New Teacher Orientation

Audience

K–8 teachers, administrators

Length

12 hours

Prerequisites

Prior to purchasing the New Teacher Orientation materials, schools will have completed:

• Getting Started in 2011 or later; or
• Curriculum Mapping for Continuous Improvement. 

Materials

The following materials will be required during this training:

• The Core Knowledge Sequence (2010 version, also available for download);
• Teacher Handbooks (available K-5);
• What Your—Grader Needs to Know books (available K-6);
• Math and special area teacher resources used to make connections (e.g. art print list, music CD selections, P.E. and math curricular resources);
• Laptops or computer stations available for workshop use (one per grade level).

Objectives

Session One: The Big Picture

By the end of the first session, participants will be able to:

• describe the relationship between knowledge, vocabulary, language, and reading comprehension;
• describe the background, mission, and purpose of Core Knowledge; and
• access the Core Knowledge website to find more information supporting the Core Knowledge philosophy.

Session Two: Core Knowledge Resources

By the end of the second session, participants will be able to:

• identify key resources for teaching Core Knowledge and their purposes;
• name the Core Knowledge resources available in the building and where they can be found;
• state the key features of each available Core Knowledge resource, and describe how each can be used for instructional planning;
• locate online resources available on the Core Knowledge website; and 
• describe how to use three resources to support the implementation of Core Knowledge.

Session Three: The 4-C Characteristics

By the end of the third session, participants will be able to:

• define each of the 4-C characteristics of the Core Knowledge curriculum;
• explain why each characteristic is essential to school-wide planning and classroom instruction; and 
• identify possible areas where the 4-C characteristics can be applied to personal practice.

Session Four: Curriculum Plan and Domain Maps

By the end of the fourth session, participants will be able to:

• distinguish between a school-wide curriculum plan and domain map;
• state where the curriculum plan and grade-level domain maps are located;
• explain why the curriculum plan and domain maps are important for planning instruction; and
• apply what was previously learned about the 4-C characteristics to explain how one can effectively refine the curriculum plan and domain maps.

Session Five: School-Wide Strategies

By the end of the fifth session, participants will be able to:

• explain the concept of continuous improvement in an educational context;
• articulate the agreed-upon school-wide strategies designed to assist with implementation challenges; and
• articulate ways to contribute to school-wide strategies that assist with implementation challenges.

Session Six: Extended Learning

By the end of the sixth session, participants will be able to:

• identify specific resources that support the continued learning about Core Knowledge;
• identify the specific method of requesting support or professional development at the school level; and
• identify actions that result in a deepening understanding of Core Knowledge and promote professional growth.

Summary

This orientation process combines sessions led by school personnel (Core Knowledge coordinator and/or mentors) with self-guided sessions. Work products will be completed both individually and as part of a team. All work products created during the orientation will be used for practical implementation planning purposes at the school.

Registration:

After purchase and delivery of your New Teacher Orientation materials, coordinators and administrators may watch the recorded webinar to further orient themselves to this program.

For addtional details, please contact the Professional Development Coordinator via email, professionaldevelopment@coreknowledge.org, or by calling (434) 220-3352.