Hi, I agree it is not possible to take on the whole CC at once. If you are elementary, that would mean reading, writing, math, listening, and speaking while you teach a full day. Several states used money from the government (Race to the Top) and set up a statewide curriculum through the course of a year in a subject. Georgia had all its math up and running this year. It was impressive. Other states also were able to form teams to create theirs. My state did not. Each town does their own. Our superintendent decided each grade level team should develop from scratch the new math for the year. He thought it would empower us, but it caused so much stress and frustration throughout our school, that the staff morale plummeted. Not only that, but the stress manifested itself in physical symptoms for several teachers. None of us felt empowered because we really did not understand what we were supposed to be doing. As the year progressed we found Georgia's curriculum and used it as a guide. We also became aware of Learn Zillion, Teaching Channel, Khan Academy, Teachers Pay Teachers, you tube, etc... Some lessons bombed, sometimes because we just did not have a deep enough understanding of how to present it; other times because the kids had no prerequisite skills; and sometimes, a lack of available materials. It is a significantly different approach to math and to create lessons and find materials for each day was overwhelming. The positive side was that our superintendent built in two hours of common planning time each week. Another positive was that midyear we had an instructional specialist hired who knew the ins and outs of CC, how to assist us in drafting assessments, collecting data, creating rubrics, exit slips, other resources, and how to lower our stress level. She is a godsend. What we have learned as individuals is that we think differently in our approach to CC. Some of us are big idea thinkers and look at the whole picture first and work our way down, others of us are more concrete and need to work our way from the bottom up to the big idea. No wonder we didn't always understand each other! And then, there were our styles, pace, organization, etc...And, we as a team put in lots of extra hours. Other teams chose not to. Or, maybe they were more efficient. Over the summer, we can choose to work on the math or reading/writing curriculum just to the point of being ready to write lessons in these areas for the fall. In other words the curriculum template will have the prerequistites completed, or so that is the goal. We are also have a consultant from TC (Lucy Caulkins people) who is to help us with the reading. TC has developed a plan for NY state, and we will use several of the units. They have a units calendar and now have published each unit at grade level for teachers. Our system bought them for us. In fifth grade our goal is to be able to have children sustain independent reading up to 45 minutes a day by the end of the year. Reading is a 75 minute block. Writing is a 60 minute block as is math. We are going to have to incorporate more CC nonfiction in our year. But we have more freedom to choose how we want to teach the standards. It no longer has to be just like "TC." It also means trying to develop a reading curriculum that can encompass explorers through the Rev. War. Science? Spelling? Grammar? Vocabulary? all need to be incorporated into these curriculums. Does this help or add more confusion? Sue
________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 6:22 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Common Core I have been reading the book Pathways to the Common Core. I have lots of questions from the book. I'd love to hear your ideas. I don't think you need to have read the book to have ideas about the answers. I'm not yet done with the book, so maybe some of my questions will be answered as I continue to read. 1. The book repeatedly states that it is not possible to take on all the CCSS at once. I'm not sure what "at once" means. In one lesson? In one month? In one school year? I get the impression as I continue to read that all standards (for that grade level) must be worked on in one school year. 2. The book suggests that students need one hour a day for writing and 90 minutes a day for reading. The book only infrequently mentions specific grade levels. Since I teach a 100 minute block that is ELA AND social studies, what can you suggest for me? I don't see how I have enough time. I don't think ten minutes of reading in one class, and ten minutes of reading in another, plus 30 minutes of reading in my class, plus 20 minutes of reading in another class ... adds up to the same as 90 minutes all at once. Is it necessary for the time to be all together? Is there a minimum of time in one sitting that can count as reading? I don't think reading today's objective and homework assignment on the board counts in any way as reading. Plus since the book seems to discourage reading tiny excerpts to gain meaning, it seems longer chunks of text will be required reading. What do the rest of you think about both ideas? 3. What is the difference between anchor standards and just plain standards? 4. Does the CCSS place an emphasis on literary nonfiction? Is literary nonfiction that same as narrative nonfiction. I ask because I think most nonfiction is NOT literary. I have many more questions, but I think this is more than enough in one e-mail. I'm not expecting anyone to have answers to all these questions, but anything you can help me with would be great. Thanks! Jan _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
