1. What is Common Core
Common Core Standards are a set of expectations that outline what students should learn in grades K-12.
The goal of the CCSS is to prepare students for life after high school graduation.
CCSS were created so that all students in all 50 states would have the same rigorous lessons.

2. Reading and Language Arts
New Test
Old Test
New Standards
Old Standards
Pulled out individual text elements such as character, plot, setting, theme
Students will be reading and listening to various stories, and will compare, stories using their understanding of text elements.
Test will have more essay questions that require students to analyze information and answer in depth how much they understand.
Ideally test had multiple choice questions with two or three open –ended questions

3. Example lessons: What objects are being personified in the poems
Example lessons: What objects are being personified in the poems. How are the two poems alike? Different? Whose point of view is the Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room being told from.
April Rain Song
Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops Let the rain sing you a lullaby The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk The rain makes running pools in the gutter The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night And I love the rain.
Langston Hughes
Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room.
"Ah, William, we're weary of weather," said the sunflowers, shining with dew. "Our traveling habits have tired us. Can you give us a room with a view?"
They arranged themselves at the window and counted the steps of the sun, and they both took root in the carpet where the topaz tortoises run. William Blake ( )

4. Tips for Parents…….
Encourage your child to research a topic he’s interested in using informational texts and original documents.
When your child is doing homework as them how the skill they are working on may be used in “real-life”.
As your child reads ask them probing questions that requires in depth-thinking.

5. References