Nonfiction and the CCSS

The School Library Journal links 20 outstanding nonfiction titles to specific Common Core standards: http://www.slj.com/2013/05/standards/common-core/20-outstanding-nonfiction-books-core-essentials/#_

Nonfiction Resources

I highly recommend the following professional resources for increasing the quality of nonfiction reading and writing instruction in the classroom:

http://www.amazon.com/Place-Wonder-Reading-Writing-Nonfiction/dp/1571104321

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Real-Strategies-Success-Informational/dp/0325005370

http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9535

The Learning Network Blog on NYTimes

This blog contains numerous lesson plans and ideas for grades 3-12. A search for posts related to the common core produces hundreds of results. The only problem is that I cannot figure out how to search by grade level....

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/

Scholastic Common Core Resources

Scholastic has created a website full of free resources about the Common Core. The materials provide a good introduction to the Core and some ideas about beginning to shift practice.

http://www.scholastic.com/commoncore/common-core-free-resources.htm

Common Core Concerns and Answers

Instructor Magazine provided a list of common questions about the CCSS and solutions.


http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/your-core-concerns

Professional Development: It's Time for Change

This article from the NEA suggests that PD should come from within the knowledge bank of teachers at a school, be sustained, include job-embedded collaboration, and focus on student results. The article includes a discussion of PLCs.

http://www.nea.org/home/55173.htm

Fluency Protocol

I've attached a link to a fluency protocol that has been successful in my classroom. The attached passages are taken from popular trade books, allowing for comprehension work to dovetail with the fluency practice. I have found success choosing passages that are at a frustration level for students, because you read the passage so many times. I have also found success with sending passages home with students as part of their 10 minutes of reading homework.

http://coedpages.uncc.edu/bric/fluencypartnerpracticeprogram.pdf

New York State Common Core Sample Questions

There is some controversy about how appropriate the chosen texts are (Tolstoy for 3rd Grade), but nonetheless, here is another take on questions that try to approach the intent of the CCSS:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/common-core-sample-questions/

Professional Learning Communities

What is a professional learning community?

http://www.allthingsplc.info/pdf/articles/DuFourWhatIsAProfessionalLearningCommunity.pdf


and more info on PLCs:
http://www.allthingsplc.info/

Dynamic Learning Maps

The alternate assessment for the CCSS that is begin developed for students with significant cognitive disabilities is called Dynamic Learning Maps. This assessment will involve ongoing embedded assessment within the instructional plan. Here is a video that explains Learning Maps:

And here is a link to the website:

http://dynamiclearningmaps.org/

Webinars About the Common Core

Pearson has archived webinars about the Common Core on their website:


http://commoncore.pearsoned.com/index.cfm?locator=PS1sF6

Acheivethecore.org

www.achievethecore.org  has professional development resources, lesson plans, and other Common Core Resources, especially around text-dependent questioning.

Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse Tools

Need to stay organized? Need a calendar? survey? planning form for coaching? You can find everything here:

http://www.literacycoachingonline.org/tools.html

Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse Briefs

Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse has compiled briefs about topics of interest to literacy coaches. Find them here:

http://www.literacycoachingonline.org/briefs.html

These articles are a good read:

Do's and Don'ts for Literacy Coaches: 

http://www.literacycoachingonline.org/briefs/DosandDontsFinal.pdf

Do work first to create a relationship of trust, recognize and appreciate differences, recognize your own beliefs and attitudes about teaching and learning, let the data lead, be a learner...

Don't take it personally, act like the "expert," avoid the tough issues....

and many more!


and

Considering Coaching Responsibilities in Terms of Teacher Change

http://www.literacycoachingonline.org/briefs/coaching_trajectory_a_smith.pdf

This brief explains that coaching falls into two areas: mentoring and advocacy.

Literacy Design Collaborative Templates

LDC has templates for creating higher level thinking tasks. Rubrics are also included. Here's a link to the Elementary Templates:

http://www.literacydesigncollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/LDC-Elementary-Template-Tasks-v1.pdf

Reading and Writing Project CCSS Videos

Pathways to the Common Core - by the Reading and Writing Project

These videos show what Common Core looks like in the classroom.

http://vimeo.com/tcrwp/albums

SBAC Sample Items

Missouri DOE has posted SBAC sample items that include Webb's DOK levels.

http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/assess/sbac.html#sbacsample


This a great resource for becoming familiar with DOK and the Common Core