Literacy and the Common Core: Recipes for Action

In this book educators will find clear guidance on how to design units, lessons, and objectives to meet the Common Core National Standards; it offers practical strategies that teachers can use immediately to target key Standards; and it explains how to analyze the Standards to support curriculum development and instructional planning.The Common Core Standards offer the potential to transform the field if we take full advantage of them.  Although they are not perfect and present some thorny implementation challenges, they also offer numerousbenefits. Philosophically, they compel us to examine our existing curricula and determine what must be improved, and improvement is always a good thing. On a practical level, in literacy and math, they clarify what must be accomplished in every grade. This book aims to make life a little easier for everyone--teachers, school leaders, parents, and students--as we all strive to prepare students for college and the careers they most desire.Essential topics that are covered in this book include: Which Standards Should We Start With?Sample units for many grade levels A clear breakdown of the standards across K-12. Lesson plan templatesTips on How to Engage and Support ParentsCurriculum resoureces The book includes many practical tools, templates, and models, ready-to-download.