overview english language arts

OverviewEnglish Language Arts

Penny Plavala, Literacy Specialist

• Review background of Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

• Examine the design and terminology of English Language Arts CCSS

• Discuss the “spiral effect” of complexity in the standards

• Consider professional development next steps

Session Goals

Temperature Check

Think of an adjective to describe how you are feeling about the Common Core State Standards.

Please share with a partner.

• A joint effort by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers

Common Core State Standards Initiative

• A state-led initiative States were in the driver’s seat The federal government did not

develop the standards or require their adoption.

• College- and career-readiness standards for English/language arts and mathematics developed summer of 2009

• K-12 standards for each grade were developed

• Continual input throughout the process from states, educators, and business and higher education leaders with 10,000 responses during the public comment period

Standards Development Process

• Final standards released on June 2, 2010• Adopted by Oregon State Board of Education on

October 28, 2010 ELA & Literacy in History/SS, Science and

Technical Subjects Mathematics

Standards Development Process

Common Core State Standards Adoption

44 states and D.C. have fully adopted the Common Core State Standards.

• Currently, every state has its own set of academic standards, meaning public education students in each state are learning to different levels

• All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers in the next state, but with students from around the world

What are advantages of common standards?

• Prepares students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and work

• Ensures consistent expectations regardless of a student’s zip code

• Provides educators, parents, and students with clear, focused guideposts

Why are common standards important for students, teachers, and parents?

Features of the Standards

• Aligned with college and work expectations• Focused and coherent• Include rigorous content and application of

knowledge through high-order skills• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state

standards• Based on evidence and research• Internationally benchmarked

Features of the Standards• The College and Career Readiness (CCR)

anchor standards were written first and describe expectations for the end of high school.

• The CCSS were then back-mapped down to kindergarten to ensure that students would be on track early to meet rigorous end of high school literary goals.

Clear

Focused Rigorous

CommonCore StateStandards

The standards define:

• what is most essential• grade level expectations• what students are expected to know and

be able to do• cross-disciplinary literacy skills

The standards do NOT define:

• how teachers should teach• all that can or should be taught• the nature of advanced work• intervention methods or materials• the full range of supports for English learners

and students with special needs

What do the CCSS Mean for Oregon? • English Language Arts standards replace

Oregon’s current standards

• Districts will continue to prepare students for OAKS assessment through 2013-2014

• CCSS will be fully implemented and assessed through a common assessment in 2014-2015

Stepping Up to the Challenge

2013 –2014

2014 -2015

YOU ARE HERE

Kindergarten CCSS

Next-GenerationAssessments

SmarterBalancedAssessmentConsortium

First Group of 3rd Graders

Turn and Talk

• What information was new to you in that CCSS overview?

-OR-

• What key points will you share with your staff?

For more information:

pplavala@mesd.k12.or.us

www.pennyp.biz