Basal Alignment Project (BAP) Text-dependent Questions AFB

Grades K-2: The 3 Shifts plus Common Core ELA standards using McGraw Hill Treasures, Sci, HSS Grades 3 – 6: The 3 Shifts, and RUSD Transition Plan Entry Points plus 1997 standards using Houghton Mifflin and Basal Alignment Project, Sci, HSS English Language Arts in the School Year AFB

What is the Basal Alignment Project? A library of 300+ revised lessons Based on common Basal reading series (3rd- 6th grades) New practices aligned to the 3 shifts Carefully aligned to the CCSS Includes text-dependent questions, improved tasks, and a focus on academic vocabulary. AFB

Who Creates Basal Alignment materials? Hundreds of teachers worked collaboratively Following deep training on the Common Core by Student Achievement Partners. Each lesson has been authored by teachers Each lesson is then edited, and reviewed by a team of teachers before posting AFB

Current Basals are NOT aligned to Common Core State Standards Many questions are not text-dependent Do not focus as strongly on academic (Tier two) vocabulary Most texts not at grade level complexity Many focus on comprehension strategies first AFB

Key Features of the Standards Text types, responding to reading, and research. Flexible communication and collaboration. Text complexity and the growth of comprehension. Academic language, vocabulary, and effective use. All must be present for literacy learning. AFB

6 th Grade Example AFB CA 1997 ELA STANDARDSCOMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS RC 2.7 Do you think the author did a good job of describing the events that led to the downfall of the Aztecs? RL 6.4 Read the textbox on page 376. List two of the reasons that led to the fall of the Aztec empire.

What to do Use Basal Alignment Units with other readings on the same topic. Use text-dependent questions during close reading activities. Use BAP big ideas which are critical for creating an appropriate culminating assignment. Integrate vocabulary (Tier 2 )into classroom talk, questions, daily lessons. AFB

What NOT to do: Do not use Basal Alignment as the end-all. Do not treat BAP as a worksheet. Do not settle for students’ personal opinions as an answer. Do not alter sections on phonics, spelling, grammar, word study, science and social studies connections AFB

Text-dependent Questions Answered through close reading Evidence comes from text, not information from outside sources Understanding beyond basic facts Not recall! AFB

Student’s annotation of connotative meanings in Charlotte’s Web AFB

It’s not enough to have complex text in the room. They need to read and discuss complex text. AFB

QUESTIONS AFB