1. The Common Core Curriculum Mapping Project Lorraine Griffith, Lead Writer for Grades K-3

2. What is Common Core? Common Core is a non-profit organization working to keep the full range of liberal arts and sciences in our public schools. Common Core was founded in 2007. Despite the coincidence of name, Common Core is not the same as the “Common Core” State Standards (CCSS).

3. How Did They Come to Create the Maps? They conducted research finding that each of the nations that consistently outranks the United States on the PISA exam provides their students with a comprehensive, content-rich education in the liberal arts and sciences.

4. The CCSS and Content The CCSS provides detailed guidelines about the skills students should master and even the type of content students should master, and about levels of rigor. But what it does not provide—because it was beyond the mission of the project—is guidance about how to pair the skills in the standards with content that will actually make it possible for students to reach the reading, writing, and other goals in the standards.

5. The Common Core Curriculum Maps in English Language Arts … Are brand new—not old material that has been realigned or adjusted to match the CCSS Started with the standards and exemplar texts and shaped maps around those guideposts Were developed as the standards were being written. Common Core worked in close consultation with the National Governors Association and the authors of the standards.

6. Break down each year into 78, six-week thematic units. Are flexible and adaptable, yet they address every standard in the CCSS. Were written by teachers for teachers through a deeply collaborative process. Don’t tell teachers how to teach. Are funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Are available free of charge. The 2010 Maps …

7. Follow along by going to: www.commoncore.orgwww.commoncore.org Go to the maps. Explore a grade level of choice as we walk through the features of each unit. The Units

8. Each unit is comprised of the same elements. The Units

9. An overview is a brief description of the unit. It explains the theme of the unit and provides a summary of what students will learn.

10. The essential questions highlight the usefulness, the relevance, and the greater benefit of a course or unit. They are often the “so what?” questions about material covered.

11. The focus standards are taken directly from the CCSS and have been identified as especially important for the unit. Each grade includes a standards checklist that illustrates which standards are addressed in which units..

12. The suggested works are substantial lists of suggested literary and informational texts. They draw heavily from the “exemplar texts” listed in the CCSS.

13. The art, music and media section lists works of visual art, music, film and other media that reflect the theme of the unit and that a teacher can use to extend students’ knowledge in these areas.

14. Sample activities and assessments have been written for each unit, with specific standards and often with specific texts in mind. Each activity addresses at least one CCSS standard. These activities are suggestions for teachers. They do not represent a prescribed sequence.

15. Reading foundations are included in our Kindergarten and first grade maps. They include a pacing guide of instructional goals for the teaching of the CCSS reading foundations. We plan to extend the pacing guides to grades two and three.

16. The additional resources section includes links to lesson plans, other student activities and sources for more information about topics covered in the unit..

17. The terminology section cites concepts and terms that are critical to the unit.

18. The sample lesson plans are supplementary documents that outline a sequence of lessons for using one or more suggested unit texts to meet focus standards. Lesson I Topic: Historical Background to the Constitutional Convention Objectives: Revisit the Declaration of Independence. Recall the emergence of the Articles of Confederation. Explore the criticism of the Articles of Confederation. Lesson II Topic: The Constitutional Convention Objectives: Identify the principal founding fathers, who were the architects of the Constitution Explore (select concepts from) James Madison’s essay “Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787.” (RI.1, RI.3, RI.6)

19. Making interdisciplinary connections is included only in our maps for the elementary grades. Here we broadly list the content areas the unit covers and then suggest opportunities for making interdisciplinary connections between the ELA content in the unit to other subjects including science, history, civics, geography and the arts.

20. Common Core will release the 2011 edition of the maps very soon. The 2011 edition incorporating feedback ranging from: – “Where’s Beowulf?” to “Why isn’t there more focus on contemporary literature?” – Making the writing and grammar progressions more pronounced – Extending the pacing guide for the teaching of reading through 2 nd grade – Guidance on differentiated instruction What’s Next?

21. Revisions Checked balance of informational & literary text Added glossary Added suggestions for differentiation Ensured language consistent with CCSS – e.g., categories for writing assignments Checked writing progression – “foundations” > “senior project” Checked grammar progression

22. And enhancing the site to allow … – Viewers to rate the maps – Teachers to submit lesson plans – Viewers to submit and read comments Jossey-Bass™ is rushing out a print version of the maps. They will be printed in three volumes and offered at a very affordable price starting this fall. What’s Next?