The Common Core Learning Standards: What Teaching Assistants Need to Know Superintendent’s Conference Day February 15, 2013 Valerie LaRose Christine Zandstra

CCSS (Common Core State Standards) have replaced our current NYS standards 46 States have adopted They are in effect this year They will be reflected in state assessments in 2014 New Standards

States that adopted the Common Core

Six Key Shifts 1. Balancing Literary and Informational Texts 2.Building Knowledge in the Disciplines 3.Staircase of Complexity 4.Text-based Answers 5. Writing From Sources 6. Academic Vocabulary

Balancing Literary and Informational Texts By , students should be reading 50% informational texts in grades K-6 Distribution of Literary and Informational Passages by Grade in the 2009 NAEP Reading Framework Grade Literary Informational 4 50% 50% 8 45% 55% 12 30% 70%

Knowledge in the Disciplines Students should build knowledge about the world (content areas) through TEXT rather than through the teacher or activities

Staircase of Complexity Students should read grade-level appropriate texts around which instruction is centered. Teachers are patient and create supportive classroom environments for close reading of these texts.

Text-based Answers Students are required to provide less opinion types of answers or responses that draw upon their personal experiences. Rather, students should be giving answers that can be supported by textual evidence.

Writing From Sources Writing emphasizes on using evidence from sources to inform or make an argument. Less expository and narrative writing.

Academic Vocabulary Students constantly build transferable vocabulary they need to access grade- level complex texts. Do this by spiraling like content in increasingly complex texts.

What’s My Role? TAs will need to embrace new strategies that encourage student learning. Ask more open-ended or higher level questions to facilitate critical thinking. Literacy is a component of every subject area. Always point to importance of text. “What does it say?” “Why do you say that?”

Exemplar Lesson Literary Analysis Video using evidence