Core Knowledge in Philadelphia

Thanks to all of you who took the advice of Ben Franklin and made a valuable “investment in knowledge” at the fourteenth Core Knowledge National Conference in Philadelphia! Attendees from forty-three states and four foreign countries gathered in the birthplace of American democracy to share ideas, discuss innovations, and expand their educational horizons.

The American Horse School
prepares to perform

Thursday sessions, dedicated to implementing and sustaining the Core Knowledge curriculum, featured an expanded leadership strand. Participants discussed the growing network of higher learning institutions working to place teacher candidates in Core Knowledge schools. Other attendees learned about the latest Core Knowledge resources and updates, including our current research into reading, the Day-by-Day Planner, and the newly released Teacher Handbooks.

Friday content sessions brought back favorites Dennis Denenberg, Jim Weiss, and Rod Bowling, plus such well-received newcomers as technology expert Sheila Gersh and Civil War historian Barbara Sanders. Teachers expanded their background knowledge and enjoyed a luncheon with keynote speaker Ben Franklin himself as interpreted by the city of Philadelphia’s official Franklin, Ralph Archbold.

On Saturday, Core Knowledge teachers — referred to by one presenter as “the most proactive, intelligent, imaginative teachers . . . encounter[ed] anywhere over the course of the year” — shared their knowledge in the form of lesson plans for every grade level.

The American Horse School in performance at the 2005 Core Knowledge National Conference

The Core Knowledge Foundation is proud to announce that thirty-seven schools were recognized at this year’s conference for obtaining official and/or visitation status, including the very first Official Core Knowledge Preschools! We’d like to extend sincere congratulations to these dedicated schools. These schools were honored during the general session, which also featured the annual address by Chairman of the Board E. D. Hirsch, Jr. As usual, his discussion of literacy and the knowledge deficit was the conference high-point for newcomers and veteran conference goers alike. A ceremonial Native American dance performance by students from the American Horse School, a Core Knowledge School in Allen, South Dakota, provided an especially lively introduction to this year’s opening session.

What’s in store for next year? Overcoming the knowledge deficit will be the focus of the 2006 conference as we gather in San Antonio, Texas! Texas is home to more Core Knowledge schools than any other state, and we’re happy to bring the conference to this area. Come — remember the Alamo, enjoy the Riverwalk, and soak up some southwestern culture in San Antonio, February 23–25, 2006!

Please direct any questions and comments to conference@coreknowledge.org.