A Map for Our Transition Year

A Map for Our Transition Year

Grade 8 LA Common CoreUnit Plan& Lessons

Curmudgeons Make your face into a curmudgeon’s face. As a curmudgeon, think about the Common Core

Standards. Now turn, and as a curmudgeon, whine and complain

about them.

From Pathways to the Common Core: Accelerating Achievement (Calkins, Ehrenworth, & Lehman, 2012)

2012-2013: Finding the Gold

Your Choice…

From Pathways to the Common Core: Accelerating Achievement (Calkins, Ehrenworth, & Lehman, 2012)


Common Core Gold

Urgently needed wake-up call. Emphasizes higher level comprehension

skills. Places equal weight on reading and writing. Stresses the importance of critical citizenship. Emphasizes reading complex text. Clear design, central goals, and high

standards.


Common Core Gold

Conveys that intellectual growth occurs through time, across years, and across disciplines.

Call for proficiency, complexity, and independence.

Support cross-curricular literacy teaching. Emphasizes equal access. Aims to put every state on the same measuring

stick. Respects the professional judgment of

classroom teachers.


http://www.heinemann.com/products/E04355.aspx

Treasure Map Copies available

in every school.

A great professional read.





Common Core will be based on these 4 PARCC MODULES

http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/PARCC%20MCF%20for%20ELA%20Literacy_Fall%202011%20Release%20%28rev%29.pdf


2012-2013Transition Year Keeping CRES BCRs & Portfolios Assessing via MSA Trying out lessons from one CC Unit• Giving feedback to Sue Ann• Modifying lessons to meet students’ needs

Infusing close reading, text-dependent questions, text complexity, and contextualized and argumentative writing throughout all units


Transition to the Common Core

Essential Questions+

ELA of Tomorrow+

PARCC Framework


Essential Questions What’s worth the effort? What’s really normal? Why do people seek danger? Who is the real you? Why are we fascinated by the unknown? What are the signs of greatness? Can a dream change the world? Is survival a matter of chance? What does a community owe its children? Does knowledge come at a price? Is the news always reliable? When is revenge justified?


ELA of Tomorrow2012-2013: Finding the Gold

Literature Circles Essential Questions Student Inquiry Research (short and

extended) Cross-Curricular Close Reading Emphasis on Argument

HAL/Diverse Learners UDL Frequent Assessment Speaking & Listening Increase in Literary

Non-Fiction Teacher is Facilitator Routine Writing

Common Core will be based on these 4 PARCC MODULES.

http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/PARCC%20MCF%20for%20ELA%20Literacy_Fall%202011%20Release%20%28rev%29.pdf


8th Grade Unit Essential QuestionsEssential Question: Can a dream change the world?

Weekly Focus Questions: What are different types of dreams? (week

1) How do dreams evolve? (week 2) Are dreams universal? (week 3) Are obstacles overcome in the pursuit of

dreams? (weeks 4-5) Can a dream change the world? (week 6)


The Unit Overview is a snapshot of what will be covered in this unit.

Although the unit is designed to be taught in six weeks, the timing is flexible and may take longer depending on your students’ needs.


Unit Overview

Also in the Unit Overview…Suggested Text Resources: These resources are available so that teachers can address the same skills and standards using texts that meet the needs of their students.


2012-2013: Finding the GoldUnit Map for EACH WEEK… Grade 8 CC Unit

Map


Detailed lesson plans for 2 weeks on the map

• Lesson Overview• Teacher Planning & Prep• Essential Question• Applicable CC Standards• Student Outcomes• Materials• Pre-Assessment• Lesson Procedures• Closure

Also in the Unit Overview…This guide will help you create questions that are dependent on student understanding of the text.

Your text-dependent questions will help students perform a successful close reading of the text.


Use this organizer:• As a laminated sheet for reader’s notebooks• For students to record their analysis of the

text • As a guide while students make post-it note

annotations

These close reading strategies are also listed in bookmark form. Consider laminating the bookmarks and allowing students to monitor their progress with a dry erase marker.

Available

for Your Use!


Literature Circles Allow 30 minutes each week for

students to discuss novels with group Use weekly focus questions to guide

discussions Reading should be completed outside of

classroom Suggested novels provided


Revised Booklist

Grade 8

Elementary School Only ~Sarah Plain and TallSign of BeaverDiary of a Wimpy Kid

Middle School Only ~ TexOut of the DustThe PigmanThe Giver“Romeo and Juliet”

High School Only ~Hunger GamesBook Thief“Midsummer Night’s Dream”Great ExpectationsThe Good Earth


Grade 8“Romeo and Juliet” Soldier’s Heart City of Ember (7 or 8) DownsidersRoll of Thunder Phineas Gage Hobbit Eyes of the Emperor“Raven” poem Hatchet/Brian’s Song White Fang The PigmanDiary of Anne Frank A Solitary Blue I Am the Cheese The Giver“Paul Revere’s Ride” poem

Bless the Beasts… Old Man and the Sea The Pearl

“Captain, My Captain” poem

Devil’s Arithmetic Boy in Striped Pajamas Cosmic

“I, too, Sing America” poem

Scorpions Parallel Journeys Outsiders

“Chicago” poem Tears of a Tiger Shift Chasing Lincoln’s KillerTravels with Charley A Day No Pigs Would Die Half Brother“Preamble to Constitution” Nothing But the Truth

Explore New Resources What questions do you still have? How will you fit this into your current

teaching? What resources will you need to infuse this

Common Core unit and the Common Core teaching strategies into your practice?


Documents

A Map for Our Transition Year