Inside the Common Core Classroom: Practical ELA Strategies for Grades K-2

Practical help for ensuring that students are ready for college and their careers, armed with essential information about the Common Core, insights into the current standards, practical classroom strategies, and real-life vignettes from Common Core-aligned classrooms   The Series: This book is part of the Pearson Education series: Inside the Common Core Classroom: Practical ELA Strategies. This series has been written for in-service teachers to support their implementation of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts in K - 12 classrooms.    The authors have organized the four books (K-2; Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12) so they can be used together –encouraging focused discussion and analysis.  The purpose of the series is to help teachers create connections between the Standards and their school curriculums. Each book begins with an overview by the series editor, Donna Ogle, and includes chapters on comprehension, writing, research and language. Examples are provided of instructional strategies and tools that help address the standards. Teachers at different grade levels can read about the particular expectations for their level with appropriate examples and instructional suggestions.  Then, in discussions together, each can learn from teachers at other levels and think through how to create the most supportive instructional sequence and organization by themes and content units. This authoritative new series focuses on the most important aspects of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). A testament to the series’ reliability, most of the strategies and tools have been tested by teachers and research studies, while others are variations on well-established instructional practices that reflect the new requirements of the CCSS.     The Book: In the grades K-2 volume of Pearson’s new series, Inside the Common Core Classroom: Practical ELA Strategies, teachers see ideas in action in this insightful look at the key aspects and fundamental shifts of the ELA Common Core Standards for grades K-2. Each standard is accompanied by a comprehensive look into a kindergarten, first grade, or second grade classroom as well as valuable, practical tips for teachers and lesson plan ideas that can be put to immediate use. Classroom vignettes complete with specific teacher-and-student dialogues help readers picture how to implement each standard in their own classrooms.   This text presents a valuable resource for understanding and implementing the English language arts standards at the elementary level through: A wealth of information that clarifies the standards—plus suggestions for instruction and assessment. A look at the standards in action in real classrooms. Practical, ready-to-use guidance in making the standards an everyday part of teaching and learning.

Table of Contents:
Brief Table of Contents Introduction: Donna Ogle Chapter 1- Speaking, Listening and Language Development Chapter 2 - Foundational Skills Chapter 3 – Reading Standards: Comprehending Literature Chapter 4 – Standards Comprehending Informational Text Chapter 5 – Writing and the Common Core Standards   Chapter 6- Healthy Food and Healthy Bodies: A Science Unit Using Language Arts/Literacy: Common Core State Standards   Chapter 7 - Using the CCSS throughout the School Day Appendix: Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten through Grade 2

About the Author :
Lesley Mandel Morrow is a Distinguished Professor of Literacy at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research deals with early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs. Dr. Morrow has published more than 300 journal articles, chapters, and books, and her work has been recognized with awards including the Outstanding Teacher Educator of Reading Award from the International Reading Association (IRA). She also received the William S. Gray Citation of Merit from the IRA and the Oscar S. Causey Award from the Literacy Research Association–both awards for outstanding contributions to the field of literacy through research and scholarship. Dr. Morrow is a Past President of the IRA and a member of the Reading Hall of Fame. ¿ Erin Kramer is a recent graduate of the Reading Specialist Certification master’s degree program at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She also teaches second grade in the Morris Plains School District in Morris Plains, New Jersey, where she was honored as Teacher of the Year for 2011—2012. ¿ Amy Monaco has a master’s in literacy from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and holds a Reading Specialist certification. She previously taught first grade in the Monroe Township School District and is currently the K—4 Supervisor of Language Arts and Social Studies in the Montgomery Township School District in Montgomery, New Jersey.

Review :
This text is a one-of-a-kind resource for learning how to implement the Common Core Standards effectively in early childhood classrooms.  The literacy strands are discussed in great detail and provide excellent examples of quality instruction for future educators. This book can be used among teacher leaders and professional developers to gain greater insight into the standards.  At the same time, future teachers will get a real sense of what professional learning looks like in today’s schools, where collaboration and the sharing of ideas is strongly valued and encouraged.   I would recommend this book to any colleagues hoping to learn more about the Common Core Standards and their link to early childhood literacy classrooms.  The text is user-friendly, clear, and relevant to what is happening in today’s schools. --Kenneth Kunz, Bloomfield College   Inside the Common Core Classroom: Practical ELA Strategies for Grades PreK-2 is filled with plentiful and useful real-life scenarios as well as very current information about the CCSS. It fills a hole in the current literature, as there is not a lot of information focused on K-2 when discussing the Common Core. -- Helen S. Comba, School District of the Chathams (NJ)