Strategies for Teaching Common Core Standard 9

Do you see that cat on the cover? I was inspired to draw it when I saw Common Core Standard 9 which asks students to compare and contrast (I am only joking!!!!).  This standard is an Archilles' heel for so many students.  It does not have to be.  The wording of the standard varies across grade levels but the pure intent is for students to compare and contrast.

The main objective is for students to stay far away from making surface-level comparisons.  These are basic comparisons that focus on attributes such as comparing how things look.

Example

Both of the pets have ears.

Instead, students should make deeper level comparisons in which they compare by stating how two texts have the same theme, characters with similar traits, teach the same ideas, etc. As students state these deeper comparisons, they should provide textual evidence to defend their thinking (Standards RL.1 and RI.1).

Helpful Common Core Resources Organized By Grade Range

Intermediate Grade Levels

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Click Here

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Across Grade Levels

Click Here

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Integrating Technology With Notetaking

Integrating technology with education can make teaching and learning so much easier.  Adding a QR code to notes can add so much to student learning. 

I stumbled across these one day in a craft store and became fascinated with the fact that audio notes, videos, and well as text can be uploaded onto each code.  A package of two adhesive QR code stickers costs roughly $3.00.  Although I purchased these, QR codes can be downloaded from many websites for free.

It can be used with or without a cell phone.  Once the QR app is downloaded to a cell phone or Ipad, a student is ready to go.  After it is scanned with one of these devices, the extra "nugget" of notes, videos, or audio becomes available to a student.  If a student does not have an Ipad or cell phone, the person can visit a website where upon typing in the letter code that is also written on the QR sticker, they can retrieve the extra notes.  

The idea of being able to "scan" additional and optional notes is enough to pique the curiosity of some students.

I have already begun looking at ways to upload additional content to my notes for next school year.

Common Core Interactive Journals: Standards RI.8 and RI.9 Trace and Compare Arguments

So sorry for the delay about Common Core interactive reading journals.  I recently started working with adorable kindergarten students, so things have been so hectic.  Plus, I have just started assisting with high school students.  Nonetheless, things have been busy.  It has been fun, and I appreciate every second of it.

This post deals with Common Core Standard RI.8 Evaluate and Trace an Argument and RI.9 Compare Arguments.    The .8 version of this standard only exists in informational text.  At the primary grade levels, the goal is to get students to determine if an author fully defends his or her ideas.  By the middle school levels, students should be able to analyze how the author makes his or her points.  Eventually, the students are expected to use and analyze rhetoric in writing by the end of high school.

This is the foldable that my students will be handed for their journals.  Once school begins next week, we will start this unit by looking at the different types of fallacies that speakers make.  Although Common Core does not expect students to know these terms by name at late elementary or middle school, this extra boost at these levels will help them get higher ACT and SAT scores later (which is really the goal of Common Core).  

My goals are to help students analyze the points made in an essay or speech and use different techniques when they write.  This will help them cover all bases with Common Core.  

  

This is the foldable that I have as an example for them.  After we analyze the arguments that writers have made in essays and other types of informational text, we will move on to Common Core Standard RI.9 which asks students to compare arguments by two different speakers.

We will eventually move on Common Core argument writing where students will write their own argument (persuasive) essays.  

This is the type of chalk marker that I use for the journal writing.  Black cardstock paper is used too.  These markers come in white, light and dark blue, orange and green.

This is the graphic organizers, question answering frames, and wall chart document that I use while teaching the standards.  I have one for most grade levels. This document helps me track student progress, provides students with sentence starters for answering Common Core questions, and contains graphic organizers that are aligned to the standards.  Click Here For More Information At Your Grade Level

Long Vowel Readers Theater, Worksheets, and Literacy Centers

Long Vowel Cereal Games and Reader's Theater 
To see the post, Click Here

Common Core Strategies: Understanding Standard RL.5 Characteristics of Genres

Poetry and drama (plays) are often the forgotten reading genres.  Being able to infer, interpret, and identify text details in a wide variety of genres is ideal.  These task cards teach students elements of poetry and drama and are written at different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy so that students will know and analyze information within these two genres. The task cards are self-teaching so that students or small groups can work independently.  The task cards also come with a printable box to make storage and use convenient.Click Here To Access Them

Beginning in the third grade level, this Common Core Standard (RL.5) gets wild and crazy. Students are expected to utilize terms such as stanza and scene when referring to different sections of a text.  By the time they get to fourth grade, they must understand rhythm, meter, the purpose of stage directions, and etc.

I keep a mini poster and a larger poster for students to use as a guide.  The miniature version can easily be stored inside of their notebooks.  The larger versions are kept on my walls.  This way, students have a handy guide to help them.

For Grade 4 Activity Cards for Common Core Standard RL.5 Click Here

For Common Core Graphic Organizers, Posters, and Question Answering Frames For Each Literature and Informational Text Standard Click Here

Grade 6 Common Core Bell Work

This document has been a HUGE help for me.  It is a quick way to review for the Common Core Standards in (literally) five minutes a day.  When students first enter the classroom, I hand this to them.  In minutes, I am able to determine which reading standards the students understand or need extra help with.  Over 10 standards are covered.  As weeks progress, students are exposed to multiple standards.  Many standards repeat across the weeks to provide a steady review.

Click Here To Access This Document

Reading Bento Box Ideas

On a previous post, I featured math bento boxes.  This post features reading bento boxes.  A bento box is a Japanese lunch box that has sections to keep all parts of a meal separate.  I call this a bento box because it provides separate learning center activities for a student to complete in one box.

The large container was purchased from Dollar Tree for one dollar and is a magnificent way to individualize instruction.  To implement this, place different learning center activities inside of each plastic container that you have.  A student can check out the bin that best fits his or her academic needs.

This box contains Grade 4 Common Core text structure activity cards, theme task cards that are differentiated for different reading levels, and a tube that students can use for charting the sequence of events in a text.

This bento box contains character analysis activity cards, a Doodle Pro for writing, and a tin with letters for creating words that follow a specific prefix or suffix pattern.

This box contains a hornbook that I created out of soft wood and heavy paper.  The students are usually fascinated to find out that this is what children used as a "book" during the 1600s and 1700s.  It also contains a slate from a craft store for writing.  The Common Core genres card and book are also in the box.  Students read the book and write their notes on the slate.

For additional information about the literacy centers shown here, click on an image at the left of the screen or click this link and scroll down.  Click Here

Click Here

Common Core Mega Packs

Do you need classroom-tested, and convenient Common Core resources?  These mega packs are sure to help.  Each mega pack is aligned to the standards of the specific grade level it targets.

Each 118+ page document includes:

• Common Core Aligned ELA Rubrics.  There is a rubric specifically aligned to each Literature and Informational Text Standard.  These are fantastic for guided reading.
• Common Core ELA task cards.  There is a task card for each ELA Literature and Informational Text Standard.  They are great as small group task cards or as a literacy center.
• Common Core Math task cards.  There is a task card for every math standard.  Most are open-ended for convenient reuse.  Use them as the math question of the day or as a Common Core math center.
• Common Core aligned graphic organizers and question answering frames.  These graphic organizers and frames are excellent for helping students answer Common Core questions.  They can be used with any book or magazine.

Click Here For Kindergarten

Click Here For Grade 1

Click Here For Grade 2

Click Here For Grade 3

Click Here For Grade 4

Click Here For Grade 5
Click Here For Grade 6
Click Here For Grade 7
Click Here For Grade 8

Common Core Reading Bell Work in Five Minutes a Day

This document has been a huge help for me.  I work with most groups of students for 40 minutes a day.  This document is used as quick reading bell ringer when students first enter the classroom.  In five minutes, I know which standards students have mastered and which standards require extra review.  Then, I continue on with my regular lesson.

To access your grade level, click a link.

5 WEEKS OF PRACTICE

Click Here For Grade 2

Click Here For Grade 3
Click Here For Grade 4
Click Here For Grade 5
Click Here For Grade 6
Click Here For Grade 7
Click Here For Grade 8

Primary Fun Learning: K-1 Math Vocabulary

Click Here to Read the Post

Primary Fun Learning: Pattern Bead Fun and Boredom Buster

Pattern Bead Fun and Boredom Buster  

  Click Here To Read The Post

Daily Reading Common Core For Third Grade

This document is used as a quick reading bell ringer when students first enter the classroom.  In five minutes, I know which standards students have mastered and which standards require extra review.  Then, I continue on with my regular lesson.

To access your grade level, click a link.

5 WEEKS OF PRACTICE

Click Here For Grade 2

Click Here For Grade 3
Click Here For Grade 4
Click Here For Grade 5
Click Here For Grade 6
Click Here For Grade 7
Click Here For Grade 8