Common Core and Korean Education Resources

Kate Weber
PK-5 Librarian
Winchester Thurston School, North Hills Campus
Curriculum Unit Review—Common Core: Korea by Mary E. Connor
Mary E. Connor’s Common Core: Korea, Lessons and Resources for K-12 Classrooms is a comprehensive look into how historical and contemporary Korean resources and lessons can be integrated into a classroom where Common Core standards guide the curriculum.
The book is divided into five chapters that address different content areas: history/social studies, language, literature, art, and religion/philosophy. The final chapter provides lists of resources for teachers. Certain chapters are more complete than others—for example, I found there to be much less information and resources on language and art than there were on history and social studies, but that may be dictated by Common Core standards and not a reflection of the materials available. The book also includes a list of California state standards, beginning with a framework of the history and social studies standards from Kindergarten through 12th grade. There is a helpful chronological table and timeline in the introduction, which is useful for social studies educators. Being a PK-5th grade librarian, my focus was on the literature section of the book, but the other chapters do an excellent job of matching up Common Core standards with available Korean teaching resources and content. Sprinkled throughout the unit are book reviews on relevant texts, essays, maps, graphs, and guides to assist teachers in effectively covering these subjects.
I was drawn to the literature portion of the book, which incorporates a variety of texts for grade levels PK-12 and includes objectives, activities, assessments, questions, and list of Common Core standards addressed. It brought to my attention several books I was not familiar with and will now be purchasing for my own collection. I appreciated that even the books meant for younger readers were discussed with how they could be used not only with their intended age levels, but with older readers as well (the power of picture books in a middle or high school class is well noted in this curriculum unit!). Particularly useful for me were the discussions on The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi, Dear Juno by Soyung Pak, Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth by Joan Schoettler, and several titles by Korean author Linda Sue Park. When discussing cultures that are largely unfamiliar to your students, accessible texts like these can help to jump start discussion on important topics. For example, the section on Linda Sue Park’s The Firekeeper’s Son, a story about a young boy who must keep his village’s fire lit to signify all is well, provides various extension activities. These include questions like “Describe a time when you had to choose between your wants and those of your family or community. How did you feel? What helped you make your decision? What would you advise a friend in the same situation?” These activities help the teacher juggle the difficult task of meeting the Common Core standards while initiating stimulating conversation that will lead to further inquiry into the topic.
While I work at an independent school and am not bound by the Common Core standards, I do appreciate and applaud Connor’s curriculum unit for doing something that all teachers struggle with—balancing standards with inquiry and project-based learning. This book will help any teacher or librarian, whether they work in a school with Common Core or not, successfully integrate Korean resources into their curriculum in a thoughtful and valuable way.