Author Archives: Aaron Grossman

Unknown's avatar

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

Joe Willhoft: “Leading the Way”

Principal Leadership posted a piece on how to prepare for the next-generation assessments that are associated with the Common Core. Joe Willhoft, the executive director of SBAC, authors the article and he signals what resources will soon be available for … Continue reading

Posted in SBAC | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Why the Common Core is Worth Our Positive Attention”

Peter DeWitt, in a piece for EdWeek, makes the case for why the Common Core State Standards will have a positive impact on schools. Weighed against the very real challenges we all have to contend with, DeWitt systematically makes the … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core State Standards, Instructional Shifts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The CCSS: Starting Now

In the December 2012/January 2013 issue of Educational Leadership, the Core Task Project is shared as part of the answer to this question: “What can you do to move your school or district forward in implementing the Common Core State … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core State Standards, Core Task Project | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Guiding Principles of the Arts

Those who are familiar with the close reading strategy will likely appreciate this document from the New York State Department of Education: Guiding Principles of the Arts. As in close reading, careful observation and attention to what the artist (or … Continue reading

Posted in Close Reading, Common Core State Standards | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Core Shift Blast 7: Skills and Strategies

Want to know more about the role of skills and strategies in the Common Core? Torrey Palmer shares her answer and the thoughts of a number of academics in Core Shift Blast 7. You can also read how 3rd grade … Continue reading

Posted in Core Shifts Blast | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Educators Train on Updated CTP

Washoe educators participated in a slightly modified version of the Core Task Project. The handouts and materials have been updated including a new video link as well as a new exemplar. You can download all of the content used during … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core State Standards, Core Task Project, Instructional Shifts, Student Achievement Partners, Text-Dependent Questions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Washoe Trains on the Primary Core Task Project

Kindergarten Coordinator Kacey Edgington moved K-2 teachers through a primary version of the Core Task Project. You can access all of the content from the presentation by clicking on the links below. Primary Core Task Project PowerPoint 6=3 Shift Display … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core State Standards, Core Task Project, Instructional Shifts, text complexity, Text-Dependent Questions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

College-Readiness Definition

SBAC has released Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) matched to Common Core (here) and college-readiness. You can read an analysis of this work by EdWeek.

Posted in Common Core State Standards | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What Teachers Can Learn from the New PARCC and SBAC Sample Assessment Items

2012 National Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki shares some insight into the new assessment items released by SBAC and PARCC. She reveals her enthusiasm for the items because she sees them as validation of good instruction. She highlights the … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core State Standards | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Rewrites Added to Washoe’s 6th Grade BAP Folder

As many readers know, Washoe started an effort to rewrite the questions and culminating activities for the 6th grade HMH materials. Following the procedures outlined by the Council of Great City Schools and Student Achievement Partners, questions and culminating assignments … Continue reading

Posted in Basal Alignment Project, Common Core State Standards | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment