Curriculum
What is Core Knowledge?
The “Core Knowledge” movement is an educational reform based on the premise that a grade by grade core of common learning is necessary to ensure a sound and fair early education. The movement was started by Dr. E.D. Hirsch, Jr. and is based on a large body of research in cognitive psychology. Dr. Hirsch has argued that, for the sake of academic excellence, greater fairness, and higher literacy, early schooling should provide a solid, specific, shared core curriculum in order to help children establish strong foundation of knowledge. After wide consultation, the content of this core curriculum has been outline in the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence book. It states explicitly what children should learn at each age level.
Riverstone has implemented 100% of the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence and added PLUS to the program which encompasses infants to Kindergarten. At Riverstone, we know that with a strong focus on challenging but appropriate content, the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence PLUS is unique among early childhood programs. It outlines a comprehensive and coherent progression of knowledge and skills in all developmental areas. The Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence PLUS starts with the premise that children are always “ready to learn,” as long as the teacher knows where to start with each child. Preschoolers build new knowledge and skills based on what they have already learned. A specific, explicit sequence of skills and knowledge, such as Preschool Sequence PLUS, allows teachers to guide a young child’s development in an apprentice-like fashion. Taking into account he child’s particular competencies, a teacher can then offer those experiences that most closely match a student’s present level, while providing the stepping stone needed to advance to higher levels of understanding and competence.
The content of the Preschool Sequence PLUS is:
Solid-It is a comprehensive preschool curriculum that addresses all facets of early childhood development.
Specific-It identifies explicit skills and knowledge that are critical to a young child’s development, in terms of “readiness to learn.”
Sequenced-It presents skills and knowledge that progress from very basic to more challenging so that children build new knowledge and skills based on what they have already learned.
Shared-It represents shared knowledge. Only by explicitly specifying the competencies and knowledge that all children should share can we ensure access to an excellent and fair education for all.
At a glance, Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence PLUS is a proven effective curriculum for children infant-Kindergarten in the following core learning areas:
Movement and Coordination
- physical attention and relaxation
- gross motor skills
- eye-hand and eye-foot coordination
- group games
- creative movement and expression
Autonomy and Social Skills
- sense of self and personal responsibility
- working in a group setting
Work Habits
- memory skills
- following directions
- task persistence and completion
Language
- oral language
- nursery rhymes, poems, finger plays, songs
- children’s literature; read alouds
- emerging literacy skills
Mathematics
- patterns and classification
- geometry
- measurement
- numbers and number sense
- addition and subtraction
- money
Orientation in Time
- vocabulary
- measure of time
- passage of time (past, present, future)
Orientation in Space
- vocabulary
- actual and represented space
- simple maps
- basic geographical concepts
Science
- human characteristics, needs and development
- animal characteristics, needs and development
- plant characteristics, needs and development
- physical elements (water, air light)
- tools
Music
- attention to differences in sound
- imitate and produce sounds
- listen and sing
- listen and move
Visual Arts
- attention to visual detail
- creating art
- looking at and talking about art
Benefits of Core Knowledge
- provides a broad base of knowledge and a rich vocabulary
- motivates children to learn and creates a strong desire to learn more
- provides the knowledge necessary for higher levels of learning and helps build confidence
For the School
- provides a common focus so share knowledge and expertise
- provides a plan for coherent, sequenced learning from classroom to classroom
- promotes a community of learners-adults and children
- becomes an effective tool for lesson planning and communication among teachers with parents
- guides thoughtful purchases of school resources
- decrease learning gaps caused by mobility
For Parents and the Community
- provides a clear outline of what children are expected to learn in school
- encourages parents to participate in their children’s education both at home and in school
- provides opportunities for community members to help obtain and provide instructional resources
For more information, visit the Core Knowledge website at www.coreknowledge.org