Agenda 1.Why do we have the Common Core? 2.What are the literacy components of the Common Core? 3.How is the Common Core a change from past standards? 4.How does the Common Core affect testing and assessing? 5.What about the PARCC?

Why the Common Core?

According to a Georgetown University study, by 2018 about 2/3 of all employment will require some college education or better.

Meanwhile… From New York Times Education section:

Looking at the Common Core How do we find the Common Core State Standards? Google: Common Core 5 Components Worded so as to describe what students will be able to do.

Main Common Core components  The connection between reading and writing. Reading Standard 3, Writing Standard 6.2.B  It’s about the evidence. Math: “Justify your reasoning.” ELA: Standard 1  It’s about text complexity: Standard 10  The standards change from year to year. Example: Reading Standard 2.

The common core is not a list of books to read or not to read. Those decisions are still made that the district level. The common core lists suggested texts as a guide to help districts, but those lists are not a definitive or required list.

The Common Core and Testing Testingassessinggrading Vs. Testing, Assessing, and Grading

Introduction to the PARCC  The interface  The tasks  The rigor Where are the shifts?

 The interface: Computer  Reading on-screen  Clicking tabs to go back to multiple texts  Dragging and dropping  Highlighting  Typing

 The tasks:  Two-part questions: what is the answer and what is the evidence to support that answer?  Multiple choice with more than one right answer.  Searching for the best evidence rather than the right answer.  Creating an essay based on reading multiple articles on the same topic.

 The rigor: Items based on grade-level Common Core State Standards.

PARCC FAQs When? It will be implemented in the school year. Is it scored like the NJ ASK? That decision has not yet been made. How will it affect high school graduation? It will not count for graduation during the school year. The state has not said when it will be used for graduation. What about IEPs? There is a list of specific accommodations on the PARCC’s web site. It is called the PARCC Accessibility Features and Accommodations Manual. How can I get more information? Our district’s Instructional Technology website has links to a lot of good information concerning the PARCC.

What is our district doing to prepare for the PARCC?  The interface  The tasks  The rigor

FTBOE Field Test PBA (Performance Based)  CRS  Grade 3 LAL  Grade 4 Math  FPS  Grade 3 LAL  SGS  Grade 6 Math  FMS  Grade 7 ELA  FHS  Grade 10 LAL EOY (End of Year) FPS Grade 3 LAL EAS Grade 3 ELA SGS Grade 5 ELA FMS Grade 8 ELA FHS Grade 9 LAL Algebra 2

The interface We are in the process of developing a plan to assisting students with the interface. This will include:  Use of the I-Ready program during intervention classes.  Use of laptop computers for instruction, with an ELA shift from final drafts (publishing) to first drafts (drafting)  Introduce students to the PARCC through the released PARCC sample tests.  Work with district technology coaches to find keyboarding websites, aps, and programs for use in class and at home. (Instructional Technology)

The tasks  Training staff on the PARCC using the PARCC sample tests.  Developing and using common assessments that model the PARCC tasks and practices.  Using assessments from the New Jersey Model Curriculum.

The rigor  Teaching to the standards.  Using the Reading and Writing Workshop model of instruction.  Training teachers in the best methods of instruction.

Next steps  District-wide meetings to discuss the Common Core and the PARCC in more detail. Planned for April and May  Continued meetings with building PTSOs.  The Common Core has brought on many changes all at once. The state and the nation are all trying to understand each other.  David Heras, Supervisor of Language Arts/ Literacy and Social Studies, Grades 5-8  