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" Published Online: February 29, 2012 Published in Print: February 29, 2012, as Reading Fiction Whole Reading Fiction Whole English teacher Ariel Sacks believes it's important to lead students to make their own discoveries in literature. -Emile Wamsteker A language arts teacher uses a 'whole novels' approach to give her students an authentic literary experience. By Ariel Sacks Article Tools PrintPrinter-Friendly EmailEmail Article ReprintReprints CommentsComments Literary fiction is an art that seeks to create an immersive experience for the reader, but we often don't approach it that way with our students. We parcel out books in pieces and ask students to analyze them along the way without the ability to understand a work in its entirety. This is sort of like asking students to interpret a corner of a painting. Without the entire context, it lacks meaning and can become frustrating."

"Well before the Next Generation Science Standards became final last month, teachers in pockets around the country were already exploring the vision for science education espoused by the document and bringing elements of that approach to the classroom."

"There are some basic properties of numbers any 3rd grader can tell you: Each number is represented by a single symbol, and followed by a single successor. Multiplication makes a number bigger; division makes it smaller. The problem is, none of those qualities-true of whole numbers-is true when it comes to fractions, one of the most chronically troublesome basic mathematics areas for children and adults alike. Now, as the Common Core State Standards push for earlier and deeper understanding of fractions, researchers and teachers are exploring ways to ensure students learn more than a sliver of the fractions pie."

Standards Alignment System - Comprehensive approach to support student acheivement across the Commonwealth of PA.

"Until this year, Ena Baxter, an English teacher at Hillcrest High School in Queens, would often have her 10th graders compose papers by summarizing a single piece of reading material... "

"We must end the absurd notion that balanced literacy is somehow at odds with the Common Core. The best balanced literacy practices have advocated for some of the smartest and most rigorous work around nonfiction reading and writing, and other crucial Common Core practices, long before anyone heard the words "Common Core." Are there some schools that practice balanced literacy at the expense of rigor? Of course, but that is a flaw in the implementation, not the idea. "