Facts. They are important. They are the basis of our educational system, the foundation of science and industry, and a clear emphasis in the Common Core State Standards. In both reading and writing, students will be expected to use fact based evidence of their comprehension and compositions. Yet our students are not always clear on [...]
December 3, 2012
English Teachers on the Value of Literature
In an article in the Washington Post this week, Lyndsay Layton discusses the odd situation in which English teachers find themselves, that of teaching nonfiction or informational texts almost exclusively. English teachers are trying to figure out which poetry units and literature units must be sacrificed. In an interesting passive rebellion, English teacher J.D. Wilson [...]
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 [...]
June 27, 2012
Struggling to Implement: A Common Core Conversation
Common Core Conversations starts today as a way for educators to voice their opinions about the Common Core, whether positive or negative. As we all work to make the Common Core Standards practical, there will be many controversies. We believe that an honest conversation can bring difficulties to light and eventually smooth the transition. If [...]
October 31, 2011
15-part Video Series: Common Core State Standards
Produced in partnership with NYS PBS stations WCNY/Syracuse and WNET/New York City, this series of videos illuminates the Common Core through conversations between NYS Commissioner of Education John King, a former high school social studies teacher and middle school principal; David Coleman, a contributing author of the Common Core State Standards; and Gerson, a Senior [...]
