Common Core State Standards What we teach

Background On July 7, 2010 State Board of Education adopted new national academic standards Common Core State Standards (CCSS) available for English language arts and mathematics Establish what public school students should know and be able to do, K-12. Standards ensure all students prepared for success in postsecondary education and workforce Ensure a high quality education that is consistent from school to school and state to state.

Background State previously provided guidance through “Grade Level Expectations.” Connecticut school systems use standards/expectations to develop curriculum, adopt textbooks, etc. CCSS adopted by 45 states

Implications for Students Higher expectations Rigorous demands School readiness Revised standardized assessments

Math Kindergarten emphasis on number core: learning how numbers correspond to quantities, and learning how to put numbers together and take them apart (the beginnings of addition and subtraction) K-5 solid foundation in whole numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and decimals Standards stress procedural skill (speed and accuracy with calculations) and conceptual understanding Grade 6: ratios and proportional relationships, preparing for algebra

ELA Increasing complexity in what students must be able to read Progressive development of reading comprehension Reading a diverse array of classic and contemporary literature as well as challenging informational texts in a range of subjects Research beginning in grade 3 Writing logical arguments beginning with opinion pieces in kindergarten

ELA Use of multiple sources to inform Participation in discussion and presentations Vocabulary and conventions integrated Media and technology integrated Literary and information texts: balance Citing evidence from text Academic vocabulary (ex. destruction, analysis, ignite, consistent, measure, expectation)

Smarter Balanced Assessment CMTs end 2014; Smarter Balanced 2015 – This year’s first graders Integrated assessment – Questions dig deeper; less skill based – Ex. A.¼ B.3/6 C.¾ D.2/8 E.3/12

Implications for Teachers Understanding CCSS – Knowing what to teach and why Increase nonfiction reading and writing New math curriculum Academic vocabulary Success for assessment – Ex. performance task