Common Core State Standards: Options for Professional Learning

Author: Rick Phelan
Published: 09.11.13

The Common Core State Standards call for significant shifts in teaching and learning. The basis for these shifts are important to help students become college and career ready and prepare them for their futures.

Working to guide these shifts, districts have developed transition plans to move from California’s 1997 Standards to full adoption of the Common Core State Standards in the 2014-15 school year. Acknowledging the need for Common Core State Standards professional development, educators are pursuing many avenues to learn about content, instructional materials, teaching strategies, technology integration, and assessment.

The Sonoma County Office of Education offers a wide range of face-to- face classes that are publicized through the SCOE website.

Along with these formal class offerings, educators can also choose from a growing array of webinars and online classes. Electronic materials in this format offer 24/7/365 access to learning about the Common Core. Resources can be effectively used by groups of educators at faculty meetings, at grade-level team gatherings, and during common planning time. The resources can also be used to follow-through with individual learning plans.

I’ve assembled this list of possibilities for anytime/anywhere learning about the Common Core Standards.

Introduction to the Common Core
CA Common Core Overview
Common Core State Standards: Elementary School
Common Core State Standards: Middle School
Common Core State Standards: High School

English Language Arts
From the Page to the Classroom: Implementing CCSS - ELA
Common Core Video Series
How to do a Close Reading
Depth of Knowledge with Karin Hess
Close Reading, Grade 10
Close Reading, Grade 4
Close Reading, Grade 9
Close Reading, Grade 11
Evidence Based Writing, Grade 10
Close Reading - Social Studies, Grade 6
Close Reading - Vocab Focus, Grade 1
Scaffolded Writing, Grade 10
Close Reading, US History
Bringing Close Reading & Accountable Talk into an Interactive Read Aloud