Friday Content Sessions

Opening Session

E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

Dr. Hirsch has been the champion of fairness and equity in education for over 20 years. His philosophy and views have inspired over 800 schools to adopt the rigorous, content-rich Core Knowledge curriculum that was developed with his thoughtful guidance.

Ten years after No Child Left Behind, two gaps persist in American education: a Fairness Gap, which still leaves many children behind; and an Excellence Gap, which causes even advantaged children to score below students of other nations. Dr. Hirsch will describe how both gaps have the same causes and solutions—and neither is the fault of “incompetent” teachers.

Keynote: Learning to Think? Please Slow Down

David Steiner

One of our great educational challenges is to introduce students to what David calls layered thinking: the capacity to unpack content and allow it to illuminate our understanding. With examples, David will argue that above all this requires the patience to slow down our teaching, and make peace with complexity.

Teach Like a Champion

Doug Lemov

Doug Lemov is a Managing Director of Uncommon Schools and oversees its network of upstate New York schools in Troy and Rochester. He is also the author of the best selling Teach Like a Champion, a nationally recognized study of high performing urban teachers and their methods. Come hear what Lemov describes as his “best effort to describe not what theory says you should do to “win” in the classroom—especially in the toughest ones—but what the very best teachers actually do—those who take kids of poverty and reliably make high achievers out of them.”

Advancing Our Students' Language & Literacy: The Challenge of Complex Texts

Marilyn Jager Adams

Marilyn Jager Adams is a research professor in the Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences Department of Brown University and former chief scientist for Soliloquy Learning, Inc. In this session, she will highlight an analysis of textbooks published between 1919 and 1991 that found the language and vocabulary difficulty of these texts had been significantly reduced. Difficulties in understanding complex text are tightly tied to poor vocabulary. In this talk, Marilyn Jager Adams will focus on factors that underlie this relationship along with the instructional implications that follow.

Hooray for Heroes

Dr. Dennis Denenberg

Names, dates, and places are committed to memory and locked away. Few of us have taken the time to understand why this knowledge is so important and how history was determined by the actions of individual people. Dr. Denenberg, author of the book 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet will discuss the attributes that make events memorable and an individual a hero. You will be introduced to the values that form the foundation of a strong ethical character and you will deepen your understanding of how to make history lessons significant and meaningful to you and your students.

The Story of Science: Linking Literacy and Inquiry

Joy Hakim and Juliana Texley

Joy Hakim uses her magnetic prose to take us on a journey through the history of science. You’ll meet the scientists and learn the stories behind their “eureka” moments.

Great Kids Meet Great Masters

MaryAnn Kohl

Join award-winning author and educator, MaryAnn Kohl, for a colorful, entertaining, and informative workshop on how to introduce the art of the great masters to children with hands-on art experiences.

Using Read-Alouds: Greek Myths

Jim Weiss

Jim will introduce you to Core Knowledge-inspired read alouds from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia; Greek history and mythology; the Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations; the voyages of Columbus; the Pilgrims; westward expansion, and more. At the heart of each tale is Jim Weiss’ renowned ability to make even complex subjects comprehensible and memorable to young children while building valuable listening skills. Jim and session participants will explore ways to integrate the read alouds into classroom activities. Jim Weiss, award-winning storyteller and recording artist, has shared his magic, charm and expertise at 11 Core Knowledge national conferences. He has received over 75 major national awards including awards from the American Library Association, Parents’ Choice Foundation, Instructor Magazine, and Learning Magazine.

Shakespeare Set Free: A short course by Folger Shakespeare Library

Michael LoMonico, Senior Consultant on National Education, Folger Shakespeare Library

Teaching Shakespeare is hard, but with some of the innovative methods created by the Folger Shakespeare Library, it can be a real pleasure for both you and your students. This session will show you how to use Tone, Subtext, Stress, and Technology to introduce your students to Shakespeare’s language. We will use text from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, and Twelfth Night as well as examples from other plays referenced in the Sequence.

African Roots of American Culture – Integrating Music, Dance, & Storytelling in the Classroom

Kofi Dennis & Kwame Ansah-Brew

African culture is easily identified by its unique style of storytelling – incorporating drum rhythms, dance movements, riddles, chants, and regalia. The emphasis is on the process: it is open-ended, spontaneous, and filled with improvisation and creativity. Whether in the classroom or gym, the traditional rhythms, dances and stories of West Africa can enrich instruction and engage your students. Workshop participants will learn how to establish an appropriate frame of reference based on specific content in order to create a holistic learning experience for your students. Several developmentally appropriate exercises that promote various skills and concepts will be demonstrated.