Dear Colleague,
I'll admit it. I'm excited about the Common Core. Why? Here are just a handful of reasons:
1. It's both developmental and demanding, honoring the abilities of children at each grade level, but requiring compositions that demonstrate a deeper understanding of craft and purpose.
2. It recognizes that writing is as important as reading, and that the two are interdependent. The very best way to ensure that your students meet the ambitious reading standards is to encourage them to read like writers. In other words, the more they write and think about writing, the better they'll be at analyzing texts. (And the more they analyze texts, the better writers they'll become.)
3. The CCSS support a Writer's Workshop model, recognizing that students need regular writing time, immediate feedback, and audience (author's chair and true publication).
4. With its emphasis on three styles of writing at every grade level, schools can determine which genres will be taught under each style, thus ensuring a balance between narrative and expository writing, a common language throughout the school, and a curriculum that builds from one year to the next.
Below are three ways you might prepare for implementation of the Core Curriculum writing standards this summer.
