Sister Margaret Rose Adams, IHM March 30, 2012 St. Veronica School

 For participants to have a better understanding of the Common Core Standards through questions that they asked.  Essential Question: What is my understanding and implementation of the Common Core Standards?

 I would take the checklist. Some of the standards are basically covered in each lesson.  Go to your lesson and work backwards. Which standard is your lesson covering? Start with your lesson and not the standard.  Date the checklist when the standard is covered.  In four weeks, see what you still need to cover.

 Go to  Click on Common Core Standards.  There is a sample lesson plan for each grade.  You may also google your topic and some lesson plans will come up.  Once you get the understanding of the archdiocesan template, it will be easier to do the plan. Honest.

 The concept is that the unit plan should last an extended period of time.  If you plan this way, you will also need a daily plan.  I suggest writing one for each story. It should take 5-6 days to complete – notice not a week, but days.

Good Speakers Use their voice appropriately Use sentences in oral communication Maintain the topic Speak fluently Talk for an appropriate amount of time Respond to the audience on request

Good Listeners Listen attentively Ask questions Offer Comments Take turns *Scoring guide is in your packet.

 Writing poetry does not fit in the Core Curriculum as it did in the past.  The Core Curriculum is geared toward: College and Career Ready.  The emphasis is on good, non-fiction paragraph writing: expository, narrative, persuasive, and description.

 Whatever you as a school choose is fine. Please just remain consistent in your lesson plans.

Thank you for your time and attention. If you have any questions, please e- mail me at:

 The archdiocese is concentrating on ELA and Math only at this point. The integration of learning is a goal of the common core. If you would like to include the ELA and math standards in other content area, that is fine. It is not expected.

 The 4 square method of paragraph writing greatly helps students to organize their thoughts. If you me, I will send you the PowerPoint.

 Students must master addition and subtraction with rapid recall by grade 2; multiplication and division with rapid recall by grade 4.  Drill is essential.  Try to spend as little time as possible reteaching previous math skills. Where the skill is needed to proceed, reteaching is necessary.

 Stay tuned. The Next Generation Assessments (NGA) are being developed now.  Begin to use open ended questions and constructed responses such as the Terra Nova with all content.  Students need to explain how they got the correct answer, not just give the right answer.