E.D. Hirsch developed the Core Knowledge Sequence because, while conducting research, he discovered a learning gap between lower income students and more affluent students. Dr. Hirsch’s philosophy of cultural literacy contends that students learn more and are better readers when they have a solid base of information about a wide range of topics. In order to join the national conversation, students must have this shared base of information. While the Core Knowledge curriculum is not a Christian curriculum, it is a knowledge-based, comprehensive, coherent, and cumulative curriculum that allows our students to have the same shared knowledge so they too can engage the world in a conversation on the same level.

CURRICULUM MAPS

WHY CORE KNOWLEDGE

Core Knowledge & Saxon Math

The Core Knowledge approach puts knowledge at the heart of schooling. Most curriculum standards provide general goals and objectives but offer teachers little guidance about the specific knowledge students should learn in each grade. In contrast, the Core Knowledge approach is to specify, in a clear grade-by-grade sequence, what students need to know. This approach also ensure excellence and equity, since every student learns the same material.

CCA also uses Saxon Math, beginning in Kindergarten, and Pre-K classes use many Saxon math concepts in their lessons. This early beginning puts our students a year ahead of the math curriculum taught in other schools. Saxon Math uses 35 years of experience to create a curriculum for students that is

Incremental. An incremental approach gives students the time to understand and practice a small concept before adding the next step.
Distributed. Distributing skills across the year ensures that students have time to practice and master a concept.
Cumulative. Cumulative practice and assessments cover ideas from earlier lessons to ensure students retain and make connections between concepts.

maps

Pre-K