This essential guide to the Common Core State Standards provides an overview of the new standards in English language arts and mathematics, explains how everyone in your school community can make the transition to this new paradigm, and invites you to think about the possibilities that the standards offer for strengthening teaching and learning across the United States.
The latest in the Understanding the Common Core series covers the structure, terminology, and emphases of the standards for both mathematics and English language arts and literacy at the upper elementary level. Here, teachers of grades 3-5 and elementary school leaders will find the insight they need to turn the standards' new and challenging content into coherent curriculum and effective classroom-level lessons.
Discover how to weave an in-depth understanding of the Common Core into successful classroom practice with this two-part resource. You’ll learn how to power the standards with guided assessment and measure student progress in a way that accurately reflects learning. Included are hundreds of ready-to-use, research-based proficiency scales for both English language arts and mathematics.
Between the State and the Schoolhouse examines the Common Core State Standards from the initiative's promising beginnings to its disappointing outcomes. Situating the standards in the long history of state and federal efforts to shape education, the book describes a series of critical lessons that highlight the political and structural challenges of large-scale, top-down reforms. Education policy expert Tom Loveless argues that there are too many layers between the state and the classroom for a national standards approach to be effective. Specifically, he emphasizes the significant gap between states' roles in designing education policy and teachers' roles as implementers of policy. In addition, he asserts that top-down policies are unpredictable, subject to political and ideological pressures, and vulnerable to the pendulum effect as new reforms emerge in response to previous ones. One of the most ambitious education reforms of the past century, the Common Core aimed to raise student success, prepare larger numbers of students for both college and careers, and close achievement gaps. Yet, as Loveless documents, a decade later there remains a lack of significant positive impact on student learning. Between the State and the Schoolhouse marks an important contribution to the debate over the standards movement and the role of federal and state governments in education reform.
Smart implementation of the Common Core State Standards requires both an overall understanding of the standards and a grasp of their implications for planning, teaching, and learning. This Quick-Start Guide provides a succinct, all-in-one look at * The content, structure, terminology, and emphases of the Common Core standards for English language arts at the middle school level. * The meaning of the individual standards within the four ELA strands--Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language, with an emphasis on areas that represent the most significant changes to business as usual. * How the standards connect across strands, domains, and grade levels to build on prior learning and prepare students for the nuanced communication and analytical work they will encounter in high school. Here, middle school ELA teachers and school leaders will find information they need to begin adapting their practices to ensure that all students master the new and challenging material contained in the standards. A practical lesson planning process to use with the Common Core, based on Classroom Instruction That Works, 2nd Ed., is included, along with three sample lessons. LEARN THE ESSENTIALS OF THE COMMON CORE The grade-level and subject-specific Quick-Start Guides in the Understanding the Common Core Standards series, edited by John Kendall, are designed to help school leaders and school staffs turn Common Core standards into coherent, content-rich curriculum and effective, classroom-level lessons.
Most states have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as the basis for evaluating their students. This handbook will help teachers and administrators sort through the English Language Arts standards and focus on the key components of the CCSS. This is the second of a four-book series that started with Navigating Implementation of CCSS. The third handbook is Navigating Mathematics CCSS and the fourth is Navigating Assessment and Collaboration with the CCSS.
How the Common Core standardizes our kids’ education—and how it threatens our democracy. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is one of the most controversial pieces of education policy to emerge in decades. Detailing what and when K–12 students should be taught, it has led to expensive reforms and displaced other valuable ways to educate children. In this nuanced and provocative book, Nicholas Tampio argues that, though national standards can raise the education bar for some students, the democratic costs outweigh the benefits. To make his case, Tampio describes the history, philosophy, content, and controversy surrounding the Common Core standards for English language arts and math. He also explains and critiques the Next Generation Science Standards, the Advanced Placement US History curriculum framework, and the National Sexuality Education Standards. Though each set of standards has admirable elements, Tampio asserts that democracies should disperse education authority rather than entrust one political or pedagogical faction to decide the country’s entire philosophy of education. Ultimately, this lively and accessible book presents a compelling case that the greater threat to democratic education comes from centralized government control rather than from local education authorities.
Essential reading for school leaders! With the Common Core State Standards adopted by the vast majority of U.S. states, educators face the challenge of translating the standards into successful, positive change within schools. Written for school leaders, this practical guide offers a blueprint for implementing and exceeding the new standards using very targeted professional development. Readers will find realistic strategies supported by examples from a diverse range of schools. Topics include Empowering teachers and staff as partners in planning for and implementing the new standards Adapting existing curriculum to meet goals for mathematics and language arts at each grade level Designing assessments that measure mastery of the standards Ensuring that the standards benefit learning for all students, including multicultural learners Lead your school or district in fulfilling the promise of the Common Core State Standards and preparing students for a competitive global economy. "This book looks at the implementation of CCSS within the context of all of the components that face public schools, and, in doing so, puts the CCSS in a proper perspective. This is a book that could actually help make a difference in the improvement of instruction in the public schools." —Martin J. Hudacs, Superintendent Solanco School District, Quarryville, PA "Making the Common Core Standards Work provides a detailed approach to systems thinking and how to manage a real-life paradigm shift." —William Richard Hall, Jr., Principal R. C. Longan Elementary School, Henrico, VA
Help your child succeed with a better understanding of Common Core Math Common Core Math For Parents For Dummies is packed with tools and information to help you promote your child's success in math. The grade-by-grade walk-through brings you up to speed on what your child is learning, and the sample problems and video lessons help you become more involved as you study together. You'll learn how to effectively collaborate with teachers and keep tabs on your child's progress, so minor missteps can be corrected quickly, before your child falls behind. The Common Core was designed to improve college- and career-readiness, and to prepare U.S. students to be more competitive on an international stage when it's time to enter the workforce. This guide shows you how the standards were created, and how they've evolved over time to help ensure your child's future success. The Common Core Math Standards prepare students to do real math in the real world. Many new teaching methods are very different from the way most parents learned math, leading to frustration and confusion as parents find themselves unable to help with homework or explain difficult concepts. This book cuts the confusion and shows you everything you need to know to help your child succeed in math. Understand the key concepts being taught in your child's grade Utilize the homework tools that help you help your child Communicate more effectively with your child's teacher Guide your child through sample problems to foster understanding The Common Core was designed to ensure that every student, regardless of location or background, receives the education they need. Math skills are critical to real-world success, and the new standards reflect that reality in scope and rigorousness. Common Core Math For Parents For Dummies helps you help your child succeed.
