Teach Plus Conference Materials--More Core in Secondary ELA

I had a terrific crowd at the Teach Plus Common Core Conference at UMass Boston yesterday!

I am posting the materials and resources (in the next post) here.  The formatting is a bit messy, but the left-hand column contains Common Core themes (20 of them I have identified) and the right column is evidence.

Changes (in no particular order)	Evidence
1.  Using what you read as models (MA standards are quite literary)	Grade 6 RL standard is echoed in the writing (RL.6.MA.8A and W.6.MA.3.A) Grade 8 RL standard is echoed in the writing (RL.8.MA.8A and W.8.MA.3.A)
2.  Pairing texts that are connected—multiple genres on the same topic or theme	PARCC Prototypes Compare and contrast fiction and history (RL.7.9) A subject in two mediums (RL.9-10.7) Multiple interpretations in relation to source text (RL.11-12.7)
3.  Synthesis as a reason for reading and a purpose for writing	PARCC Assessment Prototypes Compare and contrast fiction and history (RL.7.9) A subject in two mediums (RL.9-10.7) Multiple interpretations of source text (RL.11-12.7) “Six Shifts”
4.  Wait, I’m supposed to do this? (SS texts in ELA)	Analyze seminal US documents (RI.9-10.9) Seminal US texts (RI.11-12.8) Foundational US documents (RI.11-12.9)
5.  Rigor for everyone and increased text complexity	Critical lenses (RL.11-12.MA.8a) “What’s In and What’s Out?” New Lexile levels “Six Shifts” “Five Things Every Teacher Should be Doing”
6.  Fewer texts more deeply	PARCC Quilts and “anchor texts” Fewer overall standards
7.  Shorter assignments and longer assignments: regular research, writing, and speaking and listening (not just one big project or event)	Short and sustained research projects (W.9-12.7) Write routinely (W.9-12.10) Range of discussions (SL)
8.  Different structure for the Standards	When comparing and contrasting the old standards to the new, the emphases are different
9.  More informational text for all	Reading Informational Text standards and 1/5 of the new standards “Six Shifts” “What’s In and What’s Out?”
10.  Close reading and rhetorical analysis 11.  Academic language over literary terms New Marzano book “What’s In and What’s Out?” Vocabulary used in Appendix B sample assignments “Six Shifts” 12.  Shared sense of responsibility for literacy Standards in reading and writing for teachers of social studies, math, and science Pathways to the Common Core “Six Shifts” 13.  More types of writing assessed and more writing expected PARCC MCAS in grades 4 and 7 14.  Spending more time “in text” rather than building background knowledge—emphasis on reading and re-reading over pre-reading (teacher imparts information) “What’s In and What’s Out?” “Six Shifts” 15.  Less emphasis on “text-to-self” connections and more “text dependent” questions “What’s In and What’s Out?” Pathways to the Common Core (page 25) 16.  Less emphasis on “covering” a period Appendix B text lists New York State 9-12 listing “What’s In and What’s Out?” 17.  Evidence-based thinking “Six Shifts” “Five Things Every Teacher Should be Doing” 18.  Assignments with real audiences (not just teacher) “Five Things Every Teacher Should be Doing” MA ESE Model Curriculum Unit’s UbD approach 19.  More time spent on independent reading in school Pathways to the Common Core (page 51, 69-70) 20.  Using content-rich informational text to build knowledge, not teacher lecture Standards in reading and writing for teachers of social studies, math, and science	“What’s In and What’s Out?”