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Clarifying Content Priorities: ENGLISH 9-12

Priority 3

Adopted Resource

  • use of StudySync for integrated, on-grade-level, scaffolded lessons that inherently include Priorities 1 and 2

Priority 2

Standard Alignment

  • questioning/activities/lessons/assessments that apply standard knowledge and skills to ELA disciplines: reading, writing, discussion
  • heavier focus on targeted standards from OST

Priority 1

Essential Practice

  • significant instructional time with ELA disciplines: reading, writing, discussion
  • strategies/scaffolds for comprehension and composition that transfer across texts/contexts

Non-Priority

Do Not Need

  • assessments that do not ask students to apply standards to the ELA disciplines: reading, writing, discussion

These graphic organizers focus on the practices, skills/standards, and resources for ENGLISH 9-12 that best prepare students to become college and career ready.

NOTE: All three priorities can be executed simultaneously because the adopted resource (3) is standard aligned (2) and provides both content and tools for essential practice of ELA disciplines (1).

CURRICULUM VISION: SUPPORT. BUILD CAPACITY. EMPOWER.

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Closer Look at Priority 1: Essential Practice

  • read on-grade-level, complex texts with and without scaffolding
  • use reading comprehension and close reading strategies to analyze texts
  • discuss on-grade-level, complex texts using standard learning targets/intentions
  • write about on-grade-level, complex texts using standard learning targets/intentions

Resources:

-StudySync offers on-grade-level, complex texts and allows for 5 levels of scaffolding.

-StudySync offers reading comprehension strategy work as part of the fist read, close read, and independent read protocols.

-StudySync offers model videos for discussion of on-grade-level, complex texts using standard learning targets/intentions.

-StudySync offers complete writing process lessons for extended writings and multiple opportunities for shorter writings in the integrated reading and writing blade lessons.

-Close Reading guides and documents, Writing guides and rubrics, and Speaking/Discussion guides, protocols, rubrics are available on the CCS ELA 6-12 Webpage (https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12) at the ELA Strand Resources for Reading, Writing, Language, & Speaking Quick Link (https://oh01913306.schoolwires.net/Page/5828).

Research:

-Because higher text complexity of test passages on the OST resulted in lower student success, students’ interaction with close reading and complex text must increase. They need to read widely from both literary and informational texts and increase close reading and analysis practice. They must Read, Write, and Discuss Every Day!

-CCS students are not scoring in the highest category in two writing areas. They need more practice with response-to-text argument and informative/explanatory writing and to increase the amount of writing they do each year. They must Read, Write, and Discuss Every Day!

Priority 1

Essential Practice

  • significant instructional time with ELA disciplines: reading, writing, discussion
  • strategies/scaffolds for comprehension and composition that transfer across texts/contexts

CURRICULUM VISION: SUPPORT. BUILD CAPACITY. EMPOWER.

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Closer Look at Priority 2: Standard Alignment

Priority 2

Standard Alignment

  • questioning/activities/lessons/assessments that apply standard knowledge and skills to ELA disciplines: reading, writing, discussion
  • heavier focus on targeted standards from OST

  • teachers should have the intentions of the standards in mind when asking questions, designing activities, creating lessons, and producing assessments so that students are tasked with applying the standards to their readings, writings, and discussions

Targeted Priority Standards on the OST: (9th-10th Grade Standards, 11th-12th Grade Standards)

-Grade 9-10: RL.1, RL.2, RL.3, RL. 4, RL.5, RL.6, RL.7, RL.9; RI.1, RI.2, RI.3, RI.4, RI.5, RI.6, RI.7 RI.8, RI.9; L.4, L.5; W.1, W.2

Resources:

-StudySync covers all of the Standards on the OST in the first four CORE ELA Units for each grade level.

-StudySync offers quiz and think questions that are standard aligned.

-StudySync offers skill lessons aligned to the standards, then asks students to apply those skills to an on-grade-level, complex text or extended writing.

-StudySync offers student exemplars for every extended writing.

-Standardized test prep, OST reports/power standards, and OST question stems are available on the CCS ELA 6-12 Webpage (https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12) at the Standardized Testing Quick Link (https://oh01913306.schoolwires.net/Page/2615).

Research:

-READING: Because many CCS students on the 2019 OST test had the highest proficiencies and lowest proficiencies on questions aligned to the same Reading Standards and did not have consistent scores on the same Standards, there seemed to be no clear pattern of success on Standard-aligned questions, but certain passages had clearer success rates. This is absolutely in line with larger research studies, such as the 2006 ACT study that said “the clearest differentiator” between students who met or exceeded benchmark scores “was students’ ability to answer questions associated with complex texts.” Student Achievement Partners and Teaching Lab have found that isolating comprehension skills in a teach-assess-reteach cycle in secondary education is a “smooth road in the wrong direction.” Although this method is helpful in mastering foundational skills in elementary grades, in secondary education the TEXT should guide reading comprehension instruction. It is our students’ abilities to understand TEXT that determines OST proficiencies.

-WRITING: Writing time should be driven by exemplars that focus on the protocols required to construct fully-developed essays with introductions, conclusions, transitions, and bodies that have evidence/elaboration. Researchers agree that American students need to increase the amount of writing they do in school and use exemplars as models if they want to become college and career ready.

CURRICULUM VISION: SUPPORT. BUILD CAPACITY. EMPOWER.

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Closer Look at Priority 3: Adopted Resource

Priority 3

Adopted Resource

  • use of StudySync for integrated, on-grade-level, scaffolded lessons that inherently include Priorities 1 and 2

  • StudySync has six, 30-day units of CORE ELA instruction for each grade level; all of the Standards on the OST are covered in the first four CORE ELA Units for each grade level.
  • StudySync offers three novel units for each CORE ELA unit that focus on the same standards.
  • StudySync offers additional units for American Lit, African American Lit, and British Lit.
  • StudySync has a library with 1827 texts (1326 for Grades 9-10; 1234 for Grades 11-12), 2020 skills lessons, 133 units, and 756 prompts for high school grades.
  • StudySync offers a fully-developed gradebook that allows teachers to see a student’s progress toward standard mastery with every assignment completed. Use this video to learn more about the gradebook: StudySync Gradebook & Data Analysis
  • StudySync offers a robust help center and numerous tutorials/trainings. Recorded trainings from CCS PD are also available. Finding the Help Center in StudySync (video), Tutorials, Trainings, Weekly/Monthly Webinar, CCS-only Ask-an-Expert Sessions Zoom Link (ID: 985 4912 8122; Passcode: 399075) (Every Thursday at 3:30PM)
  • StudySync offers on-grade-level, complex texts and allows for 5 levels of scaffolding.
  • StudySync offers reading comprehension strategy work as part of the fist read, close read, and independent read protocols.
  • StudySync offers model videos for discussion of on-grade-level, complex texts using standard learning targets/intentions.
  • StudySync offers complete writing process lessons for extended writings and multiple opportunities for shorter writings in the integrated reading and writing blade lessons.
  • StudySync offers student exemplars for every extended writing.
  • StudySync offers quiz and think questions that are standard aligned.
  • StudySync offers skill lessons aligned to the standards, then asks students to apply those skills to an on-grade-level complex text or extended writing.
  • StudySync adds current event blasts each week.
  • Curriculum Maps and Course Folders are available on the CCS ELA 6-12 Webpage (https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12) at the Curriculum/Instructional Resources Grades 9-12 Quick Link (https://oh01913306.schoolwires.net/Page/2599).

Research: StudySync got the highest ratings on EdReports and is backed by Dr. Doug Fisher

Dr. Doug Fisher on StudySync

CURRICULUM VISION: SUPPORT. BUILD CAPACITY. EMPOWER.