Monument Academy uses the sequence of content provided by the Core Knowledge Foundation. We have appreciated the content-rich scope and sequence of the material provided. Since 2013, Core Knowledge Foundation has taken a very strong position to align with the Common Core National Standards. They have been an advocate in helping to author the English Language Arts standards. In doing so, the materials that have been printed since 2013 from the Foundation and other publishers, has been different and inferior to the materials used by Monument Academy.
Our school does not support the shift that Core Knowledge has taken in their support of the Common Core Standards as well as the rewrite of their materials. MA is holding to the older versions of CK content and practices.
The idea behind Core Knowledge is simple and powerful: knowledge builds on knowledge. The more you know, the more you are able to learn. This insight, well-established by cognitive science, has profound implications for teaching and learning. Nearly all of our most important goals for education–greater reading comprehension, the ability to think critically and solve problems, even higher test scores–are a function of the depth and breadth of our knowledge.
By outlining the precise content that every child should learn in language arts and literature, history and geography, mathematics, science, music, and the visual arts, the Core Knowledge curriculum represents a first-of-its kind effort to identify the foundational knowledge every child needs to reach these goals–and to teach it, grade-by-grade, year-by-year, in a coherent, ageappropriate sequence. (2002, Core Knowledge Sequence Guide)
Monument Academy was founded in 1996 and began with the sequence as the foundational tool in building the curriculum for our academy. It has been tested and tried over the last two decades. The results have demonstrated a solid answer of success. Over the years we have formulated a strong scope and sequence using the CK Sequence and state standards.
In recent years, Core Knowledge has taken some very controversial steps. Their educational shifts in direction have caused some concern for our leadership and faculty. We have chosen to stay true to our successful implementation of the foundational use of the Sequence Guide of rich and rigorous content.
Download: Statement on Core Knowledge