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CSS Communications Toolkit This week State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced the availability of "Explaining Common Core to Californians: A Communications Toolkit." The development of this resource was a collaborative effort involving the CDE, SBE, Californians Dedicated to Education, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, California State PTA®, California School Boards Association, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teaches AFT/AFL-CIO, Association of California School Administrators, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and the nonprofit organization FrameWorks Institute. The resource is a collection of research, recommendations, and sample communications designed to help educators increase their own and the public's understanding of the kinds of instruction, testing, and support needed to fulfill the potential of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

"Parents' Guide to Student Success The Parents' Guide to Student Success (listed below in English and Spanish) was developed in response to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics that more than 45 states have adopted. (To find out if your state has adopted the standards, visit CoreStandards.org/In-The-States.) Created by teachers, parents, education experts, and others from across the country, the standards provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career. "

"One key competency that employers across the board value in employees is the ability to think creatively and logically in order to solve problems." The American Diplomacy Project" This website provides the 3'C's which promote creativity with

Questions that probe for deeper meaning and set the stage for further questioning foster the development of critical thinking skills and higher order capabilities such as; problem solving, and the understanding of complex systems. A good essential question is the principle component of designing inquiry-based learning - the typical 'Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?' of a course of study.

"Common Core State Standards (CCSS) include basic technology skills to help students succeed; but located throughout the standards is an understanding for students to use technology to help them learn in all areas. Whether it is using tools to solve math problems, to access information, or to promote literacy and communication skills; technology is part of the learning solution.  Technology is an integral part in supporting these Standards. The Common Core Technology Institute will be broken into two separate days."

" Every single teacher is concerned about his/ her teaching practices and the skills involved in this process. How many times have you wondered about a better way to teach the same lesson you have delivered to an eariler class? How often have you used technology to engage your students and improve their learning ? These are some recurring questions we keep regurgitating each time our teaching skills are put to the test"

"When it comes to interactive whiteboards (IWBs), nearly everybody has heard a horror story. You know, like the one about some ignorant teacher who grabbed the nearest magic marker and began scribbling a lesson all over that inviting, shiny surface."

STEM AND Argumentative Writing. "Today, GlassLab announced the launch of a new tablet-based English Language Arts game developed in collaboration with NASA. The game was launched at the 11th annual Games for Change festival in New York City, a conference celebrating games with social impact."

"MATHEMATICS APPLETS MATHEMATICS Overview Staff Common Core Mathematics Resources Content Presentations General Mathematics Resources Instructional Videos Lessons Mathematics Applets Mathematics Coaching Consortium Parent Guides Presentations WCCUSD Curriculum Guides WCCUSD Study Guides Links These applets were developed to encourage investigations about a variety of mathematical concepts.    These applets may load slowly the first time you use them.   You may also need to install the free Java plug-in.  The screen should prompt you as needed for your system.   "

Here are some of the ways where school and learning can become divergent. School promotes starting by looking for answers.  Learning promotes starting with questions. School is about consuming.  Learning is about creating. School is about finding information on something prescribed for you.  Learning is about exploring your passions and interests. Schools teaches compliance.  Learning is about challenging perceived norms. School is scheduled at certain times.  Learning can happen any time, all of the time. School often isolates.  Learning is often social. School is standardized.  Learning is personal. School teaches us to obtain information from certain people.  Learning promotes that everyone is a teacher, and everyone is a learner. School is about giving you information.  Learning is about making your own connections. School is sequential.  Learning is random and non-linear. School promotes surface-level thinking. Learning is about deep exploration.

The most comprehensive site of curated Common Core links. Off the charts. For teachers and parents.

Folder of all of the content for the institute

Catln Tucker Blended Learning & Technology in the Classroom

key points in ELA

WISE INquiry model....Curriculum developed to serve as a guid for teachers stepping into inquiry or collaborative research models for the 21st Century

Free Common Core lessons from The American Educator

The Heartland Institute commentary on Common Core Science Standards

NCSS position paper on CCSS and national history standards