Author Archives: Aaron Grossman

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About Aaron Grossman

I am a 5th grade teacher at Roy Gomm Elementary in Reno, Nevada. I started working with elementary students as part of the Montana Reads program and AmeriCorps. In 2001, after graduating from the University of Montana and moving to Reno, Nevada, I student taught at Rita Cannan Elementary before receiving a 6th grade position at Veterans Elementary. I moved out of the classroom to be a Literacy Coordinator, then an Instructional Coach, and finally a School Improvement Program Coordinator. In 2011, I began working on the Nevada Academic Content Standards in the district’s Curriculum & Instruction Department. I returned to the classroom for the 2015-2016 school year to teach 4th grade at Huffaker Elementary. Before returning to the classroom, I helped develop the Core Task Project that has been featured by National Public Radio, the Gates Foundation, American Radio Works, Eduwonk, the Fordham Institute, Vox, and the Center for American Progress. In 2014, I received the Leader to Learn From Award for my teacher-centered initiative and work to bring college, career, and civics ready outcomes into Northern Nevada classrooms (here). In 2015, I was appointed by Governor Sandoval serve on the Statewide RPDP Council. The same year, Nevada’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Canavero placed me on the state’s State Improvement Team. This year I will be part of the National Council on Teacher Quality’s Teacher Advisory Group. I am Google Certified Educator and a Nevada Teacher Ambassador. I believe strongly that teaching content is teaching reading and I make sure my students have ample opportunities to work with social studies, history, science and art outcomes. I do what I can to blend the learning for my students and this blog is part of that effort. You can contact me at coretaskproject@gmail.com

CCSS are “Valuable and Necessary”

New Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dale A.R. Erquiaga, shares his support for the Common Core in a letter to Nevadans here. The letter explains why the Nevada State Board of Education adopted the standards in 2010 including the importance of … Continue reading

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Smartest Kids in the World

In a video presentation posted by Pop! Tech Amandy Ripley describes her effort to solve a mystery. The mystery? Why are US educational outcomes mediocre relative to other countries. To make her point, she posts the map below. Ripley does … Continue reading

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Parent University, Common Core: An Introduction

Parents are being introduced to the ELA/Literacy Common Core through a class provided by Washoe’s Parent University. The class describes the context for the adoption of the Common Core, the instructional shifts, informative videos content, work with College and Career … Continue reading

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David Liben in Washoe September 6, 2013

David Liben, from Student Achievement Partners, will be visiting Reno this Friday and will conduct a Q&A with instructional leaders and classroom teachers. If you have a burning question, please share in the comment section and we’ll have David answer … Continue reading

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Interactive CCSS Tool for Parents

There have been several strong attempts at keeping parents informed about the Common Core including resources from the PTA (here) and the Council of Great City Schools (here). Stand for Children, an organization dedicated to promoting educational outcomes for K-12 … Continue reading

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Core Action 1: A High Quality Text

Implementation Specialists and instructional coaches reviewed content to be shared on September 4th. The focus for the first site-based PLC is on Core Action 1 from the Instructional Practice Guides. In addition, “Growth Mindset,” which will be part of future … Continue reading

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Parent University: Promoting Literacy in the Home

The Parent University course, “Promoting Literacy in the Home,” was finished and shared this week. The class introduces key parts of reading to parents with specific steps they can take to promote these outcomes. The PowerPoint links to video content … Continue reading

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CTiP Year 2 Begins with a Close Look at Core Action 1

Elementary schools, that finished the first year of the Core Task implementation Project, started year 2 of this professional learning experience. The focus, of the first of four sessions, was on Core Action 1 from the Instructional Practice Guides. Educators … Continue reading

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Free Instructional Videos Matched to CCSS

America Achieves, which visited Reno last October, has posted new videos and lesson plans matched to the Common Core State Standards. All of the resources are free and highlight instruction in ELA/literacy and math that demonstrate close reading, deeper learning, … Continue reading

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Shift 6 Focus: Direct and Indirect Vocabulary Instruction

“Students who have a high vocabulary, tend to be very good comprehenders” begins a video on the value of vocabulary instruction by Dr. Nell Duke.  In the six-minute clip, several important strategies are suggested with evidence to support. They include … Continue reading

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