Unpacking the Common Core State Standards CCSS excerpted

Unpacking the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

excerpted from Educational Leadership, March 2012 edition: “Read like a detective. Write like an investigative reporter. That’s how David Coleman, one of the lead authors of the common core state standards, described in a nutshell the approach to teaching reading and writing ushered in by the new standards. ”

Get the Big Picture Preparation: The standards are college- and career-ready. They will help prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in education and training after high school. Competition: The standards are internationally benchmarked. Common standards will help ensure our students are globally competitive. Equity: Expectations are consistent for all – and not dependent on a student’s zip code.

Six Shifts in Literacy Shifts 1 and 2 1. Balancing Informational and Literary Text (Pre K – 5) 2. Building Knowledge in the Disciplines (6 – 12) Non Fiction Texts Nonfiction Texts Authentic Texts

Shifts 3 and 4 Higher Level of Text Complexity 3. Staircase of Complexity 4. Text – Based Answers Paired Passages Focus on Command of Evidence from Text: rubrics and prompts

Shifts 5 & 6 5. Writing from Sources 6. Academic Vocabulary Focus on Command of Evidence Academic Vocabulary