Issue 164: Jan 09, 2012 Connections Newsletter

The New English Language Arts Common Core Standards

Bill Blynt
Jan 10, 2012

What 'shifts' in thinking about instructional practice are required to successfully implement the English Language Arts Common Core Standards?

Implementation of the Common Core Standards requires you to look at the curriculums with a new lens. The Common Core standards may require significant shifts in how you plan and deliver instruction. Their are six major shifts associated with the transition to the English Language Arts Common Core Standards.

Shifts in English Language Arts:

1. PK-5 - Balancing Informational and Literary Texts
With the Common Core, students are expected to read 50% informational texts and 50% literary texts.
2. 6-12 - Building Knowledge in the Disciplines
ELA teachers will need content area teachers outside of the ELA classroom to emphasize literacy experiences in their instruction to help students fully learn what is expected with the Common Core.
3. Complexity Increases
In order to prepare students for the complexity of college and career ready texts, each grade level becomes more complex, building on the one before. The expectation of thinking and using thinking skills/strategies increases at a much higher rate with the Common Core.
4. Text-Based Answers
Students are expected to use information learned in texts to partake in rich and rigorous conversations. Students are to develop skills for making evidentiary arguments both in conversation, as well as in writing to assess comprehension of a text.
5. Writing from Sources
Writing needs to use evidence from text to inform and construct support. While personal narrative still has an important role, students use written arguments that respond to the texts they read.
6. Grade Level Vocabulary
Teachers will plan and instruct using grade level texts that will build appropriate, grade level vocabulary. Students will gain valuable comprehension strategies and vocabulary strategies to learn content area text rather than esoteric literary terms in order to build their ability to access more complex texts across the content areas.

It is important to be thoughtful as you think about and plan for the instruction of the common core standards. The K-U-D Organizer is still a teacher's best tool for fully implementing the Common Core Standards! The 'shifts' outlined above helps you understand how the Common Core Standards are to be interpreted differently than typical state standards.

Source: http://www.engageNY.org