Implementing the Common Core State Standards

Monday, January 23rd - 4pm EST

Deconstructing the Common Core Standards: Analyzing for Content, Level of

Cognition & ContextPresented by

Jessica McCreary and Caitlin Hartman, Instructional Coaches for Action Learning Systems and Jason Willoughby, Director for Action Learning

Systems

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Deconstructing the Common Core State

Standards Analyzing for Content, Level of Cognition,

and Context

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

The Best Teachers…

• Know their grade level standards better than anyone else- an intimate understanding

• Understand the long term goals and the short term outcomes (and how they relate to one another)

• Derive their instructional planning FROM the standards and design down

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Deconstructing the Standards

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for Content• Individual objectives within the standard

• Identifying the nouns or subjects

• Teachable chunks

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for Level of Cognition

• Thinking Skills required

• Competency• How “deep”• Verbs and key phrases

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for Context• Appropriate teaching strategies

• Appropriate assessment types

• Show what they have learned

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Deconstructing the Standards

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Common Core State Standards for English

Language ArtsKey advancements and

standard deconstruction

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Design Considerations for ELA

The Standards comprise three main sections

• A comprehensive K-5 section– Includes standards for foundational skills

• Two content area-specific sections for grades 6-12– One for English Language arts– One for literacy in history/social studies, science and technical subjects

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Key Advances in ELAReading• Balance of literature and informational texts• Text complexityWriting• Emphasis on argument and

informative/explanatory writing• Writing about sourcesSpeaking and Listening• Inclusion of formal and informal talkLanguage• Stress on general academic and domain-specific

vocabulary©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Key Advances in ELAStandards for reading and writing in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects•Complement rather than replace content standards in those subjects•Responsibility of teachers in those subjects

Alignment with college and career readiness expectations

Grade 4 Writing Standard 1

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.a)Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.b)Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.c)Link opinions and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).d)Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for ContentOverarching objective or cumulating objective• Write an opinion piece on a topic (or a text), supporting a

point of view with reasons and information.

Objectives • Introduce a topic clearly (or a text)  • State an opinion  • Create an organizational structure in which related ideas

are grouped together to support the writer's purpose • Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details

(from the text)  • Link opinions and reasons using words and phrases (e.g.,

“for instance,” “in order to,” “in addition”)  • Provide a concluding statement or section related to the

opinion presented

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for Level of Cognition

• The level of cognition for the standard is evaluation.

• Students state an opinion and then argue their point of view using reasons, which are supported by facts and details.  In order to do this convincingly, students must evaluate information to determine its relevance to the argument presented.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for ContextImplications for teaching include students proficiently:

• differentiating between fact and opinion.• clearly conveying an opinion.• organizing opinion writing.• gathering evidence to support an opinion.  • evaluating whether or not information strengthens their point of view.  

• using words and phrases to effectively link opinions and reasons.  

• concluding their writing.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for Context • While these components may seem self-explanatory at first glance, further observation reveals the necessity for teachers to explicitly teach them and for students to practice them multiple times in order to build proficiency.  

• In the first few years of the Common Core adoption, this will be especially true.  

• In later years, the tight connections between grade level standards will facilitate teachers becoming more focused on the nuances of their grade level standards.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Analyzing for Context

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

• Text-based• Multiple texts• Should include scoring guide (rubric)

• Anchor papers

Classroom Implications 1. Writing standards demonstrate a VERY clear progression

through the grade levels. (In the future this will mean that teachers must teach their standards to mastery because the following teacher will build upon the foundation.)

2.  Writing and reading standards front matter conveys the expectation  "that reading, writing, speaking, and listening...need not be a separate focus for instruction and assessment. Often, several standards can be addressed by a single rich task...When drawing evidence from literary or informational texts per Writing standard 9, students are also demonstrating their comprehension skill in relation to specific standards in reading."

3. Students will apply writing genre to social studies, science, and technical texts, as well as literature and expository texts.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

Key advancements and standard deconstruction

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

©2012 Action Learning Systems, Inc.

Design Considerations for Math

Mathematical Practice Standards1. Make sense of problems and persevere in

solving them2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively3. Construct viable arguments and critique

the reasoning of others4. Model with mathematics5. Use appropriate tools strategically6. Attend to precision7. Look for and make use of structure8. Look for and express regularity in

repeated reasoning