1

“Stop asking me if we’re almost there!We’re nomads, for crying out loud!”

2

NYS Common Core Learning Standards

Understanding the ChangeBeing the Change

How to Change

LIASCD

October 2011

3

Areas of focus

Reading Writing Speaking and Listening Language Media and Technology - Research & Media

skills built into the Standards as a whole

4

What is included in the Common Core Standards document?

P-12 Anchor Standards for English Language Arts

P-12 Grade Level Standards (We used to call these performance indicators.)

Foundational Skills in reading (P-5) Illustrative texts

5

What else is included in the Common Core Standards document?

Reading Standards in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

Writing Standards in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

Six Shifts in ELA Literacy

Shift in Standards….

1. Balancing Informational and Literary Text

2. Building Knowledge in the Disciplines

3. Staircase of Complexity4. Text-based Answers5. Writing from Sources6. Academic Vocabulary

1&2 Non-fiction TextsAuthentic Texts

3 Higher Level of Text ComplexityPaired Passages

4&5 Focus on command of evidence from text: rubrics and prompts

6 Academic Vocabulary

Shift in Assessments…

Balancing information and Literacy Texts: PK-5 Students read a true balance of

informational and literary texts. Elementary school classrooms are, therefore, places where students access the world – science, social studies, the arts and literature – through text. At least 50% of what students read is informational.

Building Knowledge in the Disciplines: 6-12

Content area teachers outside of the ELA classroom emphasize literacy experiences in their planning and instruction. Students learn through domain-specific texts in science and social studies classrooms – rather than referring to the text, they are expected to learn from what they read.

Grades Literature Informational

K-2 50% 50%

3-5 50% 50%

6-12 30%-fiction-poetry-drama-Shakespeare

70%“substantially more literary non-fiction”-essays-speeches-opinion pieces-biographies-journalism-historical-scientific-contemporary events-nature-the arts-Founding Documents

9

Reading Types Across the Grade Levels

Staircase of Complexity

In order to prepare students for the complexity of college and career ready texts, each grade level requires a “step” of growth on the “staircase.”

Students read the central, grade appropriate text around which instruction is centered.

Teachers are patient, create more time and space in the curriculum for this close and careful reading, and provide appropriate and necessary scaffolding and supports so that it is possible for students reading below grade level.

Text-Based Answers

Students have rich and rigorous conversations which are dependent on a common text.

Teachers insist that classroom experiences stay deeply connected to the text on the page and that students develop habits for making evidentiary arguments both in conversation, as well as in writing to assess comprehension of a text.

Writing From Sources Writing needs to emphasize use of evidence

to inform or make an argument rather than the personal narrative and other forms of decontextualized prompts.

While the narrative still has an important role, students develop skills through written arguments that respond to the ideas, events, facts, and arguments presented in the texts they read.

Academic Vocabulary Students constantly build the vocabulary they

need to access grade level complex texts. By focusing strategically on comprehension

of pivotal and commonly found words (such as “discourse,” “generation,” “theory,” and “principled”) and less on esoteric literary terms (such as “onomatopoeia” or “homonym”), teachers constantly build students’ ability to access more complex texts across the content areas.

theory

Handout

14

What Does a Grade Level Standard Look Like for Writing?

Grade 4

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

Grade 7

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Argument – persuasion Defend with evidence from text History/social studies – interpretation &

judgments with evidence from multiple sources Science – claims and conclusions that answer

questions or address problems K-5 – opinion leads to argument

15

Overview of Standards for History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

Reading Standards Knowledge of domain-specific vocabulary Analyze, evaluate, and differentiate primary and secondary

sources Synthesize quantitative and technical information, including

facts presented in maps, timelines, flowcharts, or diagramsWriting Standards

Write arguments on discipline-specific content and informative/explanatory texts

Use data, evidence and reason to support arguments and claims

Use of domain-specific vocabulary

(AKA Everything Else)

18

What do grade level standards in literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects look like?

Social Studies Grade 9-10 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social studies.

Science Grade 9-10 Analyze the author’s purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, defining the question the author seeks to address.

Technical Subjects Grade 9-10 Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying data and evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both claim(s) and counterclaims in a discipline-appropriate form and in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns.

What Do We Need To Do? By September 15, 2011, create awareness, foster fluency,

and develop a common language supporting Common Core implementation.

By October 1, 2011, collaboratively diagnose school capacity for implementing The Common Core and create action plan to ensure Phase I execution: 1 Common Core Aligned Unit in every classroom, each semester.

By October 15, 2011, Introduce Common Core aligned curriculum model modules/units and unpack the qualities of a model unit.

By October 31, 2011, build capacity and foster accountability so that every teacher delivers at least one Common Core aligned unit in every classroom each semester.

Building as we go along…

21

The Challenge: Linking the CCLS to Curriculum/Instruction in All Areas

Curriculum & Instruction Need to focus on areas of inquiry - not specific

standards in isolation Content area teachers and language arts/literacy

teachers will need to plan and work together to help students meet the standards

Teachers must place an emphasis on thinking with/about texts in all forms, including digital formats

Develop Units that recognize that less is more

Instead of going a mile wide and an inch deep… Go an inch wide and a mile deep

The Bigger Picture

Literacy tasks across the curriculum must address application of literacy standards in History/Social Studies, Science, Math, and Technical Subjects in all areas of study.

Text Dependent Questions What is (and isn’t) the meaning of “popular

sovereignty”? Why does Monk claim that this is the form of government in America?

Is Lucy Stone confused when she asks “Which ‘We the People’?” Why does Monk say this question has “troubled the nation”?

What does the phrase “founding fathers” mean? Why does Marshall think the founding fathers could not have imagined a female or black Supreme Court Justice?

What Else Can We Do With This? WHAT CONCLUSIONS WOULD YOU

DRAW ABOUT THE AUTHOR'S POINT OF VIEW ON THE NATURE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION?

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Common Core and Science Imbed informational text into your science curriculum. Literacy is not taking the place of science content or hands-

on laboratory skills. Require students to cite from text to support their conclusions

or opinions. Provide text with two or more opinions, and ask students to

choose a side to support with research. Ask students to define vocabulary in context from the text. Framework for K-12 Science Education released July 2011,

currently being developed into common core science standards. Download from http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165

Text-Based Questions Based on the article: New Research Examines Role of Clouds in

Climate Change, Scientific American, September 7, 2011. 1. Use evidence from the text to explain what those who downplay

climate change believe to be the role of cloud cover and contrast that with what the current evidence shows.

2. What information can you cite from the text that explains the evidence that Roy Spencer used to downplay human impact on climate change?

3. What text-based information can you use to understand Andrew Dessler's research explaining climate and weather.

4. What is the meaning of the phrase "cherry picked" as used in this article?

5. Research the climate patterns that are characterized by an El Nino and La Nina.

First, a short video….