Core Knowledge

[Kelli in TN]

In light of the thread *anj* started last night, I pulled out my E.D. Hirsch books and started looking through them. I realized that my children are not as familiar with what he considers core knowledge as they ought to be.

Since we homeschool year round anyway, I am thinking we might incorporate his grade level books into our weeks. Nothing major, no overhaul, but maybe just 30 minutes per day of going through the grade level books and/or the resources on the Core Knowledge website.

Does anyone do anything like this? If so, do you have any great methods or resources to recommend?

[Jean in Newcastle]

When my oldest was 2st grade or younger, I would pull out the books on occasion and we would use the stories (even biographys) as read-a-louds. When he was in 3rd grade and up, I would get them on occasion and give them to him as part of his free reading. He never balked. Some of the stories/biographies were familiar to him - esp. as he got older. He just read the ones that he wasn't familiar with. I found that math/science were covered fine in our own curriculum (though not always in an identical order).

[CindyPTN]

In light of the thread *anj* started last night, I pulled out my E.D. Hirsch books and started looking through them. I realized that my children are not as familiar with what he considers core knowledge as they ought to be.

When you say Core Knowledge, what exactly would you be referring to? I'm not familiar with E.D. Hirsch. Is this more for his program or what Public Schools think students should know at different levels?

There are so many different styles and ideas about what's considered important. I'm trying to figure it all out. Thank you.

Cindy

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

I would like to do this as well. I have the First Dictionary of Cultural Literacy that I will probably use as a rough guideline. I will probably review it every so often and add in books during school time or assigned reading time that cover material I think we are missing. I don't have any real ideas for you as my oldest is only 6. :)

[Beth in Central TX]

Same here. I've used this series as a read aloud at lunchtime. I think exposure to the different stories and sayings was the most beneficial.

[Beth in Central TX]

She's referring to this book series here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-9770287-9496411?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=core+knowledge

[mcconnellboys]

I've incorporated them over the years. I just add some of their readings in to whatever I'm already doing, so if there's something in science I want to add in, I'll do that during science time; ditto for history. I've sometimes read their stories, but I can usually find nice, illustrated versions of their stories, which we prefer. I've added in their cultural knowledge info to our morning reading time or grammar time, when we're discussing things aloud.

Regena

[mcconnellboys]

I've incorporated some of these sayings into games, looking for opportunities during our days to use them in our speech.

Regena

[Plaid Dad]

When you say Core Knowledge, what exactly would you be referring to? I'm not familiar with E.D. Hirsch.

This site (http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/index.htm) should help with the basics. The Frequently Asked Questions page (http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/about/FAQ/FAQ.htm) has a lot of good information. And here's the Wikipedia article on Hirsch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._D._Hirsch).

I've often said that if I weren't able to homeschool in elementary, I'd want my dd in a Core Knowledge school.

[Kelli in TN]

Well, I did indeed start this today. I used a few of the sayings that I knew my children did not hear on a regular basis as their penmanship assignments!

So that's a start!

[CindyPTN]

I've seen these books at the store, but had not looked inside them. Thank you Plaid Dad and Beth, I'm gonna check them out of the library. They look very interesting.

[Jumping In Puddles]

sorry to bring an old thread back up, but I saw some of these books in the bookstore, but I was under the assumption that this was a "curriculum" much like TWTM is so I didn't look much further.

To those that use Core Knowledge, do you use them on their own merit or do you work them into a classical education?

[Tammyla]

I think with summer right around the corner this is a good thread to dig up. Great idea btw, Kelli.

[Kelli in TN]

sorry to bring an old thread back up, but I saw some of these books in the bookstore, but I was under the assumption that this was a "curriculum" much like TWTM is so I didn't look much further.

To those that use Core Knowledge, do you use them on their own merit or do you work them into a classical education?

I just sort of use them as a "side dish" to our "main course" of WTM!

I use snippets for penmanship sheets, I have them read the stories, I compare the math against our math text, etc.

[TXMomof4]

sorry to bring an old thread back up, but I saw some of these books in the bookstore, but I was under the assumption that this was a "curriculum" much like TWTM is so I didn't look much further.

To those that use Core Knowledge, do you use them on their own merit or do you work them into a classical education?

My mom taught core knowledge for years. She is a huge fan, but to me it is too hard to get all of that organized for homeschool. At least for me. I have the scope &sequence for CK from K-8 and when I looked over it, I realized that all of the main topics, my kids would cover with WTM. It is just in order, rather than doing a little ancient history, a little American History, a little science. WTM is organized in a more logical manner for me to follow, imho. However, I do think CK is very useful in pointing out the things I don't think about teaching, like the sayings. It is a wonderful curriculum, and if my kids were in school, I'd fink a ck school for them to go to!

[Melinda in VT]

I think they can also be helpful for giving kids a little bit of American History in the younger grades while you are waiting to get to SOTW III.

[gardenschooler]

This is what I used in the early years for my older two. For my youngest, I've used it as an add-on to her SOTW.

It's completely different in sequence from WTM, but it worked for me. Following the CK books, we did each year:
*one Ancient or Medieval (4th) unit study each year
*a little World Geography
*a little US History
*about one century of US History per year (it goes through the basics in K-2, then has another US history cycle broken up over 3rd - 6th).

I just made up unit studies for each topic, and we followed the oldest's grade level for the most part. I used the library almost exclusively. It was pretty easy to put together, but I'm inclined towards unit study type things. Ending them and moving on was the hard part!

To add them in for the summer, you could just pick a level for everyone to do. It is kind of hard to use several at the same time. You could read aloud from the book, add in library books, throw in a few activities or writing assignments. You could split it up and do different subjects each day, like Poetry and Science on Mon., Geography and Music on Tues., etc.

I never bought the CK Sequence, so I don't know anything about that other than I'm sure it's great (and goes up to 8th grade). I know it uses Rats, Bulls, and Flying Machines, but does it incorporate these books in, as well?

[elegantlion]

I have the one for 4th grade. I hadn't thought about using it over the summer, that's a great idea. I found mine at Goodwill for .89, what a deal.

[Stacia]

I just sort of use them as a "side dish" to our "main course" of WTM!

That's what I do (when I remember to pull the CK books out). Recently, I've had my dc read some of the science & lit sections in the books. I figure it's good review, is a good thing for one to do during 'downtime' while I'm helping the other one, etc.... Also, I just started my dd w/ IEW & I've used a couple of the paragraphs in the CK book (science section) for key-word outlining & writing practice.

[Kelli in TN]

.... Also, I just started my dd w/ IEW & I've used a couple of the paragraphs in the CK book (science section) for key-word outlining & writing practice.


Hey now! I had not thought to have them do their IEW paragraphs from CK. That is a fabulous idea! Thanks for posting that.

[*anj*]

In light of the thread *anj* started last night, I pulled out my E.D. Hirsch books and started looking through them. I realized that my children are not as familiar with what he considers core knowledge as they ought to be.


What thread?
What are you talking about?
Is there another *anj*?
Maybe you meant ***Tish*** (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/member.php?u=2680)

Seriously, maybe I was blinded by love or something but I don't remember starting any thread about core knowledge!! :rolleyes:

[Kelli in TN]

What thread?
What are you talking about?
Is there another *anj*?
Maybe you meant ***Tish*** (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/member.php?u=2680)

Seriously, maybe I was blinded by love or something but I don't remember starting any thread about core knowledge!! :rolleyes:

Long ago, in a galaxy far away.....

You had a post about cultural illiteracy among high schoolers I think. This thread came from that thread. It is an old, old thread. It is from February. I was amazed to see it float back up!!!

[Kristine out of lurking]

CK brought us to hsing! We signed my dd up for a CK charter school when she was 1. I didn't know what CK was, but I liked the charter school aspect. She attended K and half of 1st grade before we withdrew and began hsing. We started out using Sonlight loosely.

By the end of 1st grade, we were using CK and the EDHirsch books as a spine. We continued these until part way through 2nd grade, when I read TWTM, and the rest is history, lol. (Um, that wasn't an intentional pun.) She also attended another CK charter school on a part time/hs basis for two years.

In general, I prefer TWTM, but CK has the sayings and other info that is also helpful. For Kelli, I don't know how interesting it would be to your older dc. They probably have picked up a lot of the information even if you didn't directly teach it.

But I wanted to share a great lesson plan website that we based many of our CK lessons on:
Baltimore Curriculum Project Lesson Plan Index (http://www.cstone.net/%7Ebcp/BCPIntro2.htm)

The CK website, www.coreknowledge.org, also has lesson plans, but I've always preferred the consistency of the BCP site.

I really wish Virginia had a CK school. Oh well...

[*anj*]

Long ago, in a galaxy far away.....

You had a post about cultural illiteracy among high schoolers I think. This thread came from that thread. It is an old, old thread. It is from February. I was amazed to see it float back up!!!

Ohhhhhhh......
Noggin, dude!!
I hadn't even noticed the date. Too funny!
:D

[BizyPenguin]

I tried my hand at putting together a CK curriculum one year and went absolutely loopy. It was too much work!! I think just buying the "What Your ____ Needs to Know" books and spending a little time reading through the book each week is plenty for those not following CK.

In light of the thread *anj* started last night, I pulled out my E.D. Hirsch books and started looking through them. I realized that my children are not as familiar with what he considers core knowledge as they ought to be.

Since we homeschool year round anyway, I am thinking we might incorporate his grade level books into our weeks. Nothing major, no overhaul, but maybe just 30 minutes per day of going through the grade level books and/or the resources on the Core Knowledge website.

Does anyone do anything like this? If so, do you have any great methods or resources to recommend?

[kalanamak]

I have the one for this year at my bedside and every month or so I read through it with kiddo, and sometimes just with myself and jot down a note ("story of John Henry") to remind me to tell him. I don't usually read the story to him at this young age...I can remember it and embellish and tell him in the dark (our after lights out story).

I am very pleased people are doing this series. I think that as our society enlarges and diversifies, it become more and more crucial we have some unifying base. Maybe even a matter of life and death further down the road.

[Sahamamama]

1. Language Arts ------Monday
2. History/Geography---Tuesday
3. Fine Arts------------Wednesday
4. Mathematics-------- Thursday
5. Natural Sciences---- Friday or Saturday

Read 1-2 pages each day, one section per day each week (clear as mud, right?). Move the bookmark up. Simple. Gets it done.

No, really, children DO absorb more General Knowledge-type "stuff" than we give them credit for, if they are exposed to it in a meaningful way. I used the What Your X Grader Needs to Know in tutoring situations. You simply would not believe what some of my students do not know. Gasp.

I tutored a 10-year old 5th grader who did NOT know the months of the year, the definition of a noun, the meaning of singular/plural, ANY poetry, most nursery rhymes, stories, and fables, and not a lick of geography. No continents, oceans, rivers, mountains, lakes, cities, capitals -- oh, no, wait, he did know a few states, like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

This series of books sometimes annoys me because it tried too hard (IMO) to be PC and multi-everything and is a bit too "educationy" for me, but for what it is, it is VERY well-done and could be a great resource for home teachers and tutors. Also, when I was in Literacy Volunteers of America and ESL, we used this a LOT. We would teach the students to read at this level, so they could take the books home and "practice" with their own children -- thus reaching two generations at once. Nice.

[Sahamamama]

I think they can also be helpful for giving kids a little bit of American History in the younger grades while you are waiting to get to SOTW III.

:iagree: That's what we are doing this spring. Just the 1st grade US history.

[Jumping In Puddles]

You simply would not believe what some of my students do not know. Gasp.



I was shocked when my 8 year old nephew didn't know what a Teepee was!

I'm going to have to check the series out now, thanks. :)

[Kelli in TN]

1. Language Arts ------Monday
2. History/Geography---Tuesday
3. Fine Arts------------Wednesday
4. Mathematics-------- Thursday
5. Natural Sciences---- Friday or Saturday

Read 1-2 pages each day, one section per day each week (clear as mud, right?). Move the bookmark up. Simple. Gets it done.

.

That is a GREAT idea!