When we ask students to analyze literature we often concentrate on the plot, character development, or sequence of events because they are critical to understanding the meaning of the story. But sometimes the setting of the book can be just as important as the characters. The setting can actually drive the plot of the story. [...]
June 29, 2012
Close Reading: Not Required by Common Core, but Implied
“Close reading” is not required in the Common Core English Language Arts classroom, but it is implied when the standards say students should use evidence and justification for their answers. They can’t point to a section of text as evidence, unless they have done close reading. They can’t use an argument from a text unless [...]
April 19, 2012
Reading Anchor Standards: Key Ideas and Details
The CCSS standards for English Language Arts are designed to produce a student who has mastered skills deemed necessary to be successful in college or in the work force. There are cumulative standards and they are the same standards for every grade, just expanded at each grade level to specific and grade-level appropriate standards. What [...]
