Teachers, parents, and students across the United States are preparing for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which is a “a set of high-quality academic standards in Math and English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA).”  It provides a “clear and consistent framework for educators.”  CCSS is preparing students for College and Career Readiness.

     Children’s book authors and illustrators are interested in finding out how this impacts textbooks and reading materials in the classrooms and libraries.

     As co-presenter with Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) San Diego Chapter April meeting, we both had much to contribute in our fields of expertise about the Common Core State Standards.

      Forty-four states nationwide, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards Initiative.  Since 2009, “the state school chiefs and governors that comprise the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA) Center coordinated a state-led effort to develop the Common Core Standards.”

 

     School curriculum is being “designed through collaboration among teachers, school chiefs, administrators, and other experts” to support the Common Core State Standards.  As a member of my school district’s curriculum design team, I’ve had an “inside look” into the long process in working on Units of Study for both ELA and Math.  It’s not an easy task.  We are using what we have in the classroom and supplementing new materials to support the transition.  It’s a change and learning process for teachers, students, parents, and the children’s book industry.      

     How does this affect authors and illustrators?  During the SCBWI presentation, I included examples of exemplary texts across the curriculum.  In addition, I also focused on text selections for lesson plans as an integral component.  The use of mentor texts to teach students valuable skills in ELA are needed to support CCSS. 

Find out more information from my presentation handout entitled, “Author Tips,” here: http://www.teachingseasons.com/common-core-author-tips-april-2014-presentation/

Read my article on “The Common Core State Standards” published in the SCBWI Bulletin:  http://www.teachingseasons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Common-Core-Standards-Article-by-Grace-Nall-in-SCBWI-Publication-January-February-2013.pdf

For more information: Visit www.corestandards.org.

Myths vs. Facts:  Visit http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/myths-vs-facts/

Video:  Visit http://www.corestandards.org/video/

Visit Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan’s website:  http://virginialoh.com/

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