Common Core Resources

How is your school coming along with Common Core preparation?  We are moving forward and getting some training.  But I am a bit impatient and am trying to learn all I can now instead of waiting. 

So I have gathered some resources for you that I like and use myself- digital, book, app, blog, etc... 

Remember that we had our district meetings this past Monday?  In one of our sections, they shared this common core informational video for parents with us.  I really like it!  It captures in a short video what the common core is and why we now have it.  I think the parents will appreciate the information and the short length of it.  

Three-Minute Video Explaining the Common Core State Standards from CGCS Video Maker on Vimeo.

I am sure a lot of you have already visited the official common core site.  But have you taken a look at appendix A, B and C?  There is some valuable information there and it is a good idea to become familiar with these documents and to begin using them.  You can learn about text complexity and glossary of key terms in appendix A.  In appendix B, you will find a wealth of information about text exemplars  (stories and poems to use) and sample performance tasks.  It is a great way to get started on common core tasks before branching out to write your own.  In appendix c, you will find samples of student writing.  This is a wonderful resource, but let me warn you some of the writing is really, really good.  

Do you have Mastery Connect's common core app?  I have this on my iPad and have used it many, many times.  And since it has been updated, it so much easier to use- very handy!

One of the blogs I try to keep up with is Tim Shanahan's blog.  His blog is a great way to know and understand the common core better.  His explanations of close reading activities have been a help.

Here are a few common core books you can use for resources.  I am currently reading Pathways to the Common Core.  I have not read the other two books yet.  But Gretchen Owoki is supposed to be really good.  I have attended workshops by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst  and they know their stuff!  As a matter of fact, Robert Probst is the one that taught us the Tabletop Twitter activity that I posted about  (click here to see that post). 

If you would like more common core resources, here is the link to my Pinterest board.  Follow it if you would like to find more resources.  Just click on the picture or click here to follow it.

Smarter Balance is another great resource for common core, but it is a blog post all by itself!  I will post on it another time!