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

7 Word Facts and Implications for Instruction

In a presentation for Reading Plus, University of California professor and http://www.textproject.org founder Dr. Elfrieda H. Hiebert shares her “best stuff” around vocabulary and the Common Core (video here and Powerpoint here). Below are some highlights from her speech entitled, … Continue reading

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The Essentials of Developing Reading Fluency

Dr. Timothy Rasinski, Professor of Literacy Education at Kent State University, describes the “essentials” of developing reading fluency in the video linked here. The claims he makes throughout the presentation are buttressed with strong evidence and, moreover, he is quite … Continue reading

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A Look at the Math Standards—Unfiltered

As I prepare for the classroom, I’ve asked trusted colleagues what math resources I should be looking over. Almost without exception, they direct me to the Progressions Documents for the Common Core State Standards. If you are unfamiliar with these, … Continue reading

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Presentation Before the Reno Lodge 13 – Free & Accepted Masons of Nevada

Reno Lodge 13 – Free & Accepted Masons of Nevada gathered for their monthly meeting which including a presentation on the Common Core State Standards. Dr. Amy Weber-Salgo and I reviewed the difference between standards, assessment and curriculum before reviewing … Continue reading

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Ideas for the First Week of Math Instruction

“A great question for any teacher… is where to begin.” I remember David Coleman, one of the lead authors of the Common Core State Standards, saying this at a speech before educators in 2012. I find myself asking this same … Continue reading

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Back to the Classroom to Teach 4th Grade

For the last four years, I have been introducing myself as a Teacher On Special Assignment working for Washoe’s Curriculum & Instruction Department. That changes in a few weeks when the new academic year begins and I officially become one … Continue reading

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Session 7 of Core Task implementation Project (The End)

The last session of the Core Task implementation Project concluded with a focus on writing and the instructional move, “Painted Essay.” The strategy, which fits well with Session 3 of CTiP and the In Common resources, gives practitioners a way … Continue reading

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My Running Diary of an Anita Archer Presentation—Part 2 (Writing)

Beginning at minute 5:52, Dr. Anita Archer frames her presentation on Providing Explicit Instruction on Writing Arguments by outlining her “principles.” They include 1) breaking down complex skills into obtainable skills; 2) providing explicit instruction that involves modeling and guided … Continue reading

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Running Diary of an Anita Archer Presentation—Part 1

Anita Archer will be in Washoe County on May 15th to speak to our adminstrators and supervisors and then on May 16th to work with classroom teachers and instructional coaches. Many of us, however, will be unable to attend these events. … Continue reading

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The Arts and the Common Core State Standards

By serendipitous luck, I found the following blog that focuses on art outcomes in the elementary grades. Author Meg Riley, apart from having students engage in the production of art works, annotates how she connects a lesson to history, aesthetics, and criticism. It … Continue reading

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