Knowledge Sequence is a detailed outline of specific content to be taught in kindergarten through eighth grade in the areas of language arts, history (American and world), geography, music, visual arts, mathematics and science.
Characteristics of the Core philosophy:
- Elementary and middle schools need a solid, specific, shared core curriculum in order to help children establish strong foundations of knowledge, grade by grade.
- Sequenced learning, grade by grade, prepares students to comprehend more complicated concepts each year.
- Students can enter the program at any grade level as it is a flexible curriculum.
- The Core Knowledge Sequence represents the common ground upon which a faculty meets and collaborates to teach a sequenced, coherent curriculum.
- Through a flexible cumulative curriculum, the knowledge and skills learned each year become the students' foundation for learning in subsequent years.
- Children learn new knowledge by building upon what they already know. Core experts believe it's important to begin building foundations of knowledge in the early grades be cause that's when children are most receptive, and because academic deficiencies in the first six grades can permanently impair the quality of later schooling. For more information, visit www.CORE.org.
Keys to Core success
- The content specified in the Core Knowledge Sequence represents a broad consensus of diverse groups and interests including parents, teachers, scientists, professional curriculum organization, and experts on America's multicultural traditions.
- Teachers in Core Knowledge schools engage their students in active learning of important knowledge through dramatizations, art projects, writing workshops, collaborative learning groups, research projects, etc.
- The Core curriculum is cumulative and builds on knowledge students gain from grade to grade, preparing students to understand future concepts. Truscott Elementary School offers the Core Knowledge curriculum, grades K-5, including Spanish in all grades, and Bill Reed Middle School offers the Core Knowledge curriculum. New Vision Charter School also has a Core curriculum.