A non-freaked out guide to teaching the common core : using the 32 literacy anchor standards to develop college- and career-ready students

**Implement the Common Core for ELA without all the stress**__A Non-Freaked Out Guide to Teaching the Common Core__ uses the often-neglected anchor standards to get to the heart of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—teaching students the skills they need to be college and career ready. Each anchor standard is broken down into its key points, and a discussion of each anchor standard's central purpose helps outline the context for each required skill. This easy-to-read guide gives educators the kind of clear explanations, examples, and strategies they need to feel comfortable teaching the CCSS, and shows how CCSS skills can be integrated into virtually any existing lesson plan. Getting a firm grasp of the anchor standards is the quickest way to start teaching the key concepts of the CCSS, and this user-friendly guide is designed to pave the way for both the first-time teacher and the experienced pro. Cover 1 Title page 3 Copyright page 4 Contents 5 Dedication 14 Preface 15 Acknowledgments 17 About the Author 21 Introduction 23 An Epic Journey Beckons 23 A Sword for Your Quest 24 This Book Is Like a Taco 25 A Final Note before Diving In 27 PART I: Foundations 29 CHAPTER 1: What Is the Central, Burning Question of the Common Core State Standards? 31 What’s an Anchor Standard? 32 Why Call Them “Anchors”? 33 Why Not Just Use the Grade-Specific Standards? 33 CHAPTER 2: The Common Core’s Broadest Answer to Its Central, Burning Question 35 Demonstrate Independence 36 Build Strong Content Knowledge 36 Respond to Task, Audience, Purpose, and Discipline 37 Comprehend as Well as Critique 37 Value Evidence 38 Use Technology Strategically and Capably 38 Come to Understand Other Perspectives and Cultures 39 PART II: The Anchor Standards in Reading 41 R.CCR. 1 43 Read Closely 43 Determine Literal, Explicit Meaning 45 Make Logical Inferences 45 Support Conclusions with Textual Evidence 46 R.CCR. 2 48 Decide on What’s Central 48 Pull Apart How That Central Thing Is Developed 49 Summarize the Text 50 R.CCR. 3 52 How Do Individuals, Events, or Ideas Develop and Interact over the Course of a Text? 52 Why Do Individuals, Events, or Ideas Develop and Interact over the Course of a Text? 53 R.CCR. 4 55 Interpret Words and Phrases 55 Technical Meanings 56 Connotative and Denotative Meanings 56 Figurative Meanings 57 Analyze Word Choice 57 R.CCR. 5 60 Structure and Interconnectedness in Novels 60 Structure and Interconnectedness in Articles 61 Structure and Interconnectedness in Poems 62 Structure and Interconnectedness in Primary Source Documents 63 Structure and Interconnectedness in Textbooks 64 R.CCR. 6 65 Point of View 65 Purpose 66 How Do Point of View and Purpose Shape Literary Texts? 66 How Do Point of View and Purpose Shape an Informational Text? 67 R.CCR. 7 69 Evaluate Content 69 Evaluate Diverse Content 70 Integrate It All 71 R.CCR. 8 73 Delineating an Argument: Four Key Parts 73 Evaluating an Argument 74 R.CCR. 9 76 Read Related Texts 76 Topically Linked Texts from Multiple Genres 76 Topically Linked Articles 77 Thematically Linked Texts from Multiple Genres 77 Read Related Texts to Build Knowledge 77 Read Related Texts to Compare Authorial Approaches 78 R.CCR. 10 79 Read and Comprehend Grade-Appropriate Complex Texts 79 Proficiently Read Both Informational and Literary Texts 84 PART III: The Anchor Standards in Writing 87 W.CCR. 1 89 Why Is Argumentative Writing First? 89 So, What’s an Argument, According to the Common Core? 90 Make a Claim about a Substantive Topic or Text 91 Support That Claim with Relevant and Sufficient Evidence 92 Tie It All Together with Valid Reasoning 93 W.CCR. 2 97 How Does the Common Core Define Informative/Explanatory Texts? 97 What Genres Fall under the Umbrella Genre of Informative/Explanatory Writing? 98 How Does Informative/Explanatory Writing Differ from Argumentative Writing? 99 Select, Organize, and Analyze Content 100 Maintain Accuracy and Clarity 100 W.CCR. 3 102 How Does the Common Core Define Narrative Writing? 102 Develop Real or Imagined Experiences 103 Use Well-Chosen Details 103 Use Well-Structured Event Sequences 104 Use Effective Technique 104 How Should the Three Common Core Modes of Writing Be Balanced? 104 W.CCR. 4 107 Task 107 Audience 108 Purpose 108 W.CCR. 5 110 The Not-So-Sexy Parts of the Writing Process 110 Plan 110 Revise 111 Edit 112 Rewrite or Try a New Approach 112 W.CCR. 6 114 “We Bought iPads, and Now We’re Common Core Aligned!” 114 Produce and Publish Writing with Technology 115 Producing Writing 117 Publishing Writing 117 Interact and Collaborate with Others through Technology 118 W.CCR. 7 121 Conduct Research Projects of Varying Length 121 Focus Your Research Questions 122 Demonstrate Newfound Understandings 123 W.CCR. 8 125 Gather Relevant Info from Multiple Sources 125 Assess the Credibility and Accuracy of Sources 126 Integrate Information without Plagiarizing 127 W.CCR. 9 129 Back Up Stuff with Evidence 129 W.CCR. 10 131 Write Like Crazy 131 Write for Lots of TAPs 132 PART IV: The Anchor Standards in Speaking and Listening 137 SL.CCR. 1 137 Come to Conversations Prepared 137 Converse Effectively with Anyone on the Planet 138 Build on Others’ Ideas and Clearly, Persuasively Express Your Own 138 SL.CCR. 2 141 How Do I Integrate Information from a Given Source? 141 When Do I Integrate Information from a Given Source? 142 SL.CCR. 3 144 What Are the Strengths and Limitations of This Speaker’s Point of View? 144 What Are the Strengths and Limitations of This Speaker’s Use of Evidence and Reasoning? 145 What Are the Strengths and Limitations of This Speaker’s Use of Rhetoric? 146 SL.CCR. 4 147 Begin with TAP 147 Create a Presentation That Listeners Can Follow 148 Intentionally Selected Content 148 Intentionally Selected Organization, Development, and Style 149 SL.CCR. 5 151 Strategic Use . . . 151 . . . of Digital Media and Visual Displays of Data 151 SL.CCR. 6 154 Adapt for Context 154 Demonstrate Formal English When Appropriate 154 PART V: The Anchor Standards in Language 157 L.CCR. 1 159 A Note on the Intertwining Nature of L.CCR.1–3 159 Grammar and Usage: The Focus of L.CCR.1 161 L.CCR. 2 163 Capitalize Correctly 163 Punctuate Perfectly 163 Spell Superbly 164 L.CCR. 3 165 Using the Grade-Specific Requirements to Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Anchor 165 How Does Language Function in Different Contexts? 166 How Do I Use Language to Communicate and Comprehend Effectively? 167 L.CCR. 4 168 Use Context Clues 168 Analyze Word Parts 168 Use References 169 L.CCR. 5 170 Meaning One Thing, Saying Another 170 L.CCR. 6 172 Effectively Acquire and Use a Range of General Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary 172 Independently and Strategically Gather Knowledge When Faced with an Important Unknown Word 174 Conclusion: One Non–Freaked Out Approach to Implementing the Standards 177 Regularly Grapple with Grade-Level Complex Texts 178 Go Big on Argument 179 Ensure That Every Student Speaks, Every Day 179 Write Like Crazy 180 Teach Grit and Self-Control 181 What Will You Start With? 182 Appendix: All Anchors on a 2-page spread 184 Works Cited 186 Index 190 EULA 195 Implement the Common Core for ELA without all the stress A Non-Freaked Out Guide to Teaching the Common Core uses the often-neglected anchor standards to get to the heart of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—teaching students the skills they need to be college and career ready. Each anchor standard is broken down into its key points, and a discussion of each anchor standard's central purpose helps outline the context for each required skill. This easy-to-read guide gives educators the kind of clear explanations, examples, and strategies they need to feel comfortable teaching the CCSS, and shows how CCSS skills can be integrated into virtually any existing lesson plan. Getting a firm grasp of the anchor standards is the quickest way to start teaching the key concepts of the CCSS, and this user-friendly guide is designed to pave the way for both the first-time teacher and the experienced pro.