Uncommon Sense: Core Knowledge in the Classroom

Uncommon Sense: Core Knowledge in the Classroom author Timm Mackley shares his experiences from implementing the Core Knowledge Sequence in a small town in southeastern Ohio. His scenarios offer a real understanding of why Core Knowledge has been such a wonderful experience for whole communities of learners. As Mackley describes the reasons for using the Core Knowledge Sequence, he substantiates those reasons with the authentic experiences of administrators, teachers, parents, and students. The Core Knowledge Sequence, based on the work of E. D. Hirsch Jr., is a curriculum that describes what students should know and prescribes specific topics for instruction in kindergarten through 8th grade. What students learn throughout this sequence gives them a common base for additional learning. The Core Knowledge Sequence clearly answers the questions asked of teachers and administrators everywhere: What's being taught? The answer is in the systematic syllabus of content. The Core Knowledge Sequence includes topics and subtopics in language arts, world history, American history, geography, visual arts, music, mathematics, and science. It specifies content for only half the school curriculum. The remaining half is preserved for topics chosen by the teacher or the local schools and districts. Mackley offers suggestions on how to implement the Core Knowledge Sequence in your school or district, as well as information on how to network and find supplementary resources key to your school reform effort.