Common Core State Standards: A Good Fit for Gifted Education? Jennifer G. Beasley, Ed.D. is an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas. She will be presenting at ASCD’s Common Core Professional Development Institutes which you can learn more about and register for here. With so many states committing to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) many educators of the gifted and talented are wondering what the CCSS might mean and whether these new standards will be a good fit for the students they serve. What is Common Core? In order to address whether it is a good fit for advanced learners, we need to know just what is at the heart of the standards. “Are aligned with college and work expectations;Are clear, understandable and consistent;Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order skills;Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;Are informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; andAre evidence-based.” Sources:
The Polka-dotted Teacher: Goodbye Class of 2011-2012 Wednesday was our last day of school. This has been such a challenging school year that really tested my nerves and skills as a teacher. I was very happy to have almost all my students pass the C.R.C.T. (just my one E.S.O.L child did not pass...but she has only been speaking English for a year and a half and was expected to pass all of the tests! I adapted these from B. jane brewing... and Lorraine from Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies's Classroom DIY post. Then I gave them a little something else... but since we have learned hoe to use this resource this year (and they love it)...I challenged my students to use a thesaurus to help them find better descriptors for their classmates. I presented each student with their framed word art...and they were thrilled! I was so excited that they were excited! Quickly came the end of the day in which we must say our goodbyes (including some sad goodbyes to student who would not be returning to the school) and lots of hugs!
coretaskproject | A fine WordPress.com site 50 Common Core Resources For Teachers 50 Common Core Resources For Teachers Groups and Organizations These links will take you to essential reading materials from the institutions and organizations behind Common Core. Common Core State Standards Initiative:This is the official site for the CCSSI, featuring information about the standards, news, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions.National Governors Association: The NGA played a major role in the development of Common Core, so their website is a great place to look for answers about the standards.Council of Chief State School Officers: The other major group behind Common Core is the CCSSO, an organization you can learn more about by visiting their site. Useful Resources Read up on Common Core, find out more about what it will mean for your classes, and get some help from educational providers and groups by following these links. Curriculum Development These sites offer a wealth of resources for helping you develop curricula that meets Common Core standards. Blogs
Georgia Organization of School Based Speech Language Pathologists: Common Core for SLPs Language Skills in the standards from an SLP Lens - summary of language skills in the standards Standards Charts: Listed below are charts with standards listed by levels: elementary, middle, and high school. They are listed by grade levels and strands to help SLPs see the horizontal and vertical progression. The charts are for Language Arts, but we will be adding others soon. These standards are complex and will need to be “unwrapped” or “broken down” into more discrete language skills. To use the charts, here is an example: if a student is in 5th grade, but functioning closer to the 2nd grade standard, the SLP can look back at earlier grade level expectations and analyze the skills needed for the student to progress towards the grade level standard. SLPs can also use this information to explain to teachers, parents, and administrators on how we impact and support student achievement. Lozo, D. (2012). Lozo, D. (2012).
Partner in Education | Educational Consulting & Instructional Coaching 4th Grade Frolics: MLK Mobile Activity and Sharing some Love Happy 3 day weekend all:) I wanted to share the Martin Luther King Jr. activity we did yesterday (in case maybe anyone needed an idea for next week.....or, there's always next year) First my kiddos watched two video clips about Martin Luther King Jr. that I had downloaded from United Streaming. They were super intrigued and I have to say, I even got goose bumps during the parts of his famous speech! After the video clips we brainstormed some of the words that stood out and were important to Martin and what he stood for: Then we read the book Martin's Big Words and added to our list. I also wanted to join the wonderful linky that Mrs.
Fifth Grade Math Worksheets Measurement and fractions come in the form of word problems at this level. A major theme in the core for this level is multiplication and long division. You will see in almost all aspects of the curriculum. Make sure that your students master those skills. It is truly paramount for them to do this! For some quick reminders, we also have 5th Grade Math Posters. Operations and Pre-Algebra Parentheses, Brackets, and Braces in Math Expressions- 5.OA.1 2-Step Order of Operations - 5.OA.1 3-Step Order of Operations - 5.OA.1 4-Step Order of Operations - 5.OA.1 Simple Expressions That Record Calculations- 5.OA.2 Generating Math Patterns From Rules - 5.OA.3 Creating and Breaking Down Math Patterns - 5.OA.B.3 Function and Chart Patterns - 5.OA.B.3 Identifying and Complete Math Patterns - 5.OA.B.3 Sudoku Math Patterns - 5.OA.B.3 Numbers and Base Ten Place Values and Ten Times Differences- 5.NBT.1 Patterns in Products with Many Zeros - 5.NBT.2 Naming and Introducing Exponents - 5.NBT.A.2 Numbers and Fractions
Common Core Curriculum Maps | Membership Common Core’s ELA Maps have been in use by teachers for over two years. During this time, the non-profit organization has established an unparalleled reputation for creating high-quality, low-cost curriculum tools based on the Common Core State Standards. Our Common Core Curriculum Maps, released in August 2010, were the first new, CCSS-based curriculum tools to come out after the standards were finalized. Written by teachers for teachers, our ELA Maps are detailed guides for creating CCSS-aligned lessons that delve deeply into key core knowledge content and utilize the best and most important literary and informational texts. The Maps are comprised of 76 units covering Kindergarten through 12th grade, and include: At Common Core, we recognize that implementing a new curriculum demands a significant investment of time and resources. 30% off (plus free shipping) the extended print edition of our maps published by Jossey-Bass. Please join us!
Simply 2nd Resources: My Resources I just wanted to share some of the websites I have bookmarked on my computer. Infographics and the Common Core Information is all around us, but very little of what we digest daily is in the form of a traditional textbook. Advertisements make use of large images designed to catch our attention followed by product information. Social networks, like Pinterest, and Instagram capitalize on our attraction to images as sources of information. My biology textbook is three times the size of old textbooks from the 70′s, and a quick scan reveals that the pages are bigger, brighter and filled with colorful images. I’m always disappointed when a class discussion reveals that many of the students aren’t even looking at these pictures. Analyzing text structures is a major theme of the common core literacy standards. Check out some of these infographics at Images can be powerful and convey ideas in a brighter, bigger way than text can. 1) A daily or weekly infographic can be used to spark analysis and discussion. 5.
Create●Teach●Share: Boggle Board w/ Printable!!! I have been working on some new ideas for my students to do during their Daily Five "Word Work" rotation. A couple days ago I posted about my Word of the Week Graphic Organizer. Another idea I had was inspired by a couple different sources. Here is a picture of the Boggle Bulletin Board that I put up today: {I'll have more pics from my room when I finish later this week!!!} I printed up the following letters on card stock, cut them out, and laminated them. My plan is to change the letters {bi}weekly. {Click the pic to share!} This will probably be a "last choice" for word work. I have seen so many wonderful classroom pics.
Common Core State Standards | Institute for a Competitive Workforce What are the Common Core State Standards? The Common Core State Standards are a set of high-quality academic expectations in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics that define both the knowledge and skills all students should master by the end of each grade level in order to be on track for success in college and career. They were created through a state-led initiative and have been adopted by more than forty states. The standards establish consistent learning goals for all students – regardless of where they live – so that children will stay on track in school when moving from one state to another. With a clear roadmap of academic expectations, students, parents, and teachers can work together toward shared goals. This three-minute video explains how the Common Core State Standards will help students achieve at high levels and help them learn what they need to know to get to graduation and beyond. Myths vs. Resources From the Blog