Monthly Archives: October 2012

A Primer on “Close Reading of a Text”

This week the Aspen Institute published “Implementing the Common Core State Standards: A Primer on ‘Close Reading of Text’” (here). Coauthored by Sheila Brown and Lee Kappes, the primer defines close reading, provides strategies for its implementation, and connects this … Continue reading

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Charlotte Danielson and the CCSS

In a keynote speech before NY Educators, Charlotte Danielson links the Common Core State Standards to the Danielson Framework for Teaching. She argues that we cannot know what content students will need to know in 25 years. Thus, we have … Continue reading

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CC Shifts in ELA

Rose Marsh posted the following video describing the six “instructional shifts.”  For Shift 3, text complexity, the narrator notes that educators, when working with students—especially students well behind in reading—will have to be prepared to chunk text and read “a … Continue reading

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Guidance for the ELA Common Core

The International Reading Association recently released a document entitled “Literacy Implementation Guidance for the ELA Common Core State Standards” (here). The document was created to contend with “confusion” and “conflicting messages” governing the implementation of the CCSS. Among the recommendations: … Continue reading

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Washoe Educators Finish Day 2 of the CTP-ESL Pilot

K-12 ESL teachers finished Day 2 of the CTP-ESL pilot. Their hard work is allowing Curriculum and Instruction to integrate WIDA into Core Task Project trainings. Further, they are identifying appropriate scaffolds to allow all learners to engage in the … Continue reading

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Common Core ‘Essentials’

David Burleson, superintendent in Newland, North Carolina, highlights key aspects of the Common Core for his constituents. Burleson notes that parents and students will see teachers emphasizing a) academic vocabulary b) the use of evidence to support responses and c) … Continue reading

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Sample Items and Performance Tasks, Released

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) has posted sample items and performance tasks matched to the “rigor and complexity of the English language arts/literacy” standards in Common Core. Likewise, the sample items can be used by educators “to begin planning … Continue reading

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Core Shift Blast 4: Close Reading

The Core Shift Blast for October 10th was shared today. You can access it here. You can review previous blasts by clicking here. The focus this week is on the Close Reading Strategy and includes insights into using this instructional … Continue reading

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Willingham and Writing

University of Virginia psychology professor Dr. Daniel Willingham, describes how writing makes children better thinkers in a piece for the Atlantic Monthly (here).  He summarizes several pieces of research in buttressing his claim but cautions that writing without purpose will … Continue reading

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What is your District Doing to Get Teachers Ready?

In a series of videos posted on Vimeo and titled, “Finding Common Ground: What is your District Doing to Get Teachers Ready?” the National Education Writers Association and the Latino Children Project invited California district superintendents to describe key features … Continue reading

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