Common+Core+State+Standards+Update

The Maryland version of the CCS is now available on mdk12.org. The Framework is probably the most important document because it provides a scope and sequence for teaching the standards. Check out mdk12.org and see what you think!!

I also got some more detailed information today from the ELA department at MSDE. These are just some suggestions for how we can transition as a school system to the new curriculum.

From MSDE-

Suggested Curriculum Transition Activities for 2011-2012 School Year

What central office curriculum supervisors/resource teachers can do to begin the transition to the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum:

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT/ANALYSIS

Align courses/grade level curriculum to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Curriculum teams need to compare the Maryland Common Core Curriculum Frameworks with their own curriculum documents to determine needed changes. LEAs may want to begin the revision process, but within the context of PARCC assessment information and toolkit development not yet available

Comprehensive Writing Program for LEA, grades Pre-K – 12 Much attention has been given to the renewed focus on writing in the Common Core State Standards. LEAs need to develop a model for their comprehensive writing program. Examples of components for the writing program may include use of writing portfolios, the number of writing tasks in each content area/unit, types of research projects in each content area/unit, increased emphasis on argument and informative writing, and incorporation of grammar and conventions within the writing program.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) The Maryland Common Core State Curriculum resources will be based on UDL, and so it is critical that professional development be provided for educators on this design.

Scaffolding Strategies to Develop Student Independence The Maryland Common Core State Curriculum is a mastery curriculum. Students are expected to become independent learners. Models/strategies on how to develop independence will assist teachers with this goal.

Types of Writing: Argument Informative/explanatory Narrative Students are expected to write in all content areas (literacy standards), and so it is important to provide all teachers with this professional development. Emphasis should be placed on argument and informative/explanatory writing.

Text Complexity Model Standard 10 of the reading standards deals specifically with text complexity. The model for text complexity is included in the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards Appendix A document. Later this year, PARCC is expected to release a tool that will measure text complexity.

Content Support In both English Language Arts and Mathematics, teachers will be expected to teach content that may be unfamiliar to them, for example, writing types and processes, or knowledge of bivariate data, random sampling, and functions. Professional development on content as described in the Maryland Common Core Curriculum Frameworks may be needed.

Writing to Source Students will be expected to respond in writing to text, and they will be evaluated on their comprehension of the text as well as their writing skills. Models of high level questions that are text dependent will be helpful to all teachers. For example, students reading The Gettysburg Address, may be asked what “conceived” means in the context of the speech. Asking students what freedom means to them after reading The Declaration of Independence, is NOT dependent on the text.

CCSS Documents There are many documents available from www.corestandards.org., PARCC, and MSDE. More will be published. Ensuring that educators are aware of these documents, know how to access them, and what they can gain from them will be important.