Series - Peers and Pedagogy

Part null

Why We Chose this Work

One district leader explains how joining the Instructional Materials Task Force offered an opportunity for collaboration, professional development and deeper clarity on the Standards

04/10/15, Karin Manns

Part null

Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool (IMET)

Designed by some of the lead writers of the Common Core, the IMET is a free tool that states and districts are using to evaluate the alignment of instructional materials to the Common Core

04/10/15,

Part 1

New Standards, New Approach to Reviews

Details Louisiana's instructional materials review process

04/10/15,

Part null

Searching for Aligned Materials Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely

Breaking district and state lines in the journey toward finding Common Core-aligned materials

04/13/15, Nancy Gannon

Part null

Working Toward Alignment

Welcome to Aligned, a publication dedicated to the conversation about Common Core-aligned instructional materials

04/14/15,

Part null

If You’re Not Purchasing, Should You Still Review?

Even though many districts are not in a position to purchase new materials in the short-term, training reviewers now is a smart long-term investment

04/28/15, Nancy Gannon

Part 1

Knowing the Common Core = Knowing the Shifts

The Shifts are a powerful frame to help drive understanding of the Common Core

05/01/15, Sandra Alberti

Part null

What My District Gained From Collaboration

Even when districts approach materials review processes from different perspectives – and with different objectives – collaboration provides important benefits

05/05/15, Julie Spykerman

Part null

Top 5 Tips for Building and Training Your Review Team

Advice on selecting and training strong review teams

05/07/15, Amy Weber-Salgo

Part 2

Conducting a State-Centered Curriculum Review

Selecting and training the review team

05/13/15,

Part null

Building the Right Review Team

Today’s review teams will function differently than review teams of the past, requiring new skills and experience

05/15/15, Nancy Gannon

Part null

Should We Bother with Other People’s Reviews?

As instructional materials reviews are made public, how should states and districts use that information?

05/20/15, Lisa Goldschmidt

Part null

When to Use the IMET

When is the right time to use the IMET? Whether you’re purchasing, supplementing, designing, or simply building capacity, the IMET can help.

05/28/15, Catherine Schmidt

Part null

How Reviewing Materials Changed My Classroom Practice

A teacher explains the unexpected connection she uncovered between materials reviews and the classroom

06/05/15, Tresa Watson

Part null

Reviewing Is a Journey and the Benefits Aren’t What We’d Expected

Educators from Granite Falls uncovered benefits to reviewing that they hadn’t anticipated

06/16/15, Karin Manns

Part null

Using What You Have

An introduction to supplementing and adapting instructional materials

06/26/15,

Part 3

Working with Publishers

How Louisiana communicated its alignment concerns to publishers

06/30/15,

Part null

Introduction to the Publishers’ Criteria for ELA/Literacy

Sue Pimentel, one of the lead writers of the Common Core, introduces the Publishers’ Criteria

07/02/15, Susan Pimentel

Part null

Lament of a Review Team Member

Conducting a review was harder than expected, but it illuminated how critical this information is for publishers

07/07/15, Silas Kulkarni

Part 1

Introduction to Open Educational Resources

What are OER? Where can you find them? How should you use them?

07/09/15, Barbara Soots

Part 2

Open Educational Resources in Action

Washington's work to identify OER and put them to use in classrooms

07/17/15, Barbara Soots

Part null

Building a Review Team that Represents Students and Supports Teachers

How Milwaukee built a review team that reflected the needs of the teachers and students

07/24/15, Tracy Stevenson-Olson

Part 2

Mathematics in the Common Core Classroom

A Kentucky teacher explains what the CCSS Math Shifts mean for classroom materials

07/28/15, Jana Bryant

Part 3

ELA in the Common Core Classroom

A North Carolina literacy coach explains what the CCSS ELA Shifts mean for classroom materials

07/31/15, Tanji Reed Marshall

Part null

Teachers Create Lessons and Adaptations to Strengthen ELA Learning

Common Core-aligned resources for popular read-alouds, basal stories, and anthology selections

08/06/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Traditional Reviews vs. the IMET

What are the differences between a traditional review and an IMET review? A teacher who’s done both explains.

08/12/15, Julie Spykerman

Part 4

Publishing Review Results

Why Louisiana chose to share all its curricular reviews online and where you can see the findings

08/13/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part 1

An Introduction to the Adapting Materials Project

The challenging, yet rewarding process of adapting instructional materials

08/20/15, Stacy Wetcher

Part 2

What Needs to Change in Instructional Materials: Math

A panel of experts met to pinpoint the biggest problems with today’s math textbooks: here’s what they found

08/28/15, Marni Greenstein

Part null

IMET Evolution: Math

An SAP math specialist explains how small changes to the IMET can have a big impact on users

09/02/15, Marni Greenstein

Part null

IMET Evolution: ELA/Literacy

An SAP literacy specialist explains how small changes to the IMET can have a big impact on users

09/02/15, Meredith Liben

Part null

Six Instructional Materials Articles You Should Be Reading

Keep up-to-date with the latest media coverage of instructional materials

09/11/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part 3

What Needs to Change in Instructional Materials: ELA

A panel of experts pinpointed the biggest problems with today’s ELA/literacy materials

09/15/15, Rachel Etienne

Part 4

Collaborative Learning and Updating Materials

Developing a process for teachers to adapt instructional materials in mathematics

09/22/15, Illustrative Mathematics

Part 3

Working Together to Create Open Educational Resources

The K-12 OER Collaborative is working to create Common Core-aligned resources

09/25/15, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Wolfe

Part 4

K-12 OER Collaborative’s Request for Proposals

Learn how the Collaborative is planning on creating and vetting materials.

09/30/15, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Wolfe

Part null

The EQuIP Review Process and Rubric

Achieve created a rubric and review process to facilitate peer reviews

10/08/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Call for Common Core-Aligned Units

Achieve and SAP are looking for instructional materials aligned to the CCSS to address weaknesses in existing materials

10/15/15, Cristina Marks, Jeremy Thomas

Part 1

The Standards for Mathematical Practice & Instructional Materials

What to look for in instructional materials that align to the SMPs

10/20/15, Sarah Galasso

Part null

Creating a Coherent Math Curriculum

The Coherence Map can help you uncover gaps in understanding and find resources to supplement your instructional materials.

10/29/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Including Tier 2 Vocabulary Instruction in Curricular Materials

Building tier 2 vocabulary is critical to comprehending texts across content areas, yet it often receives insufficient attention in existing curriculum options. What can teachers do to fill the gap?

11/05/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part 5

Adapting Basal-Based Literacy Programs

A team of 4th grade educators adapted a Pearson Reading Street lesson to better serve their students and enhance CCSS alignment

11/12/15, Rachel Etienne

Part 6

Outcomes of the Adaptation Process

New case studies share a look at the process of adapting math and ELA materials

11/13/15, Stacy Wetcher

Part 2

SMP 1: Make Sense of Problems & Persevere in Solving Them

Well-designed materials help students tackle challenging math problems

11/24/15, Sarah Galasso

Part 5

Creating Full-Course Open Educational Resources (OER)

The K-12 OER Collaborative plans to create a year-long open educational resources curriculum.

12/03/15, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Wolfe

Part null

Training Materials for the Math IMET

New training modules on the IMET’s Non-Negotiables and Alignment Criteria

12/08/15, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

A Publisher’s View on the Changing Instructional Materials Landscape

An interview with Anne Schreiber, Senior VP of Learning Strategies, Renaissance Learning

12/14/15, Anne Schreiber

Part null

Choosing Wisely: A Strategic Approach to Curriculum in Duval County

An interview with Dr. Nikolai P. Vitti, Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools

12/21/15

Part null

Top Five Ways to Make the Most of Your Math Materials

If you’re not satisfied with the quality and CCSS-alignment of your existing math materials, here are five tips to improve them.

01/05/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Top Five Ways to Improve Your Basal Reading Program

If you’re not satisfied with your current basal reading program, here are five things you can do to improve it.

01/11/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Decision-Making that Matters: 10 Ways Teachers Can Impact Curricular Decisions

A high school English teacher shares 10 ways classroom teachers can influence curriculum

01/20/16, Lauren Trahan

Part 7

Using Complex Texts with All Readers

A reading interventionist explains the strategies she uses to help struggling readers benefit from complex texts.

01/27/16, Katherine Linnehan

Part null

Why We’re Choosing Instructional Materials Blindly

A Brookings Institution report explains how much we DON’T know about instructional materials in use in today’s classrooms.

02/05/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part null

Using Flashcards in Math

CCSS author Jason Zimba shares how he uses flashcards with his daughters.

02/12/16, Jason Zimba

Part 8

A More Powerful Teacher’s Guide

How administrators can help teachers sort through the clutter in today’s math textbooks

02/23/16, Lauren DelFavero

Part 9

Creating a Conducive Environment for Teachers to Adapt Materials

An administrator’s guide to promoting teacher innovation

02/26/16, Andrew Davis

Part 10

Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching

How building specific mathematical knowledge in teachers can strengthen classroom instruction

03/07/16, Illustrative Mathematics

Part 11

Supplementing Your Anchor Math Curriculum with Rich Tasks

A New York math specialist explains how he’s enhanced his school’s curriculum with tasks from Illustrative Mathematics.

03/16/16, David Michal

$Thumbnail for: Essential Knowledge for Adapting Math Instructional Materials$

Part 12

Essential Knowledge for Adapting Math Instructional Materials

What do teachers need to know to make decisions about adapting math materials?

03/23/16, Jody Guarino

Part 1

A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Core Knowledge Language Arts Curriculum

First grade teacher, Adrienne Williams, describes the strengths and challenges of Core Knowledge Language Arts.

04/07/16, Adrienne Williams

Part null

Customizing the IMET PD Training for a Local Setting

A training leader explains how she customized the IMET PD training to better match the professional learning needs of her district’s educators.

04/15/16, Casey Monahan

Part 1

Common Confusions about CCSS-Aligned ELA Materials

Core Knowledge's Linda Bevilacqua explains where purchasers can improve their CCSS understanding to make better decisions

04/22/16, Linda Bevilacqua

Part 1

The Shifts and ELLs

An ELL expert explains what the Common Core means for teachers of English language learners

04/28/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 2

Designing a New ELA Curriculum

How Core Knowledge is different than other curriculum options

05/03/16, Linda Bevilacqua

Part 2

Criteria for Curricular Materials Labeled as Appropriate for ELLs

How to determine whether instructional materials support ELL's needs

05/05/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 3

CCSS-Aligned Materials for ELL Students

Where to Find High-Quality Curricular Materials for ELLs in the Public Domain

05/11/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 3

Reason Abstractly and Quantitatively

A math teacher explains how well-designed materials can help students learn to deal with challenging math problems

05/13/16, Sarah Galasso

Part 3

How Core Knowledge Supports CCSS-Aligned Instruction

Core Knowledge's approach to literacy instruction

05/25/16, Linda Bevilacqua

Part 4

What to Do When Curricular Materials for ELLs Are Not Available

Where to look for additional ELL resources to support Common Core-aligned lessons

06/01/16, Diane Staehr Fenner

Part 5

Unlocking the Power of Aligned Materials

How the Louisiana DOE is developing PD and looking for connections to help all districts maximize the impact of standards-aligned materials

06/14/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part 4

Digging Deeper into SMP 3 – Construct Viable Arguments and Critique the Reasoning of Others

A math teacher explains how to recognize math tasks that help students craft strong mathematical arguments

06/17/16, Sarah Galasso

Part 4

A Recommendation to Fellow Publishers

The President of Core Knowledge challenges fellow publishers to complete an alignment rubric

06/23/16, Linda Bevilacqua,

Part 5

Putting the Math Practices into Practice

A K-12 math team collaborated in creating tools about the practices to enhance understanding and planning

06/29/16, Wichita Public Schools - Mathematics Department

Part null

Choosing Alignment over Familiarity

How a district made the decision to select a new textbook provider instead of a long-used vendor

07/18/16, Carolyn Karatzas Eastman

Part 1

Designing a Review Driven by Local Needs

How the Oakland Unified School District designed a teacher-centered materials review selection process

07/27/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part 6

Digging Deeper into SMP 4 – Model with Mathematics

Learn the difference between modeling the math and modeling WITH math

07/29/16, Sarah Galasso

Part 1

How to Adapt GO Math!

Guidance Documents to Support the Alignment of GO Math! to the CCSSM

08/03/16, Kevin Larkin

Part null

Sitting Beside the Learner: The ‘Me’ in Assessments

Common Core-aligned assessments must capitalize on teacher-student relationships

08/15/16, Bryan Drost

Part null

Supporting All Learners with Complex Texts

Strategies to scaffold instruction of Standards-aligned, complex texts

08/17/16, Carey Swanson

Part null

Lessons from the Fordham Assessment Review

One of the reviewers explains how the assessment review was conducted and what the findings mean for educators and students.

08/23/16, Amy Youngblood

Part 2

Piloting New Curriculum Options with Educators

Learn about OUSD’s piloting process and find out what teachers thought of three popular ELA/literacy programs

09/01/16, Student Achievement Partners

Part 2

Adapting Journeys Common Core

A veteran Journeys user shares recommendations to improve basal lessons and better support teachers and students.

09/07/16, Karen Vogelsang

Part null

The Rectangle Area Formula—How Does Your Curriculum Introduce It?

Standards co-author Jason Zimba unpacks the rectangle area formula and highlights problems with the way textbooks sometimes introduce the formula to students.

09/15/16, Jason Zimba