Iowa Core Alignment of Instructional Content to the Iowa Core Sue Updegraff Keystone AEA

TARGET: Complete INITIAL alignment of local content with CORE Essential Concepts and Skills July 1, 2012, grades , grades K-8 (from p. 4 of Self-Study and Implementation Handbook) 2

4 Alignment Sessions 1. Needs Assessment 2. Planning 3. Implementation 4. Evaluation 3

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) or Collaborative Learning Communities (CLCs) are the structure to get the work done. 4

Why study Alignment? Iowa Core, April 2008 Outcome 4 Alignment of Content, Instruction, Assessment 5

Outcome 4 Use data to increase the degree of alignment of each and every student’s enacted curriculum to Iowa Core 6

First Focus Using summative self- reports to examine alignment of the enacted curriculum to the intended Iowa Core 7

Alignment will continue over a number of years and include: Assessment Instructional Practices Instructional Resources Continuous Evaluation 8

Research As alignment between what is taught and what is assessed increases, so, too, do student outcomes for ALL students (Gamoran and Cohen) 9

School Improvement K-12 curriculum must be aligned and must match state expectations. (Learning Points Associates, 2006) Explicit focused efforts should be made to ensure alignment of written, taught, tested curricula. (Wallberg, 2007) Successful students have experienced curriculum aligned with standards and assessments. 10

School Improvement Lesson planning and session delivery are the two places where nonalignment takes place. (Lezotte & McKee, 2002) Successful school districts align curriculum and instruction between grades. (Zavadsky, 2006) 11

In district team, discuss potential implications of this Outcome for: Practices of teachers Professional development District and school priorities 12

UNIVERSAL CONSTRUCTS Are these student learning goals? Complex Communication Creativity Productivity and Accountability Flexibility and Adaptability Collaboration Critical Thinking 13

What is alignment? Intendedcontent Enactedinstruction Assessedassessment 14

Two State mandates about WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN 1. Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks – broad 2. Iowa Core (includes Common Core) – more detail 15

The Relationship Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks Iowa Core Curriculum Primary FocusBroad, general statements to assess student accomplishments. More in-depth. Details along with Essential Concepts and Skills. Sets higher learning expectations for all students. Origination SourceIowa Testing ServiceCollaborative Writing teams assembled by the DE Content AddressedLiteracy, Math, ScienceLiteracy, Math, Science, Social Studies, 21 st Century Skills Grade Levels3-12K How the Cores Compare

The Relationship High School Math Example 17 Common Core Standard Iowa Core ContentIowa Core Use the rules of probability to compute probabilities of compound events in a uniform probability model. Standard: Students can understand and apply a variety of math concepts. Benchmark: Students can understand and apply concepts in probability and statistics. Understand and apply the basic ideas of probability. Essential Concept/Skill: Understands and applies basic ideas of probability.

Alignment Definition The extent to which and how well all policy elements (content, instruction, assessment) work together to guide instruction and student learning. 18

Alignment is an ongoing process The purpose is to determine the extent to which content, instruction, and assessment are in agreement and facilitate student learning 19

Alignment provides: Clear message of goals/outcomes Consistency Data about progress Data for improvement Fair assessment practices 20

Rationale for Alignment 1. Determine WHAT to teach, teach it, assess it 2. If #1 is not done, we are unfair to students 3. Alignment reduces confusion, improves opportunity to learn, improves outcomes for each and every student 21

Group Discussion Where is your district on the following? 1. Status of local curriculum 2. Understanding and relationship of: intended enacted assessed 22

Principles for Alignment Work 1. Once alignment is prioritized, process of developing and implementing practices can begin 2. Focus on deep content knowledge 3. Ongoing training and support for alignment increases quality of work 4. Gradually introducing successively more complex alignment over time will increase skill development 5. Understanding of measurement and data collection for alignment promotes continuous improvement 23

What is the work? Alignment of enacted to intended Topical first; later by complexity and emphasis Using alignment data for decision- making 24

Foundational Curriculum Terms Using the Foundational Curriculum Terms, create a framework on Post-It paper (i.e., how the terms work together or are logically organized for your district) 25

Explain your framework to others present In district group, discuss similarities/differences Make any adjustments 26

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