From Common Core Standards to Curriculum: Five Big Ideas

From Common Core Standards to Curriculum: Five Big Ideas by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins

http://grantwiggins.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/mctighe_wiggins_final_common_core_standards.pdf

Fine Arts Alignment with the Iowa Core Universal Constructs Resources

The Fine Arts Alignment with the Iowa Core Universal Constructs resources were written to illustrate how fine arts teachers can align their instruction to the universal constructs from the Iowa Core. By showing connections between the universal constructs and fine arts, these resources demonstrate how fine arts support the implementation of the Iowa Core.

Fine arts are particularly well-suited in supporting students in developing the universal constructs important for success in the 21st Century. The Fine Arts Iowa Core Companion documents can be located on/at https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/content-areas/arts

Iowa Core Companion documents are intended to fulfill the charge from the Iowa Department of Education that the “work” of implementing the Iowa Core is the responsibility of all educators in Iowa. Iowa Core Companion documents provide support and resources for educators wishing to identify connections to the Iowa Core. The information provided in the companion documents is not required of all schools or districts.

For assistance please contact Rosanne Malek, rosanne.malek@iowa.gov

Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core Standards

Need a resource to communicate the Common Core to Parents? Check out http://cgcs.org/Page/328  Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core Standards

Top 5 Iowa Core Implementation THINGS TO DO

OK, I wish a "Top 5" was that simple, but to make it manageable, I thought I'd start with a couple of things that districts should be working on during their continued implementation of the Iowa Core.

• #1  Bring together your District Leadership Team and revisit your Iowa Core Implementation Plan..what does the plan say you're going to do and are you doing it?  If so....celebrate....if not, why not? 
• #2  Does/how does your plan need to be revised to better meet current Iowa Department of Educations expectations and initiatives?
• #3  Which outcome(s) of the Iowa Core are you committed to and incorporating into your districts Professional Development Plan?
• #4  What is your district doing to better understand, implement, differentiate, and extend the learning opportunities of the Iowa Core Standards?
• #5  Are teaching practices in your districts transforming to better align with the Characteristics of Effective Instruction? 

How to Monitor Your Implementation of the Iowa Core

It has been brought to our attention that many district level teams struggle with knowing how to monitor the implementation of the Iowa Core.  We have put together a few components to assist with this work.

Assure Delivery of the Planned Activities as stated in your Iowa Core Implementation Plan:

• Make sure your DLT/Iowa Core team is meeting regularly to monitor the delivery of the Iowa Core Implementation Plan
• Make sure your DLT/Iowa Core team is setting clear goals and priorities and communicates this with ALL stakeholders

Facilitate Ongoing Support to ALL Staff:

• DLT/Iowa Core team members review the Iowa Core Implementation Plan progress at established, regular staff meetings
•   DLT/Iowa Core team provides adequate professional development time to accomplish the Iowa Core work
• DLT/Iowa Core team collects perceptual and hard data related to individual and organizational change and needs of the implementation of the Iowa Core
• DLT/Iowa Core team provides frequent opportunities for teachers to collaborate with peers
• DLT/Iowa Core team plans for assistance to both new and experiences staff
• DLT/Iowa Core team collects feedback on PD and provides reciprocal accountability
• DLT/Iowa Core team systematically measures, analyzes, and interpret data
• DLT/Iowa Core team use data to guide adjustments

Monitor Teacher Implementation of Professional Development & Learnings

• DLT/Iowa Core team regularly checks for fidelity of implementation of incorporating the Iowa Core Outcomes into the teaching and learning environments
• DLT/Iowa Core team modifies or adjusts activities and/or professional development based upon implementation data analysis
• DLT/Iowa Core team reports progress to all stakeholders on a regular basis                                                          

Knowledge is POWERFUL

In light of the Common Core coming under some scrutiny, I feel that its necessary that we, as educators, take time to understand the issue and advocate for what's best for kids.  Knowledge is POWERFUL! 

http://www.aft.org/issues/standards/nationalstandards/debunkingmyths.cfm

Recertifying Iowa Core Implementation Plans

1.  In the event of your plans were uncertified, there was an email that directly came to your district from the Iowa Department of Education that outlines your next steps and how to revise your plans and recertify.

2.  As you work through your revisions, you will be able to click on the iLogs icon to get additional assistance, but ultimately, the DE will be looking for all answers to reflect components of the Self Study Review @ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B26qlKUzLGEyZzZERHBWOXc2REE/edit?usp=sharing We made this review available in the spring.

3.  We would recommend that these revisions be done in a timely manner.  Having said that, if your district is up for a DE Site visit, all plans housed on the C-Plan portal need to be properly certified in order to be compliant for the site visit.    

4. As always, we're here to help.  Please don't hesitate to give your AEA Iowa Core Lead a call to assist.