Session+2

The Common Core was adopted by Pennsylvania in 2010. The standards of the Common Core encompass English language arts and math. More was added, including reading and writing in science and technical subjects, as well as reading and writing in history and social studies. The PA Academic Standards include most subjects taught in schools including science, social studies and related arts standards. According to the website the PA Common Core Standards are the same as far as rigor and content but follow the organization and design of the PA Academic Standards. ** Recognize the elements that will guide transition to Common Core. ** Professional development opportunities related to utilizing Common Core Standards has increased in our district, but at the present time they are geared to Language Arts, Reading and Math instructors. Adequate knowledge regarding the Common Core Standards will have to be implemented from the top down. Changes in assessments, curriculum and instruction will have to be made. The use of computer generated assessments will increase, which will create a need for technical supplies and support.
 * Jackie Gardner **
 * Session 2: Introduction to the Common Core Standards ****Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**** Discuss how Pennsylvania’s current standards align with Common Core. **
 * Identify the greatest difference between Pennsylvania standards and the Common Core. **The biggest difference between the Pennsylvania standards and common core standards is the depth and detail that the PA standards have. The Common Core seems to be more of an overview and PA has filled in the specific skills necessary to master the common core standards.


 * Discuss the importance of the connection between Common Core and Common Assessments. **The idea with assessments is to create them before instruction. Working back from and creating common assessments are huge right now. One of our curriculum committee’s goals is to create common assessments going forward. The other 8th grade level science teacher and I have been meeting this year to compose assessments together before a unit. We find it focuses our teaching. Research has found that //accountability data from hundreds of schools reveal the schools with the greatest gains in achievement consistently employ common assessments, //(Reeves, 2004).  Included in the PA standards are assessment materials that align with the standards. The assessments that are being created for Common Core will not be available until next year.

** Evaluate the SAS Curriculum Framework to measure its correlation to Common Core **Within SAS are the following alignments which show the connection between standard, anchor, anchor descriptor, and/or eligible content and the curriculum framework – PA Academic Standards – PA Common Core Standards <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">– Eligible Content <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">– Big Idea(s) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">– Concept(s) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">– Competencies <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Essentially the SAS curriculum takes the Common Core standards and embeds them within its framework.