Group items tagged

Not reading these 2 blogs on a regular basis? You should be!

Am I the only one who enjoys reading local coverage of the Common Core transition? Maybe so, but I find it fascinating to read the take of local organizations such as the Morris Daily Herald when it comes to the CCSS. There are some interesting anecdotes, and possibly some great ideas, contained within this article. Check it out.

Achieve the Core calls this page "You've Got to Read This." An apt title, indeed. If you wanted a place to start learning about the Core, this is it.

I am, you could say, a Common Core advocate. I'm in favor of the standards...but the reason I'm in favor of them is because I see them as an opportunity to shift the way we teach. There are, however, other things to consider, so I like to make sure I read as much as I can about the opposing point of view, that the standards are NOT a good idea. This article certainly makes a compelling case and is worth the read.

Great resources for K-3 reading teachers here from Tennessee's Dept of Ed.

Learned about this blog post via the Curriculum Matters column at Education Week. If you only read one of these Common Core links, read this one. A perfect blend of humor and insight.

What's that Olivia Newton John song? "Let's get political?" I can't remember. Either way, if you're planning to vote November 6 (and I desperately hope that you are), this is a must read. Getting the candidates to talk about education is always a challenge. 2012 is no exception. It's quite interesting to read Governor Romney's quotes on the Common Core, and specifically on standardized testing. President Obama is discussed briefly, too, although he doesn't seem to have too much to say on the education topic either. I'll leave it at that!

Close reading...such a key component to the CCSS. And something many teachers struggle to understand exactly what it looks like. 

The International Reading Association's Common Core resource center.

This ASCD article is a lengthy read, but one that's worthwhile. It really gets into the nuts and bolts of the shifts that are going to be required of ELA teachers. There are some big things that are going to change under the Core. This not only details them, but offers suggestions and insight into how to make them happen in your own classroom.

Is this a good thing? Not sure. I do know that this article is a thought provoking look at the depth and complexity that could be a part of CCSS implementation. Definitely worth a read.

Are you following the Burkins & Yaris blog yet? You should be. Every post is an insightful look at some aspect of the ELA Common Core. This post asks whether shorter texts should play a part in reading instruction. Their answer? A resounding "yes."

Like so many articles from Burkins & Yaris, this one's a winner. 

This is a weighty, but much needed, read. It's the mathematical standards of practice that truly need to be understood in order to fully make a CCSS transition. If you're a math teacher of any level, you've got to explore them, and this article unpacks them in a valuable way.

Everything I share for this "Common Sense" roundup is, in my opinion, great stuff. But here's a post that, if you're an ELA teacher or educational leader, you've got to read. Great, great, great stuff here. Honestly. While there may be several reasons to object to common standards, this post dispels some of the least accurate "legends."

From a CCSS author's mouth to our ears. This is worth the read.

Really interesting look at how one school is making CCSS work with PBL. I look forward to reading more about this school and about others working on the same type of things.

What? People are freaking out? I kid. This is a great read.

This piece from Thomas Newkirk definitely fits into the category of "Common Sense for the Common Core." It lays out several concerns with the CCSS in a logical fashion. Whether you're a CCSS supporter or feel the standards are ripe with imperfections (or somewhere in between), this is a good read. 

This is a pretty hefty read, but an important one. Regular readers know how concerned we are with issues regarding the achievement gap. If the Common Core widens the gap...that's not good, to say the least.