What is Close Reading?

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

What is Close Reading? Answer here.

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Jessie Beck and Bud Beasley Train on the BAP

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Today, Jessie Beck and Bud Beasley Elementary trained on the Basal Alignment Project. Listed below are the resources used for the training as well as other materials referenced during the session.

Training Materials

BAP Training PowerPoint updated

Pictorial Guide to accessing the BAP materials

Continue reading →

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The Brain on Close Reading

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Those of you who are employing the close reading strategy in your classroom may find this Standford news article interesting (here).  Researches are demonstrating that close reading increases neural activity and “how cognition is shaped not just by what we read, but how we read it.”

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Core Shift Blast September 25, 2012

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

The Core Shift Blast was sent today and it includes an excellent overview of the Basal Alignment Project and the Core Task Project. Corrin Cathcart, a fifth grade teacher at Brown Elementary, describes her experience with the BAP rewrites and what she is learning as she integrates this resource.

You can read the blast here and you can subscribe by contacting Torrey Palmer at TFPalmer@washoeschools.net.

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Common Core in the Classroom

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Education Nation is in full swing on NBC. A panel was convened and a lengthy discussion on “Common Core in the Classroom” was shared. Panelists included Monica Sims with America Achieves, Dr. John Deasey, superintendent of LA Unified, and David Coleman of Student Achievement Partners. You can watch the entire discussion (here) that focuses on the power of collaboration and the opportunities CCSS presents.

Note that America Achieves was in Washoe in August and will be back in the fall to film our peers implementing the Close Reading Strategy in their classrooms.

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“Instructional Shifts for Making ‘Fewer, Clearer, and Higher’ A Reality”

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Susan Gendron from the International Center for Leadership in Education has posted the following PowerPoint describing the “instructional shifts” and some context, useful links, and helpful qualifiers for these moves. Gendron currently serves as the Policy Coordinator for the SMARTER Balance Assessment Consortium.

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Communications Leaders Meeting September 18, 2012

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Washoe’s K-6 Communication Leaders attended their first ELA meeting and learned what efforts are being supported to align literacy instruction to the Common Core State Standards. Areas of emphasis included the Basal Alignment Project, the Core Task Project, and the Close Reading Strategy.

Communication Leaders PowerPoint September 18, 2012

Aligning Literacy Instruction to the Common Core handout

Exit Ticket on Basal Alignment Project implementation

Pictorial Guide to accessing the BAP

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School Librarians Work with the CCSS, September 17 2012

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Librarians, at the WCSD Library Services K-12 Meeting, reviewed the “instructional shifts,” the importance of text complexity, and brainstormed non-fiction titles worth reading. Below are the resources used in the presentation.

ELA ‘Shifts’ and the School Librarian PowerPoint

Notetaker for School Librarians presentation

Exit Pass for School Librarians presentation

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Assistant Principals and Deans A&S Meeting, September 17 2012

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

District Assistant Principals and Deans gathered Monday to learn more about specific initiatives. Included was a short K-6 session on “Aligning “Literacy Instruction to the CCSS.”

A&S Aligning Literacy Instruction PowerPoint

Aligning Literacy Instruction to the CCSS Handout

Messaging and BAP Exit Ticket

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Parenting Magazine and the CCSS

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Aaron Grossman

Parenting Magazine weighs in on how caregivers can bring the Common Core into the home with these tips.

  1. Read books to children that are ‘worth reading’
  2. Ask children text-based questions and encourage them to cite evidence in their responses
  3. Push kids to read more non-fiction
  4. Have students “write write write” with specific attention to using evidence when trying to persuade

You can read the entire article here.

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