It's Monday, It's ELA Common Core Day! Today's Topic: Unwrapping the Standards - Beginning with Steps 1 and 2

Ainsworth gives us 5 steps to follow when Unwrapping the Standards. Today we will look at Step 1 - Code It, and Step 2 - Unwrap It, with one sample standard. Next Monday, we will dive into Step 3 - Determine the Big Ideas..  The whole 5-step process is a very good way to get to know the Common Core Standards. (Steps 3-5 are my favorites, but let’s start with #1 and #2.)

Step 1 is easy.  All you do is Code It! – Highlight or underline the verbs and then highlight or circle the nouns.  It’s just a way to start the whole unwrapping process. After you do that, complete Step 2 – Unwrap It!  Identify the concepts and skills in the standard, to determine what students need to understand and do… You may want to rewrite them separately, to help them stand out.  (For example, one of the standards below has as many as 7 separate concepts and skills embedded in it – read your grade level(s) and identify each concept and skill in your standard.)

Choose your grade group(s):

Kindergarten Teachers: 

Standard RL.K.2: With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details.

1^st Grade Teachers:

Standard RL.1.2: Grade 1 students will retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

2^nd Grade Teachers:

Standard RL.2.2: Grade 2 students will recount stories, including fable and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

3^rd Grade Teachers:

Standard RL.3.2: Grade 3 students will recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

4^th Grade Teachers:

Standard RL.4.2: Grade 4 students will determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

5^th Grade Teachers:

Standard RL.5.2: Grade 5 students will determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

6^th Grade Teachers:

Standard RL.6.2: Grade 6 students will determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

Enjoy getting to know this one standard. This is just the beginning of the 5 Step Process. Next Monday, we will dive into it a little deeper. 

Until next time, share a strategy!
Dr. Denise Gudwin