Transitioning to the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Assessments
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The Common Core State Standards and related next generation assessments will have an enormous impact on K-12 education. This resource kit details a plan of action to help leaders at all levels prepare for the new standards and assessments.
Based on the latest research on student achievement and internationally benchmarked college and work expectations, the kit answers the questions:
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Overview of Contents Chapter 1: The Challenge sets the stage. What is happening that has caused the need for new standards? Many American students are poorly prepared for the workplace or college, and they are not as competitive as they should be internationally. What has already been done about the situation, and what do schools still need to do? Chapter 1 describes the current landscape and the challenges that lie ahead. Chapter 2: Early State Steps and Resources begins with the stories of Tennessee and a school district in Maine that each made fundamental changes, illustrating that change can happen. Next, a series of change strategies is suggested from the work of Willard R. Daggett. The chapter ends with descriptions of numerous resources available for schools and districts to help make the transition to the new standards and assessments. Chapter 3: The Transition Plan: National Scope takes a broad look at the changes coming. Text complexity, college and career readiness, new content, research, and argument are a few of the English language arts topics examined. Changes in the mathematics standards are discussed in light of their new qualities of being narrower and deeper than most current standards. Chapter 4: Moving Toward Implementation offers strategies for actually making the transition, such as using the International Center’s Curriculum Matrix to align curriculum and standards, as well as incorporating curriculum maps and the National Essential Skills Study. Discussion topics include strategies for instruction and assessment. The chapter also contains extensive information about the Rigor/Relevance Framework. Chapter 5: The Transition Plan: Local Scope develops specific illustrations of the kinds of changes that teachers and school systems will have to make. These changes include learning about text complexity, comprehensive writing requirements, and the standards for mathematical practice. The chapter examines the depth and breadth of the professional development that teachers and administrators will need in order to make a successful transition to the new standards and assessment. The Appendix contains the complete Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics from kindergarten through high school plus sample next generation assessment items. A CD provides all the tools presented in the resource kit, along with PowerPoints and activities for professional development to help school create awareness of the changes coming. The tools give school a snapshot of where they are now versus where they need to be by 2014. #K-10-CCS $295 Excerpt Order Form Online Store |
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