Four Major Shifts in Literacy
This video mini-series has been designed to provide an efficient pathway for understanding and implementing the most significant shifts in English/language arts and literacy instruction. Ranging from seven to ten minutes in length, each video tackles one important topic and then provides tools that educators can begin using in their classrooms immediately. The order in which the videos are watched in not critical, so please feel free to start with the one that seems the most intriguing.
Major Shift 1: Emphasizing Informational Text
The Common Core State Standards insist on the use of more information texts throughout the school day. This video discusses why and provides educators guidance on where to find high-quality informational texts.
Major Shift 2: Literacy Standards for All Content Areas
Content-area teachers are not English teachers by training. This video explains the disciplinary literacy approach inherent in the standards and provides a guided tour of resources that provide teaching strategies for content-area teachers.
Major Shift 3: Text Complexity
Students must have opportunities to read challenging texts. How do we know when a text is too easy or too difficult for students to read? In this video, the concept of text complexity is explained, followed by a guided tour of resources educators may begin using immediately to inform decisions regarding text selections.
Major Shift 4: The Special place of Argument
Arguing and informing/explaining are crucial in the Common Core State Standards. In this video, learn about the special place of argument as well as instructional resources to improve student writing skills.
After watching the mini-series, learning about the Instructional Transition Guidance documents is the logical next step. These may be used to realign, refine and develop curriculum that will best prepare students for college and careers.