Everything Common Core
The Latest News and Informational Tidbits About the CCSS
FIRST, Lets Talk About Our Products . . . .
What Makes the Show What You Know on the Common Core Books Different than Others on the Market?
It's very simple - ours are SO much better! But if you have someone who needs proof, here's some facts you can throw their way:
- Our books help students get prepared for taking the CCSS tests - think TEST PREP.
Our books allow students to experience a test-taking environment similar to that of an actual testing day. Each student must have his or her own book to take the practice assessments. These are NOT reproducible activity books.
- We provide two complete assessments for each subject tested in Grades 3-8.
- Every question is correlated to a specific Common Core Standard which is LISTED IN THE BOOK. We didn't just slap a sticker on the book stating it's correlated.
- We also include materials on test-taking strategies and test anxiety reduction specifically written for each grade level, both very important topics in today's test-focused classrooms.
So Which States Have NOT Implemented the Common Core Standards?
There are four states who have chosen NOT to adopt the CCSS - Texas, Virginia, Alaska, and Nebraska. Minnesota has adopted the English Language Arts standards only. The rest of the states are onboard and have adopted the assessment system and curriculum of one of two consortia (or both): the Smarter Balanced Consortium (SBAC) and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARRC).
Get Ready for the Tests!
Testing (officially called Assessment) on the Common Core standards for Math and ELA begins in 2014. Each state is able to choose which assessment system they use (either SBAC or PARRC or a combination of both) and sample questions are available now for review.
Still Getting Questions About CCSS You Can't Answer?
Check out the Common Core website. There's a lot of information here, as well as a whitepaper titled Myths vs Facts About the Common Core Standards that we've found is very informative.
You May Have Heard . . . .
Texas has their own new standardized tests that they implemented last year called STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness).
When Will There Be Common Core Standards for Science?
Even though they're not written under the Common Core name, a consortium of 18 states and the National Research Council, the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science are developing the Next Generation Science Standards. We're told these standards should be presented for review in early 2013. Just say "NGSS" to be part of those in the know. For more information, please visit http://www.nextgenscience.org/.
Did You Know . . . . . .
there are Written-Language Production Standards (fancy name for Handwriting and Computer Keyboarding Skills)? Researchers and educators got together in January 2012 and created a set of national standards that offer developmentally appropriate indicators to integrate these two areas in the K-8 curriculum. More info can be found at http://www.hw21summit.com.
Brought to you by Show What You Know Publishing, distributed by Lorenz Educational Press
Any other questions about Common Core or our products? Contact Deb Kaiser at Ext. 541
Email: DebK@lorenz.com
Website: www.LorenzEducationalPress.com
Phone: 800-444-1144