The Core Knowledge Foundation & º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA
Having a strong foundation of both foundational skills and background knowledge sets students up for a lifetime of reading and academic success. This philosophy drives the mission and the work of the Core Knowledge Foundation (CKF). º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ partnered with CKF to develop our Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum, which is the premier High-Quality Instructional Material (HQIM) offering among elementary language arts programs.
What is the Core Knowledge Foundation?
The Core Knowledge Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization built around the Science of Reading.
To do this, the CKF developed the Core Knowledge Sequence, which outlines the knowledge and skills that all children in the U.S. should learn, and is content-specific, cumulative, and coherent. Based on this mission and philosophy, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ partnered with the CKF to develop our º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA curriculum. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA, now in its third edition, has continued to grow and improve to better meet the needs of the elementary classroom.
Only a well-rounded, knowledge-specific curriculum can impart needed knowledge to all children and overcome inequality of opportunity.
E. D. Hirsch, Jr., founder of the Core Knowledge Foundation
What are the distinguishing features of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA?
Two ideas drove the development of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA: In order for students to actually understand what they’re learning, they need deep background knowledge and vocabulary to pull from, and decoding and encoding must be automatic and fluent. To help students achieve this:
- The foundational skills instruction in º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA is explicit.
- The connection between oral and written language is supported.
- Vocabulary is learned in context and through multiple exposures.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA, 3rd Edition
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ CKLA is now in its third edition and maintains a foundation in the Science of Reading, while featuring new content and significant enhancements including:
- A powerful and enhanced Knowledge sequence—Students engage with a range of people, perspectives, and authentic texts in exciting new units.
- Streamlined pacing—We’ve streamlined the pacing of Knowledge Domains, giving you more time for differentiation and helping all students access content.Â
- Integrated writing instruction based on the Science of Writing—Your students’ writing will reinforce their reading development with new instruction grounded in the Science of Writing, the research behind how kids learn to write.
- Assessment and data reporting—Monitor progress, identify opportunities for growth, and make data-driven decisions with digital assessments and reports.
- Tiered support through cohesive personalized learning and screening—º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s literacy suite provides cohesive instruction that supports personalized learning and aligns with a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).