Welcome, PS 144 Families Steven Gilroy Achievement Coach, CFN 207 January 31, 2014

Agenda Welcome Common Core State Standards: Video Instructional Shifts ELA Instruction at PS 144 Strategies for Unpacking Complex Texts Questions?

Shifts in Math: 4 th Grade Examples Welcome to the new standards! Career and College Readiness We are in year 4! Last year was the first year that tests were aligned to CCSS View the 3 minute clip

Different Way of Thinking NYS Content StandardsCommon Core Standards Different Way of Thinking Recognize Identify Calculate Draw Use Determine Interpret Analyze Create Investigate Build Explain What does this language tell you about the standards?

Common Core State Standards The Common Core State Standards provide a clear picture of what students need to learn each year (K-12; Pre K-12 in NYS) in order to graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers. Cover less, but go deeper (A mile wide and an inch deep v. an inch wide and a mile deep) Everything is connected to Career & College Readiness….

What’s In and What’s Out? OUT 1.Leveled texts (only) 2.Reading any ‘ol text 3.Solely literature 4.Collection of unrelated texts 5.Mostly text-to-self questions 6.Personal opinions about issues 7.Accent on literary terminology 8.Emphasis on pre-reading 9.Reading strategies 10.Reading foundations (peripheral and detached) IN 1.Daily encounters w/complex texts 2.Texts worthy of close attention 3.Balance of literary and info texts 4.Coherent sequences of texts 5.Mostly text-dependent questions 6.Evidence-based analyses 7.Accent on academic vocabulary 8.Emphasis on reading & re-reading 9.Reading strategies 10.Reading foundations (central and integrated) Student Achievement Partners

Instructional Shifts The Common Core pushes us to make changes in the way we teach students. – Read more non-fiction – Learn about the world by reading – Read complex text carefully (Daily contact) – Build an academic vocabulary – Write from sources Make arguments using evidence Compare multiple texts

Shifts in Literacy Instruction: The Close Read This is a big difference, and yet past standards couldn’t distinguish any difference. By ignoring the challenge level of texts, standards made it look like students were reaching goals even when performance levels were embarrassingly low; remember this the next time someone tells you that their previous state standards were every bit as demanding as the CCSS— they are, if one only looks at the verbs and ignores the texts those verbs operate on.”

Different Way of Thinking Different Way of Thinking Students are expected to be able to ask and answer questions about a text. Students are required to use grade appropriate text based evidence. Students are expected to compare and contrast two (or more)paired readings on similar topics. Students are required to take make an argument using logical reasons to support their stance. Students are expected to create counterpoints to their argument. Shifts in ELA Examples

ELA Instruction at PS 144 At PS 144, teachers work hard to plan for and teach the students in front of them. These teachers understand that Teachers College (TC) is a program they use to teach literacy. They also work in teams to supplement TC with other resources and are creative to reach the diverse learners in their classrooms.

Texts Worth Exploring with Questions Worth Answering Questions serve as a training guide that shows students what information to pay attention to while reading. Studies also reveal that some questions generate deeper and more extensive thinking than others, and engaging in deeper thinking also promotes higher comprehension.”

Examples of Text Dependent Questions that Linger on Language What is the author saying here? Why did the author choose this word/phrase/structure? How does it help you to understand the author’s tone/stance? What if the author used this word/phrase? What if the author left out this part/paragraph? Is the author trying to convince me of something? If so, what? What in the text gives me this impression?

Closing in on Close Reading: Questions that Zoom In…. What is the author's relationship to the topic or themes? What do the author's words cause me to see or feel? What do I learn about the topic as I read? How is the text organized? What information/ideas are described in detail?

Understanding Literacy Demands Together One performance task per grade Think about: 1.What stands out to you? 2.What are the skills your child needs to know and be able to do to be successful with this task? 3.How is this experience the same and different from traditional mathematics instruction?

How can you help at home? Know what the priority work is for your child’s grade Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses in literacy and support your child with his/her gaps Know whether your child really understands the text You can ask “Is your answer reasonable?” “Does your response answer match the question that is asked?” Spend enough time at home to discuss books and develop true understanding (vs. completing work) Help your children make “real world” connections Connect trips to stores, museums and family trips to what they are learning at school

Kids.nationalgeographic.com Timeforkids.com Smithsonian for kids: Places to find complex texts

Do you have any questions? Check out our Family Page of our CFN 207 website:

Common Core Standards Initiative: For samples of student writing: /assets/Appendix_C.pdf New York State Common Core Learning Standards: PARCC Assessments: NAEP: NYC DOE Common Core Library: National PTA: Additional Resources