Cracking the Code: How to Read the Common Core ELA Standards Breakout Session English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects

Common Core: English Language Arts Standards

ELA: Design & Organization Four Strands:  READING  WRITING  SPEAKING & LISTENING  LANGUAGE

ELA: Design & Organization Four Strands (continued)…  Reading K-5 Literature Informational Foundational Skills 6-12 Literature Informational (Literary nonfiction) 6-12 Literacy in Contents… Informational (Content Specific)

ELA: Design & Organization Four Strands (continued)…  Writing Arguments Informative/explanatory texts Narrative  Speaking and Listening Comprehension and collaboration Presentation of knowledge and ideas  Language Knowledge of language Vocabulary

ELA: Design & Organization Three Sections  K-5 (cross-disciplinary)  6-12 English Language Arts  6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects Three Appendices  A: Research and evidence; glossary  B: Reading text exemplars; sample performance tasks  C: Annotated student writing samples Available at:

"When eating an elephant take ONE bite at a time." -Creighton Abrams How Does Someone Eat An Elephant?

Digging Deeper: Appendix A  In groups of 4, jigsaw excerpted text provided from Appendix A.  Home group: read assigned activity and highlight ideas, phrases, or words most significant to you.  Expert group: locate poster and record key ideas.  Home group: Gallery Walk

ELA: Design & Organization Three Sections  K-5 (cross-disciplinary)  6-12 English Language Arts  6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects Three Appendices  A: Research and evidence; glossary  B: Reading text exemplars; sample performance tasks  C: Annotated student writing samples Available at:

Sample Reading Text Read the excerpt from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Annotate the qualities of text which help you determine appropriate grade level. What grade level would be appropriate for teaching this text? Discuss specific reasons why this would be the appropriate grade.

Sample Student Performance Task provide an objective summary central idea conveyed through supporting ideasdeveloped over the course of the text Students provide an objective summary of Frederick Douglass’s Narrative. They analyze how the central idea regarding the evils of slavery is conveyed through supporting ideas and developed over the course of the text. (RI.8.2) The Standard: central ideaanalyze development over the course of the text supporting ideas; provide an objective summary Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

Student Sample: K, Argument (Opinion) This opinion piece about a work of literature was produced in class. Annotation The writer of this piece tells the reader the name of the book (in the title of the paper). o My fabit (favorite) Book is do you Want to be my FRIEND states an opinion or preference about the book. o... my fait (favorite) pot (part) is the hos (horse)

Student Sample: Grade 12, Informative/Explanatory A high school senior wrote the essay that follows for a career and technical class. The student had unlimited time to research and write this paper. Wood Joints Have you ever wondered how to design complex wood joinery? The types of wood joinery have been around for thousands of years. There are only twelve different main types of joints but there are many that combine more than one for aesthetics or strength. The first step in designing joints is understanding the different types and what their uses are. After you understand the strengths and weaknesses of the different joints you can compare and contrast the joints for aesthetics. This and a lot of practice are what make excellent wood joinery.

ELA: Design & Organization College and Career Readiness (CCR) ANCHOR Standards  Broad expectations consistent across grades and content areas  Based on evidence about college and workforce training expectations

Anchor Standard Highlighting Activity Go to page 18 in the ELA CCSS (SS teachers go to page 60) Select one of the ten writing anchor standards Beginning on page 19, follow your selected writing standard from Kindergarten to 12 th grade (6 th -12 th grade for SS) Highlight key words indicating change in complexity across grade levels/bands

Line Up Call Out Activity Reading Anchor Standard 4 Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative and figurative meanings and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

Anchor Standard Activity Select one of the four templates provided and highlight key words and/or create a visual representation of each anchor standard. Group sharing time.

How to “talk” about the ELA Standards The Literacy Common Core Standards as written do not clearly articulate a set of codes with which to refer to.  A code has been developed Aide in distinguishing Anchor Standards from Grade- Specific Standards Ease of “conversation” about the standards  A KEY is necessary for “decoding” the code

Cracking the Literacy “CODE” Strand Code Key Reading Standards R Reading Standards for Literature RL Reading Standards for Informational Text RI Reading Standards: Foundational Skills RF Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies RH Reading Standards for Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects RST Writing Standards W Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, WHST Science, & Technical Subjects Speaking & Listening Standards SL Language StandardsL

How to read a Common Core ANCHOR Standard R.CCR.6 Strand College & Career Readiness Status Number assigned to Standard Reading College & Career Readiness Anchor Craft and Structure: 6. Assess how point of view on purpose shapes the content & style of a text.

How to read a Common Core Reading Standard (grade-specific standard) RI.4.3 Strand Grade Number assigned to Standard Reading Informational Grade 4 Key Ideas & Details: 3. Explain events, procedures, ideas or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.

How to Read a Common Core Writing Standard (grade-specific standard) W.5.1a Strand Grade Number & Letter assigned to Standard Writing Grade 5 1.Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.

MDE Alignment Documents +State+Standards+draft+documents +State+Standards+draft+documents

Next Steps Yours: further study of the CCSS initiative and each of the documents. Ours: identifying needs and providing support and professional development. Others: resources from across the country and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

Remember, this is a journey and not a destination!