S O U T H H A R R I S O N T O W N S H I P E L E M E N T A R Y S C H O O L

D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 4

P R E S E N T E D B Y :

T H E R E G I O N A L C U R R I C U L U M T E A M

English Language Arts (E/LA) Parent Academy

Administrative Partners Teacher Partners

Dr. James J. Lavender, Superintendent

Ms. Patricia Calandro, Chief Academic Officer

Ms. Rachael Anderson, Elementary Supervisor

Ms. Stefanie Fox-Manno, ELA Supervisor

Ms. Suzette DeMarchi, SPED Supervisor

Mr. Rob Rosenheim, 5th grade & Curriculum Lead

Ms. Sarah Brown, 3rd grade

Mrs. Beverly Donofrio, 4th grade

Ms. Jane Conroy, SPED

Introductions: Partnering in South Harrison

What tonight is not… What tonight is...

A political discussion of the reform agenda

A focus on state assessments

A “sell” on standards

To scare you…

Understanding learning in relation to the ELA Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

Knowing how to support your child’s learning and progress

Tonight’s Agenda

Important Distinctions

Standards: Responsibility of the State Describe what students should know and be able to do at each

grade level (since the 1980s)

Common Core State Standards (2010) – CCCS – (ELA & math)

New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards – NJCCCS

Curriculum: Responsibility of the District All district ELA and math curricula was revised collaboratively

with teachers summer of 2014 (available on our website)

NOT TEXTBOOK or PROGRAMS – these are resources

Lessons & Instruction: Responsibility of the teacher Follow the curriculum of the district using the resources &

instructional strategies with help from the district administration

What Does this Mean?

Flexibility: South Harrison has the flexibility to organize and

implement the standards through the curriculum development process.

Instruction: Integrated into South Harrison classrooms ensuring the

highest level of student achievement can take place

Fostered through professional development

Curriculum & Resources: We have the ability to research, pilot and purchase the

instructional materials based upon the needs of our students.

ANY QUESTIONS YOU ARE HOPING TO HAVE ANSWERED

TONIGHT?

PLEASE WRITE YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE POST -IT AT

YOUR TABLE.

Questions?

Understanding

the Common Core State Standards:

A focus on real-life application

for our children

How Did Common Core Come About?

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-core-standards-ela

Reading Writing

Read Closely

Make Inferences

Cite Specific Textual evidence from complex text (literary & informational/non-fiction)

Write arguments

Write informative/explanatory text

Draw evidence from literary/informational text

Assess credibility & accuracy of sources

English Language Arts CCSS

Speaking & Listening Language

Range of conversations & collaboration

Present clearly & persuasively

Adapt speech to variety of contexts

Conventions of standard English

Knowledge of language

Vocabulary acquisition & use

English Language Arts CCSS

Common Core for Special Needs

Special needs students will continue to participate in assessments as stated in their Individual Education Plans (IEP’s)

Classroom academic & assessment accommodations and modifications will continue to be made through students’ IEPs

Common Core will provide a change in curriculum, but no changes will be made to special education laws

Summary

More instructional time on informational text

Emphasis on reading, writing, and speaking based upon evidence / justification of responses

Writing assignments will focus on

Opinions/Arguments

Informative/Explanatory Texts

Narratives

W H A T A R E Y O U R E L A M E M O R I E S ?

( T U R N & T A L K )

H T T P S : / / W W W . T E A C H I N G C H A N N E L . O R G / V I DE O S / A N A L Y Z I N G - T E X T - B R A I N S T O R M I N G

How Does Common Core Enhance Learning?

SUPPORTING MY CHILD

IN THE CLASSROOM

&

AT HOME

What Does this Mean for My Child?

Reading at Home Matters!

Common Core Standards ask students to spend 50% of their time reading nonfiction texts

Nonfiction builds background knowledge

Statistics on the Benefits of Reading:

20 minutes per day = 1.8 million words per year

4.6 minutes per day = 282,000 words per year

1 minute per day = 8,000 words per year

Vocabulary develops at a much greater rate when students read!

Language Acquisition Occurs…

Through…

Reading—by adult to child and independent reading by child.

Authentic writing activities—journal, letter writing, or written explanations or labeling….

Conversation—usually initiated by an adult, but with near equivalent participation…

Experience —this is perhaps the most important vehicle for language acquisition…

Supporting Vocabulary Development at Home

Create experiences to build vocabulary!

If you visit a museum, or monument, read and discuss the text related to the exhibits.

Television and movies are FULL of examples—Identify and discuss how language impacts the storyline.

Read as a family!! Talk about what you are reading. Have “listen to this…” moments!!!

Expose your child to different types of literature and text and guide them to notice text nuances.

“Don’t steal the struggle.” - Allow them to struggle! The insight is in correcting the missed opportunity to find an accurate answer, which helps them to gain a better understanding.

Ask them to explain the information to you.

Provide them with a print rich environment. Make sure they have access to Nonfiction in addition to Fiction. (e.g. Magic Tree House resource guide in addition to the Magic Tree House book)

Activities to Support Learning

VISIT THE SCHOLASTIC WEBSITE

WWW.SCHOLASTIC.COM/PARENTS/

WWW.NEWSELA.COM

CCSS Resources for Parents

Why Does this matter? “Shift Happens”: This brief video describes why changes in education are imperative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrJjfDUzD7M&noredirect=1

New Jersey School Boards Association: Parent Connections A 3-part video series explaining common core and how parents can

assist their child/children. http://www.njsba.org/parents/student_achievement.php?pc=4

New Jersey Department of Education: This link provides a multitude of resources and additional links to understanding and implementing Common Core. http://www.state.nj.us/education/sca/resources/parents.htm

Teaching Channel Presents 3 1-hour videos about the CCSS as well as lessons of teachers

who are integrating common core successfully in the K-12 classroom. www.teachingchannel.org

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TESTING

PARTNERSHIP FOR A SSESSMENT OF

READINESS FOR COLLEGE & CAREERS

PARCC in 2015

Spring 2012

NJ ASK

Aligned to NJCCCS

Spring 2013

NJ ASK

Aligned to the CCSS

(except gr 6-8 Math)

Spring 2014

NJ ASK

Aligned to the CCSS

SY 2014-15

Full administration

of PARCC assessments

“Transitional Assessments”

Common Core Timeline

South Harrison Twp.

The Next Generation of Testing: PARCC Assessments (3rd- 6th)

Students in grades 3-6 will take PARCC in 2015 in ELA & math

Computer-based

Each student will take 2 summative tests:

1. Performance-Based Assessment (PBA)

March 2nd-27th

2. End-of-Year Assessment (EOY)

April 27th- May 22nd

Performance-Based

Assessment:

End-of-Year

Assessment:

Tests critical thinking

Reading comprehension

Writing in response to reading

Research Simulations

Real World Applications

Short answer items

Reading comprehension

Math conceptual understanding and skills

PARCC Assessments

Performance-Based

Assessment:

End-of-Year

Assessment:

How Much Time Does It Take?

What Does a Testing Session Look Like?

Classroom or Technology Room

Administered by your child’s teacher

Teachers can help with tech if a student is struggling

Teachers can clarify directions

Students can review and change answers

Computer will be “swapped out” if there is a problem

Classes who are not testing will have a regular day of classroom instruction

NJASK/HSPA: PARCC:

3 Levels

Scale of 100-300

Basic data

Received in Fall of following year

Ceiling score

5 Levels

Scale of 1-5

Rich data

Year 1: receive in Fall of following year

Years after: receive by June of current school year

Score beyond grade level

Scoring: How is PARCC different?

SCORING

• Take 2 tests (March and May)

• Receive one score for Math and one score for ELA

Technology Skills

Use technology to determine student understanding in authentic ways

Drag and drop

Shade text

Cut and paste

Move items

Use of math tools

Online calculators (6-11)

Graphing tools

Type written responses in ELA and Math

Accessibility Features

for All Students:

Accommodations

(SE/ 504/ ELL):

Blank paper

Highlight

Magnify

Color Contrast

Text to Speech

Response

Scribe

Translation

Extended time

ACCESSIBILITY & ACCOMMODATIONS

Literary Analysis Task: Research Simulation Task:

Read 2 stories.

Answer multiple choice questions.

Reading Comprehension

Vocabulary

Write essay based on stories read.

Grade 3 2 articles or digital source

Grade 4-11 3 articles or digital source

Answer multiple choice questions. Reading comprehension

Vocabulary

Write essay based on articles/ source.

Sample Test Items

Narrative Writing Task Literacy

1 story

Answer multiple choice questions

Reading Comprehension

Vocabulary

Write a narrative story

Encourage children to read

Read all kinds of texts Stories, Newspapers,

Magazines, Biographies, Science/ History

Talk with your child about what they read

Ask your child questions about what they are reading

Practice computer skills

Sample Test Items

Old Test vs. New Test South Harrison Twp.

Old Test vs. New Test South Harrison Twp.

Valuable PARCC Resources to Support Students South Harrison Twp.

PARCC Newsletter: Sign up today for up-to-date information http://www.parcconline.org/PARCC-Updates-Newsletter