Helen Cordero Primary – Great Books I

Apr 2026 · 2nd Semester

Great Books I is an elective course in which the student examines a variety of literature and texts considered to be relevant within the history of human thought. The student studies and considers a broad spectrum of themes and perspectives across a variety of traditional texts while making connections between themselves, his/her peers, and society. Although there may be a wide variety of supplemental and anticipatory activities, Great Books I combines Great Books materials and the Shared InquiryTM method. The Great Books curriculum develops thinking and language together through interactive learning; develops oral language and literacy through appropriately challenging learning; draws on literature from many genres, time periods, and cultures; emphasizes writing as an essential way to develop, clarify, and communicate ideas in persuasive, expository, literary, and expressive discourse; provides for literacy in all forms of media, embeds skills instruction in meaningful learning; teaches the strategies necessary for acquiring academic knowledge and attaining independence in learning; builds on the language, experiences, strategies, and interests that the student brings to school; and develops each student’s distinctive writing or speaking voice.