Ch-ch-ch-changes ...

copyright ssoosay

One of the biggest changes students will experience this year is our move to the new state standards, the Common Core Curriculum (link). Instead of isolating grammar, writing, and literature by marking periods, we now have ELA content blended--each marking period students will read, write, and practice grammar skills, or language. Teachers are also encouraged to provide modes of instruction that students at all levels can manage. So, for instance, on my Moodle course I include not only written links to short stories we will read, but also some audio files, so students can listen to the story. Our units are also centered around a common Big Idea in question form. This marking period our focus is "How can stories shape our lives?"  Students are asked to make connections to that question as we read and write throughout the unit. I'm excited as a teacher about these changes and feel confident that this new focus is best for kids!