Language Arts Program Overview

Language Arts for Kindergarten through Grade 5

The Core Knowledge Foundation is committed to developing an exemplary, comprehensive program of language arts materials for kindergarten–grade 5, based on the best cognitive science research about how children learn, the National Reading Panel recommendations concerning the teaching of explicit and systematic phonics instruction, as well as the insights of E. D. Hirsch, Jr., regarding the role of oral language competence and background knowledge in literacy.

Learn more about our explicit and systematic phonics instruction–the skills strand and our language and comprehension strand–listening and learning.

To date, the Foundation has secured private philanthropic funding that has enabled us to create and field test materials for kindergarten–grade 2.  See Language Arts Program Brochure for more information.

Ongoing Program Development

The Foundation hopes to continue the development of materials for grade 3–grade 5, but such development is contingent upon securing additional financial support. We are extremely grateful to the following foundations that have provided generous support for the development of the kindergarten–grade 2 materials:

Achelis Foundation
Brown Foundation, Inc.
Challenge Foundation
Gleason Foundation
I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation
J. F. Maddox Foundation
Louis Calder Foundation

We are now actively seeking additional funding for the development of materials for grade 3–grade 5. Learn more about making a donation and supporting the Foundation.

At these later elementary grade levels, the Core Knowledge Language Arts Program will feature an increased emphasis on spelling, grammar and usage skills, along with mastery of research and written composition skills. Read-alouds will continue to build listening comprehension, but with increasing emphasis on independent student reading of domain-related texts.