by Patricia Zissios, Ph.D.
In April 2017 Dr. Zissios received the Don Lacey Award for Excellence from the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP) for “her commitment to and demonstration of exemplary educational leadership.”
I am currently in my twenty-fourth year as an elementary school administrator in Virginia public schools. In two different districts, one suburban and one urban, I have worked at three different elementary schools serving three different student populations—one high poverty, one mostly English Language Learners, and one of mixed socio-economic levels. Throughout my long and varied experience, one constant has been my choice of curriculum—Core Knowledge. In each school and in each district, I alone among my colleagues embraced and supported the Core Knowledge curriculum.
Time and again, I’ve been asked—often by very skeptical voices—why I am so passionate about Core Knowledge. I might point to results. In each school in which I have served, the students outperformed their peers on district and state assessments. My current school, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, a K-5 school in the city of Alexandria, and a Core Knowledge School of Distinction, is in the top five percent of schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia, meeting all benchmarks for all subgroups on the state Standards of Learning tests (Reading, 95%; Math, 92%; History, 97%; Science, 92%).
But to explain why I remain passionate about Core Knowledge, I really have to bring you into a classroom. When you observe a Core Knowledge lesson in progress, you will be amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge students are exposed to.
I was recently observing a second grade class in which the teacher was conducting the CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) lesson on the Pony Express. The students had previously been studying the Core Knowledge lesson on Westward Expansion. The students—keep in mind that these are second graders—had learned about the concept of Manifest Destiny, and about factors that enticed people to move west.
In their class open forum, the students recognized and discussed the growing need to send messages across greater distances. This specific CKLA lesson on the Pony Express taught students about the evolution of communication systems in the 1800s, including the implementation of this short-lived mail delivery system and the invention of the telegraph. During a discussion of the Pony Express, students made connections to an earlier lesson on the War of 1812. They interjected that the peace treaty was signed on Christmas Eve in 1814, but the news of the signing did not reach the troops in time to prevent the Battle of New Orleans. The students saw the problems created by slow communication. And they understood how, later, the need for faster communication eventually contributed to the demise of the Pony Express and the ultimate success of the telegraph.
The introduction of this faster means of communication engaged the students in asking and exploring many questions: Who invented the telegraph? How did it work? What is the difference between a telegraph and a telephone? What is Morse Code? Again, these were seven-year-old students from a socio-economically and ethnically diverse community!
My visit to this classroom reminded me of one thing that Core Knowledge is NOT. It is NOT rote memorization of scripted lessons or the completion of mindless worksheets. It IS, rather, the thought-provoking higher-order application of prior knowledge to new circumstances. It is a sequential, spiral curriculum that builds on previous learning as it expands and deepens students’ knowledge base.
Every time I visit a classroom, my passion for Core Knowledge is renewed. I have no plans to move to another school or district, but were I to do so, I would bring Core Knowledge with me. I know of no more effective way to prepare our students for our complex and changing 21st century society.
Update: In August 2017, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy was among the schools to receive the Virginia Board of Education’s Excellence Award, conferred upon schools that “met all state and federal accountability benchmarks and made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunities.”
I am so glad that others share the joy I have when I return to Rocklin Academy, or visit other CK schools and see the students immersed in such deep learning based on the Core Knowledge sequence – and loving it. I work with a wide range of schools and at the end of the day my core criteria is that students are learning. So, while I honor any (all) schools that are fostering student success at a high level, in my heart and my head – Core Knowledge is still #1.
What an inspiration! It is such a joy for me as an educator to read this post. The time has come for teachers around the globe to shift the focus from teaching information to shaping our students to be critical thinkers, questioners, and problem solvers. It is amazing to see how entire schools are dedicating themselves to this commitment and it is clear that the Core Knowledge curriculum has been an effective approach to this. I am an English teacher in South Korea and while I feel that my school is attempting these kinds of changes, we still very much operate from a “teacher gives knowledge, students remember knowledge and then pass the exam” type of approach. It seems to me that many schools and educators feel wary of letting go of “control” or completely reinventing the wheel when it comes to teaching. I wonder what it would take for all schools to shift the focus in the way your school has? It is clear that you are leading your school and district in a wonderful direction.
I couldn’t agree with you more. As educators we need to focus more on teaching our students to be problem solvers rather than to simply pass a test.
It is wonderful to see students learning and utilizing these higher order thinking skills. Long ago were the days of rote memorization and memorizing simply to receive a passing grade on an exam. When I create lessons I want my students to take away with the skills that will live on long after the exam or lesson is over. Our school is working hard to create opportunities for students to learn these skills to take with them on their educational journey as well as their life long journey.
A very impressive professional learning community. You sound like a leader who works in ways that connect all grade levels. You were able to interact with colleagues in a meaningful way (Laureate Education, Inc, 2007f). This reflects that teachers are competent in their classroom and that you are approachable in making them feel comfortable to deliver lessons in such an effective way (Laureate Education, 2007f). Getting such a feedback from your teachers shows that you are a constructive leader who facilitates learning, teaching and leading. This reflects that you are a leader who empowers your teachers in embracing the core knowledge in executing the curriculum so well to the students and making such a remarkable positive impact. Great job!! keep it up!! I hope that our new principal will strive in becoming that exemplary leader.
Ample evidence suggests that effective principals don’t work harder than less effective principals: They work smarter. Principals who encourage and enlist teachers’ leadership leverage their own (Ackerman 2007, p. 12). Teacher leadership has the unique capacity to strengthen teachers, the teaching profession and the schools themselves all at the same time of which was displayed in your post (Ackerman 2007, p. 34). This 21century century is blessed and need more life changer and committed leader like you in making the change that is needed.
This is so interesting to me as a 14th-year teacher. I was introduced to teaching core knowledge at the beginning of my teaching career at a national board certified workshop. Accordingly, the information was brought back to my district to be introduced and utilized. Majority of the staff was reluctant about using the information thus, change never soared. This is why I’m so passionate about this article. I am all for change especially if it enhances growth for our students. To my understanding, effective core knowledge “provides a coherent plan for learning that builds cumulatively from grade to grade, helps students build strong foundations of knowledge for success in high school and beyond, and creates a common focus that promotes teamwork and collaboration for students” (Coreknowledge.org). Why wouldn’t anyone side with this instructional setting? I would love for our district to adopt this program or add it to our curriculum for the elementary school. As a result, students who are exposed to deeper conceptual learning score higher on state exams as opposed to those who have been trained through busy worksheets to the content (Danielson, 2006).
References:
Building knowledge and community. Retrieved from: https://coreknowledge.mystagingwebsite.com/s
Danelson, Charlotte. Teacher Leadership: That Strengthens Professional Practice. 200s
Like you all, I’m also passionate about ‘Core Knowledge’. I do feel that children relate to their existing knowledge and build upon the new learning by critically thinking and analyzing the facts which help them to be lifelong learners, always keen to learn more. Dewey (1938) also emphasized the importance of prior knowledge for the development of new understanding. The concept of Core Knowledge triggers their curiosity to know more and inquire more about the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of things, rather than just memorizing what has been taught to them.
The time has come for teachers around the globe to shift the focus from teaching information to shaping our students to be critical thinkers, questioners, and problem solvers.