Common Core State Standards

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English-Language Arts and Mathematics have the potential to focus the efforts of schools on preparing students for success in college, career, and their future in the global economy.
 

Curriculum Development Resources

1. The Mathematics Common Core Toolbox: Districts and teachers alike can find support for building better math lessons that fit into new Common Core guidelines through this helpful site.
2. Khan Academy Common Core Map: Those who’ve been using Khan Academy videos and lessons in the classroom can see how each relates to new Common Core standards using this map.
3. Literacy Design Collaborative: The LDC offers templates, modules, and guidebooks for teachers that make it simple to develop engaging literacy lessons under Common Core.
4. Illustrative Mathematics: Get some guidance on the mathematics topics covered at every grade level under Common Core.
5. Teaching Channel: The Teaching Channel site offers just over 100 videos on Common Core lessons, ideas, and more.
6. Achieve the Core: This website encourages teachers to steal its tools for curriculum development.
7. Lexile: Is that text at grade level? Use this handy online tool to measure a text for readability.
8. AASL Lesson Plan Database: The American Association of School Librarians has loads of lesson plans and checklists for teachers that fall under Common Core standards.

9. The Arts and the Common Core Curriculum Mapping Project: Common Core promotes the importance of all students studying the arts, this link highlights places where ELA instruction could be enhanced by connecting a genre or particular text, or a theme of a unit, to works of art, music, or film.  There are units by grade level, K-12.

Common Core Blogs and Communities

10. Pearson Common Core Blog: Part of the Common Core resources offered by Pearson is a blog, full of articles on a range of educational topics.
11. Tools for the Common Core Standards: This blog is an excellent resource for learning about new tools that help support Common Core implementation in schools.
12. Common Core Blog: Offering links to Common Core tools, news, articles, and more, this blog is a great resource for learning about Common Core.
13. Core Commons: Follow this blog to read more about emerging strategies and issues in implementing the Common Core standards.
14. The Learning Network: The Learning Network blog, part of the New York Times‘ website, regularly publishes articles on Common Core.
15. All Things Common Core: Educators can learn from fellow teachers about the challenges of applying Common Core in their district from this blog.
16. Common Core Projects: This Google community offers teachers and opportunity to post questions and get ideas from other educators

Smarter Balanced Assessment Resources

1. Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Home: This site contains the most up to date information about the upcoming roll-out of computer based assessment.
2. Smarter Balanced Field Test Questions and Answers: Questions and answers about the Smarter Balanced Test that will be administered in spring 2014.
3. Assembly Bill 484 Questions and Answers: Questions and answers regarding Assembly Bill (AB) 484, which establishes California’s new statewide student assessment system.
4. Smarter Balanced Assessment Technology Requirements: This page outlines and provides resources to help your school / district prepare for the computer based assessments.
5. Smarter Balanced Assessment: Resources, training and guides
6. Smarter Balanced Assessment Practice Test
7. Smarter Balanced Assessment Scoring Guides for Practice Test

Resources for Engaging Parents and the Public

1. The Common Core State Standards: An Introduction for Families and Other Stakeholders
   This two-page flyer—available in both English and Spanish—was developed by The Aspen Institute to explain what the standards are and why they are important for improving public education.
2. Council of the Great City Schools Three-Minute Videos
   The Council of the Great City Schools developed a three-minute video—available in English and Spanish—that gives a brief introduction to the CCSS and that explains how the standards will help students prepare for college and career. The style and accessible language make these videos well-suited for presentations to community and parent groups.
3. Common Core State Standards Videos by the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy and the Council of Chief State School Officers
   The Hunt Institute and CCSSO developed this series of videos featuring the authors of the standards discussing the development process and how the standards impact students.
4. Council of the Great City Schools Parent Roadmaps for English Language Arts and Literacy and for Mathematics
   The Council of the Great City Schools developed parent roadmaps that provide grade-by-grade information for parents about the expectations of the CCSS, including examples of topics and content at each grade level and tips on supporting learning at home.
5. PTA Parents’ Guide to Student Success
   The National PTA created guides in English and Spanish for grades K-12 to inform parents about the CCSS and support their children’s success. The guides outline the key concepts that students should be learning in each grade in English language arts/literacy and mathematics, methods for building relationships with teachers, and tips for planning for college and career.