EL Supports in CKLA: Professional Development for Teachers
Whitney Knight Rorie
How can school leaders best support staff in adapting their instruction for English Learners? The more specific, the better! This session will present an outline for training general education and EL teachers on ways to accommodate the CKLA curriculum to better support English Learners in the classroom. Using the embedded supports in CKLA, suggestions of additional supports, communication with families, assessment, and more, attendees will prepare to develop professional development sessions for school staff. Outcomes from existing PD sessions will be presented.
Core Knowledge Science 6-8: Blending an NGSS Curriculum with Core Knowledge Science Literacy
Dr. Dan Franck
In this session, we will explore the Core Knowledge 6-8 Science Program, a unique blend of the OpenSciEd NGSS-certified curriculum and Core Knowledge’s Science Literacy approach. After a broad overview, we’ll dive deep into one unit—Grade 8’s Natural Selection and Common Ancestry—to see how this innovative program works in practice. We will also examine how literacy is integrated into the OpenSciEd lessons and discuss strategies for adapting this comprehensive program to fit your school year. A key focus will be understanding Core Knowledge’s definition of science literacy, emphasizing the importance of scientific thinking, societal decision-making, and the connections between science and other fields of human knowledge. Participants will engage in curriculum-based activities to bring back to the classroom.
Unlocking Literacy: Best Practices for Coaching New Teachers in Core Knowledge
Christie Olsen
Ready to empower new teachers with the tools for success? Join this hands-on session to explore essential teaching practices in oral language development, reading comprehension, and writing instruction, all aligned with the Core Knowledge curriculum. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to coach and mentor educators, helping them build effective, evidence-based instructional techniques that ensure student success.
Knowledge-Rich Curriculum and Core Knowledge in England and Australia (or: Why this Researcher Flew 10,000 Miles to Attend this Conference)
Jacqueline Magee
This presentation will offer an international perspective on the influence of knowledge-rich curriculum and Core Knowledge on education policy and classroom practice, focusing on the English and Australian experiences from the early 2010s to today. The presentation will draw on research evidence both linking knowledge-rich curriculum to improved student outcomes and equity and on Australian teachers’ experiences working with ostensibly knowledge-rich curriculum in their classrooms. The presentation will cavass conference attendees’ perspectives on the barriers to, and enablers of, working with knowledge-rich curriculum in their contexts, drawing on their significant practical experience.
Writing Across the Curriculum
Kimberely Marchisotto and Toni Sypherd
Participants will leave with practical strategies and tools to effectively integrate writing into their classrooms, enhancing both student engagement and academic achievement within the Core Knowledge framework. The session will cater to educators looking to enrich their teaching practices with evidence-based approaches to writing instruction across diverse subjects.
Introducing CKHG Primary Source Activity Books
Ilene Goldman
Primary Source Activity Books are the newest addition to Core Knowledge’s History & Geography curriculum materials. Learn about the activity books’ structure and implementation options and participate in guided practice of selected activities.
Core Classics Novel Literacy Cycle
Natalia Miller-Forrest
Are you interested in having your students invested in Core Classics while learning at rigorous levels? The Core Classics Novel Literacy Cycle session will show teachers and administrators how to effectively teach literacy using the Core Classics in the classroom for grades 3-8 while engaging students. We will explore the literacy cycle based on Junior Great Books which incorporates domain vocabulary, interpretive questioning, and Socratic circles. Participants will leave this session with access to a Google Drive that provides resources that will enable them to implement this literacy cycle.
Word Recognition as the Gateway to Comprehension
Dr. Susan Lambert
In the elementary grades, fluent word recognition is a critical building block for reading comprehension. Without it, students spend their energy decoding words rather than understanding text. This session will explore the science of how children learn to recognize words automatically—from foundational skills in phonemic awareness and phonics in the early grades to the growing role of morphology in upper elementary. Designed for K–5 educators, this session offers practical strategies to support word recognition at every stage, helping all students become confident, successful readers.