Resources for the Common Core: Math

Recently, I shared a LiveBinder from NC for the ELA standards.  Today, take a look at this LiveBinder from the state of Michigan focused on the Math Common Core Standards.  Ron Williamson, co-author of my leadership books, lives in Michigan, so I'm feeling very connected to these LiveBinders!

The Common Core State Standards: ELA

I was wandering around the LiveBinders site and found this wonderful binder of resources on the Common Core ELA standards.  A big thanks to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction!  I live in North Carolina, so I'm extra proud.

Another Resource for the Common Core

 

8 Strategies for Designing Lesson Plans to Meet the CCSS Opinion and Argument Writing Requirements is a new white paper from Eye on Education.  Free registration is required, but it's well worth it. 



pinion and Argument Writing Requirements

Website for the Common Core State Standards

Have you seen EduCore from ASCD?  It's their repository of all resources related to the CCSS.  An excellent resource!

The Common Core and Text Complexity

The Common Core State Standards are one of the hottest topics in education today, especially since they are designed to increase rigor in the classroom. Increasing text complexity, or the level of text students are expected to understand is embedded in the standards. It's important to keep in mind that text does not mean only books. The CCSS emphasize non-fiction, informational text materials that will prepare students for college and the workforce.

Choosing Appropriate Text

There are really three aspects to think about when choosing appropriate materials for students. First, consider the reading level and the complexity of the text. For example, a more difficult text is easier to read when there are support features, such as headings, charts, and bold-faced words that help a student chunk the information.
Next, reflect on your knowledge of your students. What is each student's current reading level, his or her interests, and his or her developmental level. Is this a text that is appropriate for your particular students? Finally, the purpose is important. Are students reading for fun or for instruction?

Read more at Suite101: The Common Core State Standards and Text Complexity | Suite101.com http://suite101.com/article/the-common-core-state-standards-and-text-complexity-a404421#ixzz23Bw6QPYi

Podcast on the Common Core and Rigor

An overlooked aspect of the new CCSS is that while the standards set rigorous benchmarks, their impact on student learning will depend entirely upon their implementation. We cannot assume that simply adopting the Common Core state standards will provide a rigorous environment for students. True rigor, as Dr. Barbara Blackburn explains in this segment, encompasses high expectations for student learning and increased support so students can learn at higher level.

To listen to the ten minute podcast, click here.

Support for the Common Core State Standards

One of the areas of emphasis in the new Common Core State Standards is to move students to higher levels of text materials. Supporting students to read and learn at higher levels of text can be challenging, especially if you teach students who are reading below grade level. However, the Common Core State Standards require that we move students to higher levels of text. Providing extra help and scaffolding becomes a critical aspect of helping students succeed. There are three simple ways you can scaffold learning for your students.

Read more at Suite101: Providing Student Support with the Common Core & Text Complexity | Suite101.com http://suite101.com/article/providing-student-support-with-the-common-core-and-text-complexit-a405576#ixzz23BvIvdpD

Rigor and the Common Core State Standards

Parent Guides for the Common Core State Standards

Another great set of resources for the Common Core.  The National PTA has released a set of parent guides (specific to grade levels K-8, and then a set for high school).  They include excellent information for parents, including focus areas for the year.  Well worth checking out.

Resources for the Common Core State Standards

Edutopia has a great list of resources for the CCSS.  Take a look. 

Common Core--Math Guidelines

The publishers' guidelines for the math standards are now out.  They are the first item in the list.  If you haven't downloaded the ones for ELA, scroll down.  I've found these are helpful tools in addition to the standards and appendices. 

Links for the Common Core State Standards

Happy Fourth of July week.  I hope you will take some time to relax and enjoy the week.  One quick link for the week--I was sent this blog entry with 50 links for the Common Core--it's a fairly comprehensive list, so check it out.

Common Core Resources, Part Three

Another great site is the Common Core Curriculum Mapping Project. This site, which says it's by teachers for teachers, gives some good information.  It then links to books published by Jossey-Bass which are extremely detailed, but I have them and they are worth the cost. 

Common Core Resources, Part Two

The main website for the standards is the first stop for any questions about the Common Core State Standards.  This is the official site, and it's filled with descriptions of the process, which states are using the CCSS, etc.  You can download the standards and the appendices, but there's another resource that is a must have:  the publisher's guidelines.  The publisher's guidelines give detail on the "how" of the standards, what to focus on instructionally.  If you don't have it, download it now!  Scroll to the bottom of the page and choose whether you want the K-2 set, or the 3-12 set (or both). 

Resources for the Common Core

I'm asked more and more, "What are some good resources for implementing the Common Core State Standards?" One of the best is ASCD's Resource Central.  Hands-down, it's my number one go-to site when I'm looking for specific resources. 

The Common Core State Standards: Positive or Negative?

I was on a Twitter chat recently where the Common Core State Standards were discussed. The focus question was, "Do the CCSS limit your creativity?"  As you might imagine, the discussion was quite spirited, with people on both sides of the issue. 

I am a pragmatist, so first, know that I believe they are here to stay, so we need to deal with them, rather than complain about them.  Second, I believe that it's never the standards, it's what you do with them.  So my bottom line is, you can choose. 

Are the CCSS negative for you, or, as my husband said, do they mean Curriculum Can Still Sizzle? I'm going to go with his idea!

Are your students frustrated with the books they are reading?  Here's a few guidelines for choosing texts for your students.  Keep in mind the Common Core State Standards provide recommendations at each grade that are appropriately challenging for growth as opposed to easy reading. 

Considerations for Text Selection

Is the content of the text pertinent to my standards or objectives? Is the content of the text appropriate to the purpose of the assignment (independent reading, research, partner reading, etc.)? Is the content of the text appropriate to the age or developmental level of my students? Is the content of the text appropriately challenging for growth (not too hard, yet not too easy)? Is this the only opportunity my students will be given to read, or are they allowed choices at other times?

Summarizing and the Common Core State Standards

In response to a recent blog post about rigor and the Common Core State Standards, Tracy commented:

The CC Bundles mandated to us use "summarizing" extensively. I was a little surprised to see this low level (DOK) task used so often in the bundle. I assigned the summarizing as HW to determine a)who had read the selection and b)to determine their comprehension of it.

There are a couple of key points here.  First, summarizing may or may not be a low level task.  For students who have never summarized, the task of pulling out key information to describe in a few words what they have read or learned may be challenging.  However, many students simply write down the topic sentence, or something you said, or write down everything they know hoping you will choose the correct part.  None of those are summarizing.   As a result, you may need to teach the skill of summarizing.  However, then we need to move to the next level of analyzing and synthesizing information.  But remember, unless a student can summarize, he or she can't move to the next step!

Meeting the Common Core State Standards

This was a tweet a couple of weeks ago related to the Common Core State Standards:

Challenge for my fellow #ascd12 attendees: Tell every vendor it's students, not products or curriculum, that meet Common Core standards.@eduleadership

I worked for three publishing companies for a total of ten years.  The most important lesson I learned?  That it's never the materials; it's what a teacher does with those materials.  Do the right materials help?  Yes, but the materials don't help students grow--YOU DO!!

 

The Common Core State Standards and Text Complexity

Looking for help providing support for students with the Common Core State Standards and text complexity? 

One of the areas of emphasis in the new Common Core State Standards is to move students to higher levels of text materials. Supporting students to read and learn at higher levels of text can be challenging, especially if you teach students who are reading below grade level. However, the Common Core State Standards require that we move students to higher levels of text. Providing extra help and scaffolding becomes a critical aspect of helping students succeed. There are three simple ways you can scaffold learning for your students.

Modeling

The first effective strategy is to model for students. In addition to thinking out loud, or talking students through your own learning process, you can model by providing a list of steps to follow as they read. For younger students, at-risk students, English Language Learners, or students with special needs, adding a picture to those steps is helpful.


Read the full article at Suite101 here.