Core Knowedge

Love Core Knowledge

If you are asking, What is Core Knowledge? Allow me to try and explain.
A concept that students need solid, specific and shared knowledge grade by grade. That what is taught in first grade in one school should also be taught in all other first grades around the country. From there, it builds year by year, you can easily track what they have already been taught in previous years and what they will learn on coming years in all subjects.
Here is a link to the Core Knowledge Website




You've probably seen these. They are pretty common and I see them everywhere. If you just want a good base of what your kid should know by what grade - this is where you should start. I have them from Preschool on up to our highest year, which is Fourth Grade this year. I started using them when my kids were in public school. They cover language, mathematics, history, science, art, music, etc. etc.

This book maps out K-8 at a glance. It is much more concise than the books above and below, but it is a fast way for me to see what is being covered when.

It took me a couple years to give-in and buy these books, so this is our first year with them. Well, I should say, my first year. They are expensive BUT well worth it. They come with Master Copies of handouts. Each section starts with "What they will learn" moves to "What they already know" (from previous grades) and then to "What they will learn next" (in future grades). They also cross reference subjects, so that if a poem (language arts) they need to learn applies to the American Revolution (US History) you know you should teach them together. Enough information that I feel prepared to teach, not too much that I am left sorting what to teach and what to leave out.