The document discusses the need for school literacy plans to align with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). It notes that while standards, plans, and assessments have been created, classroom instruction is what most directly impacts student learning. It then provides background information on the CCSS, including the subjects and grades they cover, new terminology, and how the standards are organized. The document outlines the shifts in emphasis between reading different text types and writing under the CCSS. It also discusses text complexity, vocabulary development, and tools for measuring reading levels. The overarching message is that district and school literacy plans should leverage the CCSS to strengthen classroom literacy instruction.

1. Welcome! Michael Fullanin a new book entitled Breakthrough states that states, districts, and schools have done a wonderful job creating standards, plans, and assessments. Yet, these efforts have only an indirect effect on classroom practices. “What is missing again is the black box of instructional practice in the classroom.” Standards and Plans Black Box of Instructional Practice Assessments Results for All So…. Why a literacy plan?

2. Framing Questions What does this new information about the Common Core State Standards mean for a district and school literacy plan? How can we use the new standards to create a strong literacy plan?

3. Common Core & Literacy Plan

4. Just the Facts… 48 of 50 states helped develop (Texas & Alaska) 41 of 50 states have adopted 2012/2013, fully adopted and tested in NC 2014/2015, online assessments with Smarter Balance Consortium states (adaptive test) Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium & PARCC/ACHIEVE Consortium ELA & Math Only; but, literacy across the curriculum

5. New Acronyms!!! CCR = College and Career Ready CCSS = Common Core State Standards RL = Reading Literature RI = Reading Informational Text WR = Writing SL = Speaking and Listening L = Language

6. “Capacities” They demonstrate independence. They build strong content knowledge. They respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline. They comprehend as well as critique. They value evidence. They use technology and digital media strategically and capably. They come to understand other perspectives and cultures.

7. How to Cite CCSS Strand Standard Grade Level

8. Organization of the Common Core Strands Sub-Strands Anchor Standards

10. B: Reading text exemplars; sample performance tasks.

12. Vocabulary Tier 1 – everyday speech Tier 2 – general academic words Tier 3 – domain-specific words Appendix A, p.33

13. Text Complexity Reading Standards include exemplar texts (stories and literature, poetry, and informational texts) that illustrate appropriate level of complexity by grade Text complexity is defined by: Qualitative measures – levels of meaning, structure, language conventionality and clarity, and knowledge demands Quantitative measures – readability and other scores of text complexity Quantitative Qualitative Reader and Task – background knowledge of reader, motivation, interests, and complexity generated by tasks assigned Reader and Task

14. Flesch-Kincaid (Microsoft Word)

15. Grade Bands & Lexiles

16. “Lexile Analyzer” Lexile Analyzer is a tool from Lexile.com that allows you to quantify webtext, articles, newspapers, etc. Create an account at Lexile.com Convert your text to the appropriate file (first time is a pain, but easy to do). Done – Lexile gives you a specific number for your non-book format and you have information about how difficult text is. Here’s an example!

17. Screen Shot of Lexile Analyzer