2012

Tracy WilsonSMCOE Reading Language Arts Coordinator

twilson@smcoe.k12.ca.us

Revisiting Thematic Planning

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RedefiningEnglish Language Arts

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Why Common Core State Standards?

Preparation: The standards are college- and career-ready.

Competition: The standards are internationally benchmarked.

Equity: Expectations are consistent for all – and not dependent on a student’s zip code.

Clarity: The standards are focused, coherent, and clear.

Collaboration: The standards create a foundation to work collaboratively across states and districts, pooling resources and expertise, to create curricular tools, professional development, common assessments and other materials.

• Focus on text complexity• Address reading and writing across the curriculum• A focus on results rather than means• An integrated model of literacy• Shared responsibility for students’ literacy

development• Emphasize analysis of informational text• Focus on writing arguments and drawing evidence

from sources• Emphasize participating in collaborative conversation• Integrate media sources across standards

Areas of Emphasis in the Common Core State Standards

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Progression of Standards

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KindergartenWith prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.

Grade 2Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Grade 4Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.

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Standards Preview

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Standards Mapping California Kindergarten Association

Samplehttp://www.californiakindergartenassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Transitional-Kindergarten-Curriculum-Guide.pdf

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Thematic Planning

How to Plan:1. Choose a theme: Plants2. Identify a universal question or big idea to unify learning and activities

Possibility: Use History/Social Science Standards How can I help take care of my environment (responsibility)?K.1 Students understand that being a good citizen involves acting in

certain ways.Learn examples of honesty, courage, determination, individual responsibility, and patriotism in American and world history from stories and folklore.

Possibility: Use Science Standards How do plants grow?Life Sciences 2. Different types of plants and animals inhabit the earth.

a. Students know how to observe and describe similarities and differences in the appearance and behavior of plants and animals (e.g., seed-bearing plants, birds, fish, insects).

b. Students know stories sometimes give plants and animals attributes they do not really have.

c. Students know how to identify major structures of common plants and animals (e.g., stems, leaves, roots, arms, wings, legs).

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How to Plan a Thematic Unit

1. Choose a Theme: Plants

2. Identify a Big Idea (S): How do plants grow?

3. Identify the standards to build your leaning objectives: Students will be able to …• Math: count seeds, measure and graph plant growth +• Reading: read text features in informational texts +• Writing: collaboratively create an informative book about plants

with text features (captions, labels) +• History/SS: where does our food come from (maps) +• Science: +

4. Select appropriate resources

+

Plants Need

Plants Do Not Need

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Thematic Planning

Use your CKA monthly planners to …1. Choose a Theme:

2. Identify a Big Idea:

3. Identify the standards to build your leaning objectives: Students will be able to …

• Math• Reading• Writing• Science• History/Social Science

4. Select appropriate resources

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Possible TK Themes

• Healthy You• Animal Friends• Splash & Dig• Watch It Grow• Weather Watchers / Seasons• Transportation