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

Session Materials–Denver Core Advocate Event

Listed below are the session materials that Nevada educators shared at the national “Taking the Next Step” Core Advocate Conference in Denver, Colorado. Chris Hayes, Angela Motter and I did a session on Core Knowledge and how Washoe teachers are … Continue reading

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Introduction to Core Knowledge Course Materials

Staff from Caughlin Ranch, Roy Gomm and Hunter Lake Elementary gathered for the district’s “Introduction to Core Knowledge—Short Course.” Professional learning, domain and lesson exploration, video of lesson demonstrations, and time for planning around the Core Knowledge scope and sequence … Continue reading

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Primary Document Based Questions

I have finally created a section with our primary Document Base Questions on http://www.63000resources.com. In February I wrote about Angela Orr and Chris Hayes’ first efforts and shared their first drafts (here). That was then and Washoe teachers have expanded … Continue reading

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Coherent Body of Knowledge Presentation Materials

Educators gathered to review the research and the opinions that have helped inform Washoe’s decision to focus on building a coherent body of knowledge using rich non-fiction. This included editorials by Deborah Meiers and Robert Pondiscio, research by cognitive psychologist … Continue reading

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NASB Presentation Materials

At the Nevada Association of School Boards meeting in Reno, board members learned more about the Instructional Shifts and Washoe’s K-6 ELA implementation efforts. This included a review of student artifacts and some of the evidence that guided teachers as … Continue reading

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Repeal of Common Core Testimony—Three Things I Think Deserve Qualification

If you were unable to see the testimony from the Assembly Bill 303 hearing—the bill that would repeal Common Core in Nevada—you can access it here. A number of thoughtful and passionate stakeholders shared their opinion about the CCSS including … Continue reading

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March Session of CTiP for Grades 3 through 5

The March session of the Core Task implementation Project, for 3rd through 5th grade teachers, focused on academic vocabulary. Teachers, working with Basal Alignment Project lessons or close reads, reviewed two instructional moves to enhance these resources—Questions, Reasons, Examples and … Continue reading

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Caughlin Ranch Elementary CK Overview Materials

Staff at Caughlin Ranch Elementary learned more about the Core Knowledge curricular materials and about sites currently working with the resource. The session included some learning on why you would build a coherent body of knowledge followed by teachers hearing … Continue reading

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Core Task implementation Project Session 6–Foundations and Academic Vocab

Session 6 of the Core Task implementation Project featured three activities to strengthen Tier 1 instruction. The first was a blast from the past in which participants looked through elements of NELIP (remember that?) and noted which were addressed through … Continue reading

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K-6 ELA Differentiated Session Opportunities

At the March 13th IS training, educators were presented with “differentiated” session choices for future spring gatherings. The session options reflect current learning from the 2014-2015 academic year as well as a review of material from previous school years. If … Continue reading

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