Love them or hate them, the Common Core State Standards are beginning to exert a powerful influence on the way teachers think about and teach literacy. In a special package of stories out today, the Education Week staff reports on how the standards—and other key dynamics—are shifting the literacy landscape.
Click here for the overview to the section. There, you will also find an index to the seven other stories we’ve done for you. (Lucky for those of you who haven’t yet activated the online portion of your subscription: The special section is available to you online as part of a website “open house” that starts today and runs through Friday.)
We take a look at how the the new standards were shaped by—and in some cases, overlooked—recent research. We explore how the common core is spreading literacy instruction across the disciplines, and how the needs of English-learners are influencing the redesign of language instruction for all students.
The package includes a story about how the tilt toward more nonfiction reading and argumentative writing are sparking classroom changes, and in some quarters, deep concerns. And it examines a renewed emphasis on connecting reading to writing, both to enhance reading comprehension and to build writing skills. Our team also offers you a look at key federal and state policy changes in literacy, such as the recent priority states have placed on making sure more students are reading proficiently by 3rd grade.