Middle School ELA-Curriculum and Assessment Presented by Ms. Fleri – ELA Department Lead Hosted by Nicole Rini, PC

Your Child’s Classroom is Changing- How You Can Help The Common Core State Standards ask teachers to make 12 major “shifts” or (changes) in their classrooms – six shifts in English language arts and six shifts in Mathematics. These changes may be tough at first as students and teachers adjust to higher expectations. As a parent, you can help and learn more by talking with your child about what they are learning. Your Child’s Classroom is Changing- How You Can Help

New Shifts in ELA English Language Arts/Literacy Read as much non-fiction as fiction Learn about the world by reading Read more challenging material Talk about reading using "evidence" Write about texts using "evidence" Know more vocab words New Shifts in ELA

Curriculum Maps Driven by an essential question 6th grade example: How do the choices we make reflect our values? 8th grade example: How do 4 different leaders across time imagine solutions to racial equality? Curriculum Maps

Aligned to Common Core Standards Focused on close reading: close reading involves multiple reading of a text for various purposes Aligned to Common Core Standards

1st Reading: should be about figuring out what the text says (Key Ideas and Details Standards 1-3) CCSS

2nd Reading: should be about craft and structure – “how the text says what it says” (Craft and Structure Standards 4-6) CCSS

3rd Reading: should be about critically evaluating the text and to compare its ideas and approach to that of other texts (Integration of Knowledge and Ideas Standards 7-9) CCSS

Texts chosen are complex and authentic Text Complexity

Writing and Speaking are grounded in the text – providing evidence “what in the text made you think that” “show me” Writing and Speaking

Ain’t I A Woman by Sojourner Truth Sample Text example

Ideas for Parents What can you do to help your child at home? Supply books and make time for discussion Know what is grade appropriate and challenging Read the same text as your child and discuss Encourage reading and writing at home OFTEN Ideas for Parents