I was in charge of the CCSS implementation in our District last year. We purchased a new Reading program, Harcourt Journeys, that is aligned to CCSS. The biggest change for our teachers is the amount of whole group time. We have noticed that the CCSS is heavy on Text-to-Text connections and creating text dependency, meaning the children are no longer being encouraged to dig into background knowledge but to go back into the text or reference the texts to find a lot of the answers. We have discovered that there is still a lot we have to supplement because CCSS doesn't provide structure or guidance for all the areas our teachers need to focus on to make our students good readers. So we have been making sure to still add in those background building experiences. We are currently creating CFA's using this new material in Grades K-5, and our current material in the Middle School (who uses a novel-based, teacher-created program right now). We are also trying to become more focused on Essential Questions and Expected Outcomes to help guide our instruction. Another suggestion - We had a consultant from "Leadership And Learning" come out last Spring and this Fall to help lead our District through this transition. Her name is Aimee Corrigan. You could look her up on their website. This group is headed by Larry Ainsworth, a big name in this CCSS process, and whose books we refer to all the time for help in Naming Units and unwrapping these new standards. She was very pricey, but worth it because she helped us focus on what work we needed to do/ It has been quite a struggle, but we are fully immersed in the standards now and are going to be revamping our report cards next year as well. Not sure if that is helpful, but we just sort of jumped in and never looked back. I am happy to share more information if you want to email off this list.
Megan Dorsay District Reading Specialist Skokie District 73.5 8000 E. Prairie Rd. Skokie, IL 60076 McCracken Middle School 847-676-8266 Middleton Elementary 847-676-8035 [email protected] ________________________________________ From: Mosaic [[email protected]] on behalf of Nina Miller [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 4:31 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Common core In Billings, MT we have transitioned to common core in both language arts and math. In math no new materials purchased we are just picking and choosing what we use in our current math series. The bar is definitely raised. In language arts, our district purchased new materials for grades 3-5. We adopted Lead21. The bar is raised dramatically. Whole group lessons, differentiated readers, practice workbooks. High interest but we have been struggling with the increased expectations. Lots of finding text evidence to support responses. Still teaching comprehension strategies but within Lead21. Nina Eagle Cliffs Elementary On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 11:44 PM, Brenda Keller <[email protected]>wrote: > In California, at least in my district, we are looking at the common core > standards, but we haven't started using them yet. I would like to hear > from teachers who have transitioned to ccss. What do your lessons look > like for reading grouos? How has it changed your comprehension lessons? > Thanks for any insights. > Brenda > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive > > -- *Nina Miller* Fifth Grade Eagle Cliffs Elementary (406)281-6210 (406)690-2074 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ________________________________ Skokie School District 73 1/2 The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. ________________________________ Skokie School District 73 1/2 The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
