Writing Strategies for the Common Core


Book Description

Elementary-school students need to learn to write explanatory/informational, argument, and narrative text types and respond to literature, both for standardized tests and, more importantly, real-world writing. With a balanced literacy approach, Wolfe provides core instruction, teaching strategies, and mini-lessons on these text types, each of which can be delivered across content areas or as a complete unit of instruction. Mini-lessons are provided for grades 3-5 and include materials lists, overviews, planning tips, procedures (including modeling, guided practice, and independent practice opportunities), reading connections, formative assessments, and reproducible graphic organizers for scaffolding. Prerequisite skill overviews and rubrics--both analytic for formative assessments and holistic for summative assessments--are also provided for each unit to simplify your teaching and ensure student success.




Key to Aligning Your K-5 Class with CCSS


Book Description

Looking for Common Core lesson plans? THE KEY TO ALIGNING YOUR K-5 CLASS WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: 30 Projects that integrate technology into core lesson plans is for classroom teachers, technology integration specialists and lab professionals, as a resource for aligning their technology program with the Common Core State Standards now implemented in forty-six states. You will find it a foundational tool for scaffolding technology into the areas of math, language, reading, writing, speaking and listening as is required in CCSS. Overall, they are authentic approaches to student-centered learning, asking the student to be a risk-taker in his/her educational goals and the teacher to act as guide. The essential questions are open-ended and conversations organic and inquiry-driven, ultimately asking students to take responsibility for the process of their own learning. It can be used as a resource book, to provide exciting new lessons that seamlessly blend technology with lesson plans and involve students in the many new tools available to enrich their educational experiences, or a road map, plotting the vertical planning and differentiated instruction fundamental to CCSS goals. There are thirty lessons, five per grade level, covering: audio stories blogging brainstorming Collaborative writing Create how-to directions creative book review digital storytelling Essential ingredients to stories Explore the world Parts of a whole Write and publish a story write stories in comics Writing craft and structure Digital portfolios Estimate, visualize, verify Excel and arrays GE Literary Tour GE research Math Online communication tools Practice letters and words online Research–source authenticity Shapes are everywhere Shelfari book reviews Skype Storybird Timelines word recognition Each includes: The Common Core State Standard alignment The Essential Question—the Big Idea An Overview Objectives and Steps A Sample (where appropriate) Links to related websites and material (where applicable) Additional grade levels suitable for the lesson




Your Curriculum Companion:


Book Description

This essential guide to the EL Education K-5 Language Arts Curriculum is one part roadmap to the curriculum, one part orientation to its instructional practices, and one part coach--to answer your questions, relieve your stress, and put you and your students on the path to success. Your Curriculum Companion explores the foundations of the curriculum, including the principles and research it was built on and the instructional practices that make it unique. The book is designed to help you "look under the hood" at practices embedded throughout the curriculum so that you can sharpen your instruction, support students to be leaders of their own learning, and make well-informed changes necessary to best meet your students' needs. Key features of Your Curriculum Companion include: Twenty-seven accompanying videos--see the curriculum in action Task cards for guidance on how to plan when the planning has been done for you The why, what, and how of the K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block A deep dive into the purpose and structure of close reading and close read-alouds, including two sample annotated lessons. An exploration of the relationship between reading and writing and how the curriculum is designed to help students become strong communicators, including an annotated "read-think-talk-write" lesson. Detailed descriptions of the ways in which English language learners and other students who may need additional support are challenged, engaged, and empowered throughout the curriculum. Guidance for turning evidence of student progress into usable data that can inform your instruction. Support for school leaders




Creatively Teach the Common Core Literacy Standards With Technology


Book Description

Let technology pave the way to Common Core success. Your transition to the Common Core just got easier! When you start getting creative with technology, you’ll turn your classroom into a student-centered learning environment that fosters collaboration, individualizes instruction, and cultivates essential technological literacy. This book is your road map to student success—while meeting the Common Core ELA and literacy standards. Features include: Specific recommendations for free apps and tech tools that support the Common Core Step-by-step guidelines to breaking down a Common Core standard for your grade and subject Teacher-tested, lesson ideas and teaching strategies Replicable resources, including prewriting activities and writing templates Real-life examples You don’t need to be in a 1:1 school to do amazing things with technology. With just a few devices, you can engage a whole class! Delve into the Common Core ELA standards by having students experiment creatively with the tech tools at hand for a more meaningful and resonant learning experience. "The book contains a tremendous collection of actionable ideas that can be seamlessly implemented to make a difference in all aspects of the classroom. A must-own guide that will surely be a teacher′s go-to resource to help bring the standards to life." Adam Bellow, Founder of eduTecher / eduClipper Plainview, New York "Catlin Tucker provides great ideas for student use of technology tools that cross the curriculum areas and allow the students to showcase their mastery of content. Students will love how the traditional classroom assessments are transformed!" Kathy Schrock, Educational Technologist, Adjunct Instructor Wilkes University, PA




Creating a Google Apps Classroom: The Educator's Cookbook


Book Description

If you can teach, you can use Google! This "cookbook" provides both the beginner and the seasoned Google user with classroom-friendly recipes that support the integration of technology into all the content areas. The step-by-step procedures make each lesson easy to implement and understand. Using Google Apps will spice up lessons and activities such as literature circles, brainstorming, and analyzing texts to help achieve greater student success!




Get Lit


Book Description

A 12 week guide to teaching classic poetry and the writing and performing of spoken word response poems in the classroom. This curriculum trains teachers to use memorization + recitation of classic poetry as a launching pad for teen-created spoken word responses. Fusing the two forms of expression into compelling performances, these standards-based lessons absolutely transform students.




Common Core: PARCC ELA/Literacy Assessments, Grades 9-12


Book Description

REA's PARCC Assessments: ELA Literacy - Grades 9-12 Study Guide Take Control of the Common Core with REA's New Study Guide! The educational landscape is changing and REA is at the forefront of the new PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessments that millions of students will soon face. This targeted study guide is designed for teachers and students in PARCC states, and is fully-aligned with the Common Core standards. Covers Must-Know PARCC ELA Topics: Our PARCC Assessments: English Language Arts/ Literacy Study Guide covers all the must-know PARCC ELA Grade 9-12 material. Each chapter includes step-by-step instruction and practice for every topic tested on the PARCC English Language Arts/Literacy exam: interactive reading, literary analysis, narrative, and research simulation tasks. Written in an-easy-to-understand style, the book also offers step-by-step procedures and tips on writing great essays. Written by an Expert: Our author is a curriculum expert and former English teacher who has studied the format and content of the PARCC standards and the ELA exams. Each lesson is based on actual PARCC ELA guidelines and follows the Common Core standards. A Handy Guide for Teachers: This book brings the common core down to the classroom level, deciphering what it all means to the way students are taught. Our author gives teachers practical guidance on how the ELA/Literary assessment should shape teaching methods and lesson plans. Easy-to-understand explanations of PARCC standards take the confusion out of the PARCC ELA exams. This study guide is a must-have for students and teachers who are facing the PARCC and the new Common Core State Standards! What Are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The standards provide teachers and parents with an understanding of what students are expected to learn. Consistent standards provide appropriate benchmarks for all students, regardless of where they live. These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education so they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs.




Smuggling Writing


Book Description

Is it possible to sneak more writing into your already-jammed curriculum? Yes! With this cache of classroom-tested ideas, you have all you need to make writing-to-learn a daily habit for students that deepens their content understanding and creates learners ready to take on all of the world’s information. Smuggling Writing shows how to integrate writing seamlessly into your lesson plans with 32 written response activities that help students process information and ideas in short, powerful sessions. The authors invigorate time-tested tools like GIST, Herringbone, and Anticipation Guides, and organize them into sections on Vocabulary and Concept Development, Comprehension, Discussion, and Research & Inquiry so you can select and use them to maximum effect. Here are the success-ensuring how-to’s that accompany each strategy: A step-by-step process ensures students use the strategy before, during, and after reading/learning so they "own" the strategy and can track their thinking Engaging digital applications, including Story Impression with Bubbl.us, Reading Road Map with Prezi, Possible Solutions with Padlet, CLVG with Brain Pop Sample lessons showing both traditional and online formats, taking the guess work out of trying these new digital tools Ideas for "smuggling" additional writing opportunities into or after the lessons, ensuring that students’ writing skills improve Connections to Common Core State Standards With all the heady talk of what it’s going to take for students to read, write, and analyze across multiple sources, it’s nice to know that there is a book that shows how big gains will come from "writing small" day by day.