1. A Closer Look at the Common Core State Standards Initiative

2. Currently adopted by 43 states + DC Insert state map here Common Core Standards:

3. Are aligned with college and work expectations Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills; Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards; Are informed by other top performing countries; Are evidence-based.

4. Why should we care?  Make expectations for students clear to parents, teachers, and the general public;  Develop and implement comprehensive assessment systems to measure student performance against the common core state standards that will replace the existing testing systems that too often are inconsistent, burdensome and confusing;  Evaluate policy changes needed to help students and educators meet the standards; and  Encourage the development of textbooks, digital media, and other teaching materials aligned to the standards;

5. What our Competitors say about CCSSI: “The content recommended in the Core Knowledge Sequence is one major foundation of the K¹² curriculum.” “Each PLATO online course incorporates basic and higher levels of learning and is aligned to state and common core standards within specific relevance dimensions to create 21st century online courses.” “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropy, and the foundation associated with Pearson, the giant textbook and school technology company, announced a partnership on Wednesday to create online reading and math courses aligned with the new academic standards that some 40 states have adopted in recent months.” [1] http://www.k12.com/faqs/General [2] http://www.plato.com/solutions/online-courses [3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/education/28gates.html?_r=1

6. Meet the Standards! English, etc.

7. Common Core Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects Reading for literature, informational text, foundational skills, speaking and listening, progressive skills Key Design Considerations: –CCR and grade-specific standards –Grade levels for K–8; grade bands for 9–10 and 11–12 –A focus on results rather than means –An integrated model of literacy –Research and media skills blended into the Standards as a whole –Shared responsibility for students’ literacy development

8. Appendix AAppendix A: The Standards’ Approach to Text Complexity The Standards’ Grade-Specific Text Complexity Demands The Model in Action: Sample Annotated Reading Texts Phoneme-Grapheme Correspondences Orthography Writing: Definitions of the Standards’ Three Text Types The Special Place of Argument in the Standards The Special Role of Speaking and Listening in K–5 Literacy /Read-Alouds and the Reading-Speaking- Listening Link Conventions and Knowledge of Language

9. Appendix BAppendix B: Exemplars of Reading Text Complexity, Quality, and Range & Sample Performance Tasks Related to Core Standards Stories, Informational texts, read-aloud stories, drama, poetry by grade, etc.

10. Use the Standards! English, etc.

11. Takeaways (1/3) Science/Technical Subjects, History/Social Studies not excluded –Reading as historians, scientists –Critical to develop an academic language Students should be able to draw knowledge from text they read “Read a range of sufficiently complex text is the single most reliable factor of success.”

12. Takeaways (2/3) Instead, ask: What three arguments does King make to white pastors and what evidence does he base his argument on? Move from personal essay to persuasive Move away from: “How do you feel about King's letter from a Birmingham jail?”

13. Takeaway (3/3) Text Complexity Based in the Standards Old Lexile Ranges Lexile Ranges Aligned to CCR Expectations K-1N/A 2-3450-725450-790 4-5645-845770-980 6-8860-1010955-1155 9-10960-11151080-1305 11-CCR1070-12201215-1355 [1] [1] Common Core standards, App. A, p. 8.

14. Meet the Standards! Mathematics

15. Common Core Standards for Mathematics Standards for Mathematical Practice Standards for Mathematical Content

16. Appendix AAppendix A: Designing High School Mathematics Courses Based on the Common Core State Standards

17. Takeaways (1/3) Concept of focus: fewer topics, deeper understanding Move away from "mile-wide, inch deep" Highly-successful countries cover fewer topics than U.S. standards have Close the gap between what is declared and what is expected Not how to get to the answer, instead how to understand the problem

18. Takeaways (2/3) Reading across the curriculum –Bring math to other subjects, work it into the lessons –Math is not a reading activity, it is its own language –Add more math into science adds real data and evidence to support claims

19. Takeaways (3/3) Building upon previous content knowledge is essential  Rigor

20. Rigor Rubric Handout!

21. Rigor Scaffolding You do/I watch You do/I help I do/You help I do/You watch