Core InvestigationsAugust 27, 2013

Agenda•Why Core Investigations?•Resources •Spelling, Phonics, and

Handwriting•Elements to Look For•Support

The Challenge:

Meeting the Common Core State Standards

The State’s Solution

Something considered…

Some districts’ solution

Core Knowledge Expeditionary Learning-type lessons

New basal

•9 modules per grade•50+ learning targets for each domain

•Sample K module-Colonial Towns

•Sample Grade 1 module-Early World Civilizations

•Sample Grade 2 module-Ancient Greek Civilizations

Taken the best from EL, including•Learning targets•Connection to CCSS•Protocols•Student involvement•Focus on multiple sources•Requirement for text evidence•Emphasis on NFDownside•Lessons are lengthy•Works best in an EL school•Does not align

Major educational publishing companies are jumping in to produce so-called CCSS-aligned basal series intended to raise test scores. The foundations of the Pearson basal series are as follows: Teach-Assess-Diagnose-Report-Prescribe- “in order to get the results you want.”

The Greater Challenge:How to integrate the NYS Curricula for Science and Social Studies while meeting the expectations of the Common Core.

Core Investigations for K-4 Social Studies and Science

Our Solution:

Foundations of our Core Investigations

•CCSS•Next Gen Science

Standards•NYS Draft Social

Studies Framework

The Core Investigations reflect the work of these literacy experts:• Lucy Calkins, Amanda Hoffman,

and the staff of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project

• Linda Hoyt• Tony Stead• Jan Richardson• Fountas and Pinnell• Gretchen Owocki• Ruth Culham

How the units were developed• 6 – 6-week long units, based in SS and Science• Completely aligned with Next Gen, NYS SS, and

CCSS• Units allow for flexibility, while facilitating consistency

across each grade level• Built around Core Texts and developed using both

big picture, guiding questions and smaller, more focused Core Questions.

• Students will become immersed in content area material throughout the day.

• Units build upon each other, both withina grade and across the grade levels

Elements of great literacy instruction remain constant as practice is refinedBalanced Literacy instruction that

includes• Guided Reading using GR libraries, A-Z

books• Traits Writing • Modeled, shared, andindependent reading andwriting across the day

Core beliefs remain the same, but practice evolves.

Finding Resources

Position on Spelling, Phonics, and Handwriting

• Spelling, phonics & handwriting must be taught within the context of authentic, meaningful reading and writing experiences.

• Spelling improvement is directly related to time spent reading and writing. Personal dictionaries, word walls, and word study during Guided Reading are beneficial.

• Children enter kindergarten with a wide range of phonemic awareness. We serve children of all abilities through differentiated Guided Reading lessons.

• Consistent use of verbal pathways in classrooms and with specialists promotes internalized motor movements for better handwriting.

Elements to Look ForYou should see…• Core questions, learning

targets, and anchor charts displayed

• Teacher modeling and mini lessons

• Daily interactive read alouds• Turn and talks and turn and

jots

• WRITING, WRITING, WRITING

• Daily Guided Reading Groups• Research Stations in action• Reading for information as

well as reading for pleasure

You should NOT see…• Assigned workbook pages, text

book pages, or worksheet packets

• Teacher lecturing for long periods of time

• Random read alouds • The same or no children talking

and answering questions• Sporadic, narrative only

writing for special occasions or display

• Whole class round robin reading

• Students working alone, doing mindless seatwork

• Social studies and science textbooks being read from cover to cover

Supporting Core Investigations

• Asking questions on a regular basis

• Bringing concerns to literacy coaches as soon as they arise

• Talking at faculty meetings• Materials• Distribution of technology