Common Core uses exploratory discovery learning without
first giving children a solid essential core knowledge base that aids discovery.
Common Core does not lay a solid foundation of
background knowledge. Background knowledge is the knowledge students have
learned both formally in the classroom as well as informally through life experiences.
In an academic sense, background knowledge also includes content knowledge,
academic language and vocabulary necessary for comprehending content
information.
Common Core focuses on discovery learning based only on
the child’s life experiences. Traditional curricula gave all students a
universal academic knowledge base to process and store information. This
background knowledge made it easier for students to draw upon this knowledge to
process the essence of the new knowledge and make sense of it.
Discovery learning requires children to have the
academic background knowledge and cognitive skills to process and store
information. Can you imagine a child’s stress if they have insufficient
background knowledge to process new knowledge? What if they do not have the
necessary knowledge from their life experience and are not given an academic
knowledge base? Aren’t they at a great disadvantage to process new information?
Discovery learning has its place. But not at the cost
of an academic core curriculum that gives content knowledge, language and
vocabulary skills necessary for comprehending new knowledge.
