1. Reflection of/reaction to.. • The expansion of information based technologies, globalization of labor markets and changing workplace demands • Strong correlation between education and income • Literacy is implicated in health maintenance, criminal justice system, social and civic engagement and academic success

2. Vaccination conception of teaching • Idea that enhanced early teaching practices will continue to provide literacy practice is not true • Enhanced teaching efforts need to continue beyond elementary grades

3. Where it all began-Race to the Top Federal policy…Wanted to ensure .. • Higher set of standards with international benchmarks • Turn around lower performing schools • Invest heavily in early childhood education and wrap around service • Better teacher evaluation systems where schools pay for best practices and cooperation

4. What does this mean for teachers? • That they will be evaluated on dispositions – how do they add to school culture? • That they are the greatest impact on student success • Human capital as a spillover effect • Because of a crisis in reading and writing common core standards need to be addressed

5. Is there a writing crisis? • Carnegie Report, Writing Next • Staggering amount of college graduates who come into workforce unable to communicate clearly on paper • “ we should view this as a crisis because the ability to read, comprehend and write- in other words, to organize information into knowledge- can be viewed as tantamount to a survival skill”

6. Is there a writing crisis? Yes, in all disciplines • 1988- NCTM- mandated writing as a tool of mathematical thinking and problem solving • NCSS: “The SS program should be designed to increase the student’s ability to use the writing process..” • NSES: “ science students should be able to communicate the problem, process and solution and to present their results in a variety of ways such as orally and in writing…

7. Enter the Common Core Standards : Key Ideas • State governors generated document • Pre-K included in frameworks • Emphasis on college and career readiness • Intentional coherence between the standards for reading literature and reading informational text • Detailed standards on writing arguments, explanations, and narratives • Strong linkage of reading and writing • Developing literate students is a shared responsibility- not just the work of the English teacher • The ability to read progressively more complex text is key to college and career readiness

8. Focus on the Big PicturePrinciples for Learning:A Foundation for Transforming Pre-K - 12 Education • Being literate is at the heart of learning in every subject area. • Learning is a social act. • The habit of inquiry is important in life-long learning. • Learning involves turning information from multiple media into personal knowledge. • Learning occurs in a global context.

9. Anchor Standards for Writing • Draws evidence from literary and informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research • Argument supported by evidence • Information/explanation • Narrative = three types of writing • Organization and Coherence • Revision and editing • Using technology for collaboration and publishing • Short and sustained research projects • Integration of information from several sources • Use of evidence from texts, linking reading and writing • Frequent writing for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences

10. Literacy and Informational Writing Distribution of Communicative Purposes by Grade in The 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Writing Framework Source: National Assessment Governing Board. (2007). Writing Framework for 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress. pre-publication edition: Iowa City, IA: ACT Inc.

11. Key FeaturesNew ELA/Literacy Framework • Promotes students’ ability to read and comprehend increasingly complex text and write to a source • - CCR Reading Standard 10: • Read and comprehend complex literary and informational text independently and proficiently • - CCR Writing Standard 9: • Draw evidence from literary and informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research • Promotes the idea that teaching literacy skills is not just the job of the English teacher • - Literacy standards for History and Social Science, and Technical Subjects • Promotes the development of strong research skills • -Key to college and career readiness are research and media skills. These skills are blended throughout the standards, rather than treated in separate sections.

12. Transitioning MCAS to the New Standards • Objective: (1) Fairness (2) Maintain Trendline

13. Looking Ahead • Preschools, district and educator preparation programs should have curriculum and instruction fully aligned to the new frameworks by the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year • MCAS will be based exclusively on the new frameworks in the spring 2014 • Mini-units by 2013-14 will appear on-line under the Teaching and Learning system using the template of Understanding By Design • Similar standards development process for science and engineering, with standards expected in mid-2012 and a transition period to follow • Standards for English Language Learners, Comprehensive Health, History and Social Science, the Arts, and Foreign Languages will be added to the revision cycle

14. Why have students write in response to non-fiction texts? • Quick Write….

15. Writing helps students get more engaged in the subject matter • Writing helps students pass high –stakes tests • Writing helps students gain access to further education (SAT/ACT: new essay writing section) • Writing paves the way for future employment