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Overview of the Core Knowledge®
Preschool Sequence
and Teacher Handbook
What is Core Knowledge?
• An educational reform• Preschool-Grade 8• Specific grade-by-grade core
curriculum: shared knowledge• Sequence of skills & knowledge
that build cumulatively from year to year
• Rigorous academic content with high expectations for all children
Core Knowledge Preschool
• Completely aligned with Core Knowledge K-8 Sequence
• Completely aligned with Early Childhood Standards and Guidelines– Can be used as a stand-alone
curriculum for preschools not affiliated with Core Knowledge grade schools
The Underlying Philosophy of the Core Knowledge Preschool
Program
We can, and must, establish high expectations for all young children, recognizing that the rates and approaches to learning may vary among individuals.
What is the Preschool Sequence?
The Preschool Sequence is a preschool curriculum based on the latest research in early childhood education. The curriculum presents sequenced content and skill guidelines and developmentally appropriate practices for the education of young children.
Motor SkillsMovement and Coordination
Social SkillsAutonomy and Social Skills
Approaches to LearningWork Habits
Language SkillsOral LanguageNursery Rhymes, Poems, Fingerplays, and SongsStorybook Reading and StorytellingEmerging Literacy Skills in Reading and
WritingCognitive Development
Mathematical Reasoning and Number SenseOrientation in Time and SpaceScientific Reasoning and the Physical WorldMusicVisual Arts
Organization of the Handbook
The icon is used throughout the book to denote practices that are developmentally appropriate as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) publication, Developmentally Appropriate Practice (3rd Edition).
Organization of the Handbook: Introduction
Each chapter’s introduction provides an overview of key ideas or content in the chapter including the importance of the content to the development of young children.
Organization of the Handbook: Best Practices
Best practices are provided for each content area chapter. These best practices are informed by standards for, research regarding, and common practice in early childhood classrooms.
Organization of the Handbook: The Big Idea
The Big Idea documents the central idea of the chapter or section.
Organization of the Handbook: What
Preschoolers Need to LearnThe learning goals for the Preschool Sequence are presented in the What Preschoolers Need to Learn section. These broad goals represent one or more individual skills that are listed in the skills section of the chapter.
Organization of the Handbook: What Children will
Learn in KindergartenA glimpse of topics that Core Knowledge teachers will cover in the kindergarten year is provided in the What Children will Learn in Kindergarten section.
Organization of the Handbook: Language of
InstructionTerms that knowledgeable and competent individuals generally use to talk about the particular subject are included in the Language of Instruction section.
Organization of the Handbook: Cross-
Curricular ConnectionsThe cross-curricular connections tables provide suggestions of skills or content from other subject areas that align with the content or skills of the current chapter or section.
Organization of the Handbook: At a Glance
The most important ideas from the chapter are listed in the At a Glance section.
Organization of the Handbook: Skills
The goals and the individual skills that comprise them are presented in the Skills section of each chapter.
Organization of the Handbook: Oral Language
SkillsA subset of skills from the Oral Language chapter are presented in the chapter for each content area. This subset of skills has been selected for their particular relevance to the skills of the content area.
Organization of the Handbook: Content
The Preschool Sequence also recommends specific content including works of art, stories, poems, fingerplays, and songs.
Organization of the Handbook: What Teachers
Need to KnowThe What Teachers Need to Know section provides background information on the typical development of the Sequence goals, developmentally appropriate practices related to the goals, and other information to support the planning of activities and experiences.
Organization of the Handbook: Scaffolding
The Scaffolding section of each chapter provides specific examples of how high-support and low-support scaffolding strategies might be used when addressing goals or skills from the content area.
Organization of the Handbook: Assessment
The Assessment section of each chapter provides general background on what to look for when assessing the goals of the chapter, and specific ideas for when each can be assessed during the course of the typical day.
Organization of the Handbook: Resources
The Resources section of each chapter provides a bibliography of storybook resources (for children) and instructional resources (for teachers).
Organization of the Handbook: Other Features• Using the Preschool Sequence• English Language Learners• Core Knowledge® for Toddlers• Parent Communication• Sample Year-Long Curriculum
Plan• Core Knowledge® Kindergarten
Sequence• Bibliography and Resources
Snapshot: Implementation and Observation Checklists
Includes:• Environmental
checklist• Planning and
assessment practices checklist
• Language support checklist
• Behavior and classroom management checklist
• Individual checklists for each component of the daily routine
Characteristics of a Core Knowledge Preschool Class• There are high expectations for
all children, recognizing that rates & methods of learning may vary among individuals.
• Curriculum goals are specific, with step-by-step objectives. Current knowledge & skills become the starting point for subsequent experiences & instruction
Characteristics of a Core Knowledge Preschool Class• Children are always ready to learn
if teachers know where to start. The specific, explicit goals allow teachers to make knowledge & skills accessible to children in small steps.
• Classroom experiences & activities are based on explicit guidelines that specify essential knowledge & skills for preschool age children.
Characteristics of a Core Knowledge Preschool Class• There is a balance of classroom
experiences & activities within all developmental areas:
– Physical Well-Being & Coordination
– Social & Emotional Development
– Approaches to Learning
– Language Development
– Knowledge Acquisition and Cognitive Development
Characteristics of a Core Knowledge Preschool Class• The teacher assumes an
interactive role with the children, planning, guiding, & presenting materials, activities, & experiences.
• The development of each child’s autonomy within the context of the group is emphasized. Group experiences encourage socially responsible behavior & respect for the group.
Characteristics of a Core Knowledge Preschool Class• There is an emphasis on helping
preschoolers begin to link concrete, manipulative experiences with representational, pencil & paper tasks.
• The preschool curriculum is correlated to the kindergarten curriculum to help provide a smooth transition & ensure ongoing learning from preschool to kindergarten.
Characteristics of a Core Knowledge Preschool Class• This preschool model is
based on research in cognitive psychology on how children learn & empirically validated practice with millions of preschool children internationally.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:Core Knowledge Preschool 2-Day Training Modules
• Getting Started
• Autonomy, Social Skills, and Work Habits
• Using Children’s Literature and Writing to Develop Language and Literacy Skills
• Phonological Awareness, ABCs, and More
• Building Oral Language Skills
• Mathematics and Number Sense/Orientation in Time and Space
• Scientific Reasoning and Knowledge• Movement, Coordination, and Music• Visual Arts• Assessment and Planning to Address Children’s
Learning Needs• Leadership Development for Administrators
Visit our Website for Research Documenting the Effectiveness of the
Core Knowledge®
Preschool Programhttp://coreknowledge.org/CK/Preschool/preschool_research.htm
For More Information Contact:
Core Knowledge® Foundation801 East High StreetCharlottesville, VA 22902
