Grasping the Common Core

Are you implementing the Common Core this year?

I was super excited to be included in an ebook that encompasses many fabulous (tons are free!) Common Core resources. For my own participation, I chose to outline ways to "grasp" the CCSS for teachers new to the standards (for more info on Grasp Levels click HERE).  This post is similar to the page you'll find on my resource page from the ebook, but it also contains more helpful links!!!

The 1st level of truly grasping, or knowing and using the standards for your classroom is . . .

The link for the Common Core State Standards is http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards
They are grouped into Math and English Language Arts standards with domains in each for every grade level.  Good info includes:
http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/introduction/how-to-read-the-grade-level-standards
and
http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/introduction/how-to-read-the-standards

While many people are trying to align their current curriculum to the CCSS, after having helped pilot them for our district last year, I know there are standards listed that require additional supplemental lessons.  A great idea is to start organizing the resources you find.  

 This specific example includes file tabs with the numbered standard and short description, a printed shipping label of the full standard, and an extra label for listing resources that match the standard but don't fit in the file folder (websites, game lists, books, etc).  The folders are color coded for math, reading, and language standards.  Many labels can be found online but here's quick links to some for 3rd-5th grade: 3rd grade file tabs and standard labels, 4th grade file tabs and standards labels, 5th grade file tabs and standards labels.

 
The next step I suggest is . . .

The top 3 places I would suggest you look for resources for the CCSS:

1. Pinterest

2. TeachersPayTeachers

3. Teachers Notebook

And . . .

here are the ebooks that I was super excited to be a part of and share (see the 3rd-5th ELA for When Inspiration Strikes page)!! Each contributor had to include a freebie on their page!

   

K-2 Math      K-2 ELA

    

3rd-5th Math    3rd-5th ELA

6th-12th Math   6th-12th ELA

There are actually other subjects for grades 6th-12th as well but I am keeping to Math and ELA for this. :)

******
 Woah!! So now you have tons of lesson ideas!!! Synergize with some team planning guides that are Common Core aligned to help you focus on the standard, what it means to the students, what resources you have collected for it, and how you will assess it.

Once you have your overall plan, check out CorePlanner which is a FREE lesson plan creator that links to the CCSS for your daily schedules.  (I'll be trying it out this year!). Fabulous!!

And . . . there's always the grading, BUT I have used this FREE CCSS gradebook JumpRope and loved it!!  You can easily track data that's color-coded and print or send progress reports to colleagues, administration, students, and parents!! More fabulousness!!

On to the next level to grasp the Common Core . . . 

Have you heard of Plan, Do, Study, Act boards?  They are large displays that help students know what CC standard (or any learning objective) they are focusing on, how they will learn it, and how proficient they were to celebrate or improve. To learn more and get fabulous examples, click HERE.  The bottom line? Let everyone know (yup, parents and administrators are impressed to walk in and see this info as well!) what is expected for college readiness success!!

And . . . want a cool way to also display Common Core learning?  Check out these bulletin boards where students add objects from themes of your choice (sports, leaves and fruit or nuts on a tree, space objects, etc.) to a board every time they have covered one of the standards. Awesome!!

When you're ready to grasp the next step . . .
 

It will take time to interpret and plan for the main "common" standards (it took our team all of last year).  However, the standards were designed to increase the proficiency of students so they do not just include a checklist of things to know (what does this mean according to the CCSS? Read more here).  Once you know what to teach, revisit the Common Core site to see the process standards for developing critical thinkers in your classroom.
Standards for Mathematical Practice and
Anchor Standards for Reading with links on the left for writing, speaking and listening, and language

CCSS R&R is not Rest and Relaxation!!

Buzz words also include increased rigor and relevance for students. Here's a great place to grasp what this means: Rigor/Relevance Framework (make sure to also click on the "More About the Rigor/Relevance Framework" link at the bottom!)

Last but not least, make sure you talk about everything you have done because so many of us are in this together!!  The end measure will be either the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) or the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC).  Our district is focusing on the PARCC and I had signed up last year to receive the latest news and have seen where they often give updates and ask for feedback from teachers.  I encourage you to be involved as well!

Then relax, by this time you will achieve the last grasp level . . .

 Good luck this year and thanks for stopping by!! :) :) :)

Common Core Backwards Planning Guides

Our school has been working diligently on beginning to implement the Common Core State Standards as well as follow the best practices according to the Continuous Classroom Improvement system, the book Instruction for All Students by Paula Rutherford, and the Leader in Me book by Stephen R. Covey that showcases schools with the greatest success in turning around academics and student behavior.  One of the ways we have done this is by working in our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), or teams of grade level teachers, an instructional specialist, an administrator, and support SPED staff to conduct "backward planning".

According to Paula Rutherford, the term backward planning means to begin with the end goal in mind because "just as we have a clear picture of that perfect vacation, car, wedding, or ad campaign, we need to have a clear picture of what it looks like when our students are competent with what we want them to know and be able to do" (Rutherford, 2008, p. 34).  Therefore in one of our two weekly PLC meetings we plan our lessons together.  A version of the template we have used to do this is below.  

The best way to really understand the CCSS is to plan lessons collaboratively in this organized way!!

The idea of working backwards to identify desired results, determine acceptable evidence, and planning learning experiences are also recommended in Understanding By Design by Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe.  Read on to see how to organize these concepts!
 
The templates are color coded (one color for math, many colors for the ELA standards by domain since many of those standards are taught at once and can get confusing).  The 1st column includes the cycle, or days dedicated to teaching the standard.  Dates are listed underneath so that everyone involved in the PLCs know the expectations for moving through the material at an appropriate agreed-upon pace.  

The next section is our Plan aligned to the CCI system (see PDSA Boards here) and the Stardards-Based Environment Planning Process ideology in the Rutherford book.  Beginning with the Common Core Standards as the end we want to have in mind, they are listed first with a hyperlink to the original standards built in.  Covey recommends clear communication to the students so the learning targets are put into terms that students can use as their goals for learning.  Awesome samples of these "I can" statements with examples of each standard can be found in Jason's Online Classroom store here. The Depths of Knowledge levels were added to our district pacing guides for this upcoming year in order to make sure our expectations of our students match the Rigor and Relevance demanded by the CCSS.  A hyperlink to the D of K theory is embedded in the template for reference.

The next column is our actual list of all of the lessons we could teach (some teams decide to teach every lesson in order for comparative data reasons, other teams pick and choose which activities would work best for their group of learners).  In order to engage students, differentiate, and give the most effective individualized lessons the template encourages activities based on Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences and Marzano's High Yield Strategies and lists for helping struggling students or those needing a challenge.  While it can be noted that our district has purchased curriculum aligned to the CCSS with lessons given, this list gives teachers freedom to also include supplemental materials that work well such as websites, videos, or games.  

The last column of the guide outlines how we agree to assess the students' knowledge and lesson effectiveness.  Included is a link to the 4 updated Bloom's Knowledge Domains.  These are just suggestions and can be deleted or modified by team need, but the expectations for proficiency are recommended for communication with students and their parents.  

These templates are available for download in Word format so that they can be easily altered, saved, and shared with your grade level team.  Feel free to check them out!! :)

Click HERE for 3rd Grade!

 

Click HERE for 4th Grade! 

Click HERE for 5th Grade!



Kinder is HERE! 1st grade HERE! 2nd grade HERE! Thanks for stopping by!!