Is CKLA Any Good?

Yes, CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) is widely regarded as a very effective and high-quality curriculum, backed by strong research and demonstrable results.

Understanding CKLA

Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is a comprehensive literacy curriculum designed for students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It aims to build students' knowledge and vocabulary across various subjects while simultaneously developing their decoding and language comprehension skills. This approach is distinct from many other curricula because it emphasizes the interconnectedness of knowledge and reading ability.

CKLA is structured into two main components:

• Skills Strand: Focuses on foundational reading skills like phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, and writing.
• Knowledge Strand: Builds students' background knowledge and vocabulary through engaging read-alouds and content-rich units in history, science, and literature.

Why CKLA is Considered Effective

The efficacy of CKLA is rooted in its adherence to well-established educational principles and a growing body of evidence.

Research-Based Principles

The foundational principles upon which CKLA is built are solidly supported by extensive educational research. This includes:

• The Science of Reading: CKLA incorporates explicit and systematic phonics instruction, aligning with the evidence-based approach to teaching reading.
• Background Knowledge and Vocabulary: A core tenet is that comprehension is heavily reliant on a student's prior knowledge and vocabulary. By building a broad base of knowledge across different domains, CKLA helps students better understand complex texts.
• Oral Language Development: The curriculum emphasizes rich oral language experiences, recognizing their critical role in literacy development.

Proven Benefits

Beyond its strong theoretical underpinnings, CKLA has demonstrated tangible benefits for students. Its effectiveness is supported by empirical evidence, including:

• Statistically Significant Improvements: There are at least three studies that utilized control groups and showed statistically significant positive benefits for students using CKLA. These studies highlight its positive impact on student learning outcomes, particularly in reading and language arts.
• High Overall Assessment: The curriculum often receives high marks from educational evaluators, frequently earning an overall grade of B+ for its robust design and positive impact on student learning.

Key Features and Strengths

CKLA's design includes several features that contribute to its effectiveness:

• Integrated Approach: It seamlessly weaves together decoding skills with content knowledge, ensuring that students not only learn how to read but also have something meaningful to read about.
• Content-Rich Curriculum: The Knowledge Strand covers a wide array of topics, exposing students to diverse concepts and vocabulary, which are crucial for academic success.
• Systematic Phonics: The Skills Strand provides a clear, sequential, and explicit phonics instruction, crucial for early literacy development.
• Teacher Support: CKLA provides comprehensive teacher guides and resources, making it easier for educators to implement the curriculum effectively.
• Focus on Comprehension: Beyond just decoding, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing deep comprehension skills through discussions, writing, and critical thinking.

Considerations for Implementation

While CKLA offers significant advantages, successful implementation often requires:

• Teacher Training: Familiarity with the curriculum's structure and philosophy, especially the integration of the Skills and Knowledge strands, is beneficial.
• Fidelity: Adhering to the curriculum's design and sequence is important to realize its full benefits, particularly with its systematic phonics and knowledge-building components.
• Time Commitment: The comprehensive nature of CKLA means it requires a dedicated amount of instructional time.

Summary of CKLA's Effectiveness

CKLA stands out as a highly effective language arts curriculum due to its research-backed principles, integrated approach, and demonstrated positive impact on student learning.

By providing a structured and content-rich learning experience, CKLA equips students with essential literacy skills and a broad base of knowledge necessary for academic success.