Embedding Common Core Literacy in Secondary Content Area Lessons

1. Embedding Common Core Literacy in Secondary Content Area Lessons Deborah Chapman, presenter Darby Junior High Media Center June 4, 2013 12:00 – 3:00

2. Purpose of Common Core • "The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. " • “The Common Core Reading Standards for Literacy require the explicit instruction in reading strategies across the content areas. The goal of these standards is to develop independent, strategic readers.” • FROM http://www.corestandards.org/

3. THESE STANDARDS SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN PLAY— • Use of Evidence • Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources • Complex Texts • Read and comprehend complex texts in appropriate grade level independently and proficiently • Write on discipline-specific content • Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences

4. SAMPLE UNIT LESSON PLAN • Includes • Objectives for • Arkansas SLE • Common Core • Language • Essential Question • Resources containing COMPLEX TEXTS • Activities planned • Always include reading, writing, speaking, and listening • Always include group work • Assessments

5. Four Cs of Common Core Unit Lesson Plans • Creativity • Are they students creating or just regurgitating? • Are they being given credit for presenting something other than what was described? • Collaboration • Have they spent some time working with others to formulate their thoughts, brainstorm, or seek feedback from peers? • Critical thinking • Are the students doing more work than the teacher in seeking out information and problem solving? • Communication • Does the assessment emphasize the need to communicate the content well? • Is there writing involved as well as other modalities? • If asked to teach the content to other students, what methods will the student use to communicate the information and help embed it more deeply?

6. CLOSE READING • Explicit teaching of Close Reading • RSVPE • Reading • Structure • Vocabulary • Purpose • Expressive • Writing & Drawing in the Margin • Begin with an easy piece such as a Content–Appropriate Visual…and lead students to more difficult works.

7. TEXT DEPENDENT QUESTIONS • What are Text Dependent Questions? • Are questions that can only be answered correctly by close reading of the text and demand careful attention to the text • Require an understanding that extends beyond recalling facts • Often require students to infer • Do not depend on information from outside sources • Provide access to increasing levels of complex text • Call for careful and thoughtful teacher preparation • Require time for students to process

8. Rigor in Class discussion • Academic Rigor through Student Discussion • Purposeful • Coherent • Productive • Conversational Maxims must be set for students • Sentence Starters • Accountable Talk • Language of Student Response

9. MEANINGFUL CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT • Is your Common Core unit lesson plan • Creative? • Collaborative? • Require critical thinking? • Require students to communicate?

10. Common Core ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST • Does the assessment involve project-based learning? • Does it allow for student choice of topics? • Is it inquiry based? • Does it ask that students use some level of internet literacy to find their answers? • Does it involve independent problem solving? • Does it incorporate the 4Cs? • Do the students need to communicate their knowledge via writing in some way? • Does the final draft or project require other modalities in its presentation?

11. Discussion and Sharing • http://www.corestandards.org/ • http://naeptba.ets.org/SourceRater3/ • http://www.literacyta.com/common-core-standards/reading • You can access Fort Smith District Wikis below: • Fort Smith Mathematics Wiki • Fort Smith Science Wiki • Fort Smith Social Studies Wiki