Okay, so I’m no expert on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) yet, but here’s one awesome thing about them: they don’t attempt to dictate every minute detail of my life as a teacher. One group of reasons that make me admire the CCSS is their “intentional design limitations.” If you look at page 6 […]
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CCR Anchor Standards in Reading: An Overview
I’m going to begin with the college and career readiness (CCR) anchor standards in reading because, in the “Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects” document, those standards come first. (By the way, I bet the length of that document title makes about half […]
Why Did my Students Bomb their Extended Research Paper?
At the Michigan Reading Association (MRA) conference this past spring, I heard Mike Schmoker give an address about his most recent book Focus. During the address, Schmoker recommended that, when building curriculum, each summative paper should be graded for a single item (e.g., explaining quotations). I tried this on a recent epic research assignment that I […]
Can the Common Core State Standards Promote Student Flourishing?
For me, there is one primary mission in my classroom every day: to increase my students chances for long-term flourishing. I believe that every one of my students has unique gifts within them that, when placed in the proper circumstances, will allow them to make positive contributions to the world that only they can make. The question […]
What do Demons have to do with the Common Core State Standards?
No, I’m not saying that I think the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are spawned by the devil’s minions. Not even close. Let me explain. Ever since I entered the University of Michigan’s School of Education in 2005, standards have been one of my greatest weaknesses as a teacher. And, like a brave warrior, I […]