Book Description
School Leader's Guide to the Common Core: Achieving Results Through Rigor and Relevance by James A. Bellanca, Robin J. Fogarty, Brian M. Pete, and Rebecca L. Stinson guides school leaders as they implement the Common Core State Standards into their curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This comprehensive resource provides reproducibles and "Looking Back," "Discussion Questions," and "Takeaways" sections to foster reflection and conversation with colleagues. Using the effective instructional leadership and innovative practices in this guide, all school leaders will make Common Core implementation a reality for their schools. Chapter 1 offers background on the CCSS, including the organizational and curriculum changes that must take place to reach the new academic standards. In chapter 2, the authors offer strategies for school leaders to support their teachers and implement long-term professional learning. The focus of chapter 3 is the place of rigor and real-world relevance in instruction. Its discussion focuses on (1) explicit teaching of a thinking skill, (2) close reading, (3) concept-rich mathematics, and (4) project-, problem-, and performance-based inquiry. The authors offer five principles of effective coaching and feedback in chapter 4. This chapter features teacher vignettes that illustrate the application of the principles for coaching and feedback. Finally, chapter 5 shows leaders how to collect and use assessment data when results are hindrances to reaching the mission of college and career-ready students.
