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Core Reading Process J-12
Although the approval and adoption of English language arts Common Core aligned materials is one to two years away from being available and finalized, there is a current expectation for students to learn the Common Core standards. Additionally, the District’s core literature lists have not been updated in many years. This year J/K-12 teachers were involved in updating the core reading lists with a focus on books that provide access to teach the Common Core standards.
All grade level committees used specific criteria for selecting the books,
including text complexity, lexile range, and appropriate grade level content. The committees met several times over the past few months and began by reviewing existing lists.
Another goal of these committees’ work was to identify books that would be placed on a grade level list that would be exclusive to that grade level. This will ensure that students have opportunities to read a wide variety of books and other reading selections throughout their school experience. Another goal of this work was to choose selections that were identified as “core” (those that would be read by all students at that grade level) and “extended” (those selections that would be available for teachers to select from at a specific grade level).
In grades 8-12 teachers agreed on a process and expectations for including non-fiction materials. The goal is to provide adequate flexibility to address the connections to other disciplines as well as connecting to fictional selections being taught in English, ensuring that the rigorous shift to nonfiction is addressed.
Currently an inventory of existing books that teachers listed as a priority is being conducted. Once this inventory is completed, as many of the prioritized books as funding allows will be purchased. The revised lists will be posted on the District’s website and made available to our local libraries.
The next step will be to develop Common Core standards units of study aligned to specific books. These units of study will support the instruction alignment to the Common Core standards.
For more information related to core reading, contact Barbara Andrews, Jennifer Treadaway, and the English department chairs.
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