Project-Based Learning and the Common Core!

Many educators already have made a shift in the direction of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in recent years as research has shown just how effective it can be in broadening and deepening students' knowledge-base and in helping students develop connections between concepts and applications, and in improving their communication skills.

You may be wondering, though, just how project-based learning might intersect with the Common Core State Standards, and what resources might be out there to help educators ensure that their project-based learning strategies are aligned with CCSS.

This blog post from Edutopia.org, is a great place to start! In this post, "The Role of PBL in Making the Shift to Common Core," Sara Hallermann and John Larmer present six big ideas that help educators understand exactly how PBL and Common Core go hand-in-hand. The takeaway, as they explain, is that "Common Core has embedded within it some Big Ideas that shift the role of teachers to curriculum designers and managers of an inquiry process." PBL puts that inquiry process front-and-center, and encourages students to take ownership of what they're learning about.

For a more in-depth look at the connections between Common Core and PBL, you can check out this FREE PBL WEBINAR from ASCD.org. Led by Andrew Miller, the webinar explores the essential elements of PBL, and the best ways of ensuring that PBL units are aligned to Common Core. Be sure to check out the supporting resources, handouts, and slides!

FREE WestEd Webinar: A Curriculum-First Approach to Technology and the Web

Many educators have concerns about the way that technology can seem like a haphazard element of instruction--something that gets added into the classroom because it seems important and on-trend, but isn't necessarily integrated with the curriculum.

This free webinar from WestEd helps present ideas and strategies for making technology a central, integrated, transformative part of the learning environment, and not merely something added on in an ad hoc manner.

Take a look at the webinar (roughly 1hr and 15 minutes) to get a better sense of how everything from technology infrastructure to stakeholder readiness can impact the way technology is integrated into the curriculum.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

Free Video Series--Geometry Instruction for K-8 Teachers!

If you have spare time this summer, take a look at the amazing, in-depth, comprehensive teacher resources from ANNENBERG LEARNER. The mission of the nonprofit organization is "To Advance Excellent Teaching in American Schools." The website is full of fantastic resources for all disciplines, and well worth a closer look.

Included in those resources are a number of in-depth video courses with supporting materials targeted to a variety of grade levels and subject areas. THIS VIDEO SERIES helps frame geometry, not only as a set of skills or objectives for your students to master, but also as a strategic method for problem solving in general. To follow the entire series, you should allow for the better part of a day. Begin with the first session, and then follow along with the prompts to move through the entire series.

FREE WestEd Webinar: Reading and Writing, Common Core Style!

One of the areas on which the goals of Common Core are focused is building literacy--not only in traditional ways via ELA education, but also across the curriculum. Reading and writing, and the skills that are part of reading and writing, have an enormous role to play as students learn to engage with a variety of texts, topics, ideas, and problems.

This WestEd webinar takes a closer look at Common Core Reading Anchor Standard 1, and attempts to connect it to evidence-based interpretation in other subjects and areas as well. This is a great opportunity to gain a better, clearer understanding of how the CCSS can help students develop literacy and put interpretive skills to work across disciplines.

TAKE A LOOK HERE for the webinar (approximately 34 minutes), and be sure to CLICK ON THE FOLDER to download supporting PDFs and other materials!

The Changing Landscape of ESL Instruction--FREE WestEd Webinar on June 18th!

How will the transition to Common Core State Standards impact students in English Language Learner / English as a Second Language settings? What will the new standards mean for educators who work with these students? How can educators use this transition to Common Core as an opportunity for making deep and lasting transformations in their pedagogy in order to meet the needs of their students in new and significant ways?

SIGN UP HERE for this free webinar presented by WestEd and the TESOL International Association. You will get the chance to

• Develop awareness of the deep changes required by the implementation of new standards
• Understand the questions that could guide your reflection as you transform your pedagogy
• Understand why prevalent pedagogies do not serve English learners well in the new standards era
• Begin to envision richer, productive pedagogies with English learners

The webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 18 from 10:30-noon EST. You'll need to register at the link above. CHECK OUT THE WESTED SITE to get more info, and if you can't attend at that time, the webinar will be archived!

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Common Core And Social/Emotional Learning

So much of the conversation about Common Core has centered on the academic side of what goes on in the classroom. But as every teacher knows, social and emotional learning makes up an enormous part of what happens in everyday instruction. Whether it's the ability to collaborate with other students, or the ability to be sensitive and empathetic, or developing the social skills needed to be successful in life after school, social and emotional learning are critical components of learning in general.

Common Core is not just about the academic standards and assessments. As this EdSource article argues (CLICK HERE to check it out!), “You’re not going to be able to achieve Common Core standards if kids aren’t working collaboratively and aren’t engaged.”

For a FREE webinar titled "Integrating Social-Emotional Learning Into State and District Policies," check out THIS WEBLINK. You will need Adobe to access the webinar, which is offered by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.

Common Core Resources for Special Education

Calling all special education teachers and administrators!

This wonderful website from the California Department of Education collects tons of great information about special education and Common Core. From webinars to presentations, resources to FAQs, this site can help you find what you need to know about making the transition to Common Core with your special education students.

CLICK HERE to go to the website, and be sure to take a few minutes to see what's offered!

FREE WestEd Webinar--Personalize Learning to Meet the Common Core

For educators who work with special education students, there are a number of questions about how Common Core State Standards will work in their classrooms. How can you balance the diverse needs of your students and meet the standards? How can you create personalized learning environments within your classroom?

This free 30-minute webinar from experts at WestEd can help you answer these questions and give you a better understanding of how personalized learning can support the Common Core.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBINAR and make sure to check out the supporting resources and PDFs as well.

A Free Webinar for California Educators: the Smarter Balanced Assessment System

Assessments will play an important role as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are implemented across most of the United States. If you're an educator in California, no doubt you may be wondering about the latest news and information when it comes to assessments and the resources that Smarter Balanced offers.

This WestEd webinar from March, 2014 (sponsored by the Secondary Literacy Partnership) provides a fantastic, clear overview of the most up-to-date information regarding  the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) system. Deb Sigman and Diane Hernandez (California Dept. of Education) answer questions and review the available resources that educators will want to know about as the new assessments are implemented. Watch the webinar, or download PDFs of the PowerPoint deck to read through for yourself!

Check out the webinar HERE to get informed!

Calling All Math Teachers—Upcoming Free Webinar on April 30th on Standards of Mathematical Practice!

Curious about the role of Standards of Mathematical Practice (SMPs) in Smarter Balanced Performance Assessments? Looking for more information about mathematics classroom practices on the ground? Look no further—and register for this free, 2-hour webinar led by Cathy Carroll of WestEd’s STEM program as she walks you through an overview of SMPs. The webinar will take place live on April 20, 2014, at 4 p.m. PST. Click here to register!

Can’t make it? Don’t worry—the webinar will be archived on the WestEd website for viewing anytime!

Assessment Literacy -- FREE WestEd Webinar

If you're a middle school or high school educator, this webinar is for you! We all know that assessment is a critically important part of instruction. Recently, there has been increasing emphasis on the ways that formative assessment in particular can help you meet your students' needs.

This free webinar from the experts at WestEd helps clarify the different kinds of assessments and how you can make the best use of them. Plus, it takes a closer look at aligning ELA assessments with Common Core State Standards. Click here to check it out!

Depth of Knowledge, Critical Thinking, and Common Core -- Free WestEd Webinar!

This webinar is full of information about integrating technology appropriately when planning tasks and assessments, and helps answer questions you might have about how "rigor" really translates.

If you've been wanting a closer look at how you as an educator can understand some of the central elements of the CCSS and what they will mean for the way you think about assessments and curriculum alike, then this webinar is for you.

Click here to check it out!

Webinar: Assessment Literacy for ELA

Are you wondering how assessments will change as Common Core State Standards (CCSS) become part of teaching and learning? Got questions about how to work with new assessments (and who doesn't)?

This webinar will provide an overview of the components of a balanced assessment system that are aligned to the CCSS for middle and high school English language arts/literacy (ELA/Literacy).

Click here to check out this FREE WestEd webinar.