Core Knowledge Language Arts Program

The Core Knowledge Language Arts Program is based on the insight that reading comprehension is a two-lock box, a box that requires two keys to open.• The first key is decoding skills.• The second key is oral language, vocabulary and background knowledge sufficient to understand what is decoded.

First Key: Decoding SkillsThese are taught in the Skills Strand ofCore Knowledge Language Arts

Grades K-2:

•Focus on systematic, explicit instruction in synthetic phonics•Sound > letter instruction•Reading and writing taught in tandem, as inverse procedures•Repeated oral reading of 100% decodable text to build fluency

Second Key: Oral Language, Vocabulary, Background Knowledge

These are taught in the Listening and LearningStrand of Core Knowledge Language Arts

Grades K-2:

•Focus on listening comprehension•Carefully sequenced oral read-alouds grouped into thematically unified domains, based on the Core Knowledge Sequence•Read-alouds include fiction and nonfiction selections

The Core Knowledge Language Arts ProgramSkills Strand Components

One hour of daily instruction is devoted to the Skills Strand. Teachers and students use the following components.

Teacher Guide (K, 1, 2, 3) One per teacher per unit The Teacher Guide for the Skills strand outlines the lessons for each unit.

Student Workbooks (K, 1, 2, 3) One per student per unit The Skills strand Student Workbooks contain activity and practice pages to accompany and reinforce skills instruction.

Student Readers (K, 1, 2, 3) One per student per unit (in Grade K, Readers begin with Unit 6) The Skills Strand Student Readers contain 100% decodable text designed to provide practice on recently taught spellings. New spellings taught in each unit are printed in bold throughout the unit’s Reader to help students master new material.

Big Books (K, 1) One per teacher for five titles in Grade K, three titles in Grade 1 The Big Books are large format replicas of some of the Student Readers. Teachers use these to model readingfor students.

Blending Picture Cards (K) One set per teacher Blending Picture Cards show an image onone side and the matching segmented word on the other side.

Sound Poster Set & Sound Cards (K) One set per teacher The Sound Posters are used to display code knowledge on the classroom wall as each sound is taught.

Student Chaining Folder (K) One per student Students use the Chaining Folders to practice building words with the Small Letter Cards.

Small Letter Cards (K) One set per teacher—distributed to students as needed The set of Small Letter Cards contains enough cards for all to conduct spelling and chaining activities.

Large Card Letter Set (K, 1) One set per teacher Full-page sized cards with the spellings of each of the Skills Strand sound-spellings. Vowels are shaded. The cards are used for teaching and reviewing sounds and spellings and for activities like chaining.

Timeline Posters & Timeline Cards (2) One set per teacher The Timeline Cards feature an image and a sentence depicting an event from the decodable Student Reader.

Code Flip Books (1, 2, 3) One set per teacher The set of two large format Flip Books (one for vowels and one for consonants) contains both basic and alternative spellings.

Spelling Cards (1, 2, 3) One set per teacher The Spelling Cards are used with the Code Flip Books.

Individual Code Charts (1, 2, 3) One per student Individual code sheets for students provide aid for students to use when writing and spelling

Skills Strand Lesson Format

I. Blending and segmenting warm up using sounds previously

taught

II. Introduce new sound

III. Chaining practice with new sound

IV. Reading practice with new sound or words

V. Small group reading using the readers

The Core Knowledge Language Arts ProgramListening and Learning Strand Components

One hour of daily instruction is devoted to the Listening & Learning Strand.

Teachers and students use the following components.

Anthology (K, 1, 2, 3) One per teacher per domain The Anthology is the instructor guide for the Listening & Learning strand. There will be one Anthology for each domain.

Flip Book (K, 1, 2, 3) One per teacher per domain The Flip Book includes the illustrations and images for the Listening & Learning read-alouds.

Image Card Set (K, 1, 2, 3) One per teacher per domain The Image Card set includes smaller sized images from the Listening & Learning domain.

Student Workbooks (K, 1, 2, 3) One per student per unit The Domain Workbooks contain activity and practice pages to accompany the read alouds

Listening and Learning Lesson Format

I. Introducing the read aloud-10 minutes

II. Presenting the read aloud-10-15 minutes

III. Discussing the read aloud-15 minutes

A.) Comprehension questions-10 minutes

B.) Word Work-5 minutes

IV. Extension Activity-15-20 minutes

Assessment and Remediation Guide

A separate publication found online that provides additional resources, min-lessons and activities meant to guide remediation of specific skills

Supplemental GuideA separate publication found online that provides scaffolded lessons to be used with English Language Learners and Special Needs students

Core Knowledge Video