The Common Core State Standards expectationswere created to ensure that all children become

literate individuals. Students need to read a variety of texts in many subject areas.

• Demonstrating independence - Students read and understandtexts, ask relevant questions about texts, construct arguments,and use a wide range of vocabulary. They become self-directedlearners and gain information from a variety of resources.

• Building strong content knowledge - Students set purposefor reading. They listen attentively and share information. Theybecome proficient in new areas through research and study.

• Responding to varying demands of audience, task, purpose and discipline - Students understand that they needto use different tones in conveying messages for different audiences in their writing and in speaking, and that there are different ways of proving evidence depending on the subject.For example, in science we use experimental evidence, documentary for social studies.

• Comprehending and critiquing - students are open minded,question, assess and reason. They work diligently to assess whatthe author is saying.

• Valuing evidence - Students provide evidence that supportstheir own viewpoints making the reasoning clear to the audience.

• Using technology strategically - Students use technology toenhance reading, writing, speaking and listening and integratewhat they learn online with what they learn about throughbooks and life. (research).

• Understanding and respecting other perspectives and cultures - Students evaluate other points of view critically andconstructively through reading classic and contemporary worksof literature representing a variety of periods, cultures and worldviews.

Based on what we know about the Common Core State Standards, how do teachers choose

appropriate materials for the classroom?

The Common Core State Standards state that:All students, beginning in kindergarten, need to gain exposure

to a wide range of texts and tasks as they read increasingly

more complex texts through the grades.

At a curricular or instructional level, texts within, and across

grade levels need to be selected around topics or themes that

systematically develop the knowledge base of students.

Provide your students with rich classroomlibraries that contain a variety of high quality

literature and informational texts at different reading levels. Meet the needs

of all students as they develop literacy skills and become more proficient readers, writers,

speakers and listeners!

Anchor standards K-5: Reading Literature and Informational TextsKey ideas and details

• Determine the meaning of specific text and find evidence within the text to support conclusions.

• Determine central ideas and themes. Summarize details and main idea.

• Analyze how and why individuals, events and ideas developthroughout the book.

Craft and structure• Interpret words and phrases in text and analyze how word

choices shape meaning.

OVER

Understanding the

Common Core State StandardsTeachers: this is nothing new. You have done this all along!

The Common Core State standards are K-12 grade specific standards that define end of the year expectations and the cumulative progression of knowledge that will enable students to be prepared or college and career.

CCSS defines the expectations of what students should know by the time they are ready to graduate high school. They are NOT meant to define how teachers should teach.

Whatever the theme or topic, the bottom line is this:Students need to read and prove that they understand what they are reading.

We need to find books kids WANT to read on content they can apply to what they are learning about in school. Children need to make text connections to their worlds!

• Analyze text structure including sentences, paragraphs, stanzas,chapters and scenes and how they relate to each other.

• Assess how point of view and author's purpose shape the content and style of text.

Integration of knowledge and ideas• Integrate and evaluate content presented in many different

medias and formats as well as in words.

• Evaluate the argument and specific claims in text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance of the evidence.

• Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes and topics. Compare the author’s take.

Range of reading and level of text complexity• Read and comprehend complex literary and informational

texts independently and proficiently.

There are books for every topic and theme on many different levels of difficulty.

If you are overwhelmed and do not know where to begin, the Classroom Library

Company will make it easy!

The NGA center and CCSSO state:Within a grade level, there should be an adequate number of

titles on a single topic that would allow children to study that

topic for a sustained period. The knowledge children have

learned about particular topics in early grade levels should

then be expanded and developed in subsequent grade levels

to ensure an increasingly deeper understanding of these

topics. Children in the upper elementary grades will generally

be expected to read these texts independently and reflect

on them in writing. However, children in the early grades

(particularly K-2) should participate in rich, structured

conversations with an adult in response to the written texts

that are read aloud, orally comparing and contrasting as

well as analyzing and synthesizing, in the manner called for

by the Standards.

Based on the Common Core Curriculum Standards, teachers need to find exemplary

books with a wide range of text types includingliterature, stories, drama, poetry, literary

nonfiction, historical, scientific and technical texts. Through extensive reading, students will gain

familiarity with various text structures and elements, becoming well rounded thinkers

and learners. The curriculum may vary from grade to grade and school district to school district, however, one thing remains constant: Students and teachers are getting

information from books.

Classroom libraries are a vital part of the learning process. They are the foundation and building blocks of every subject learned in school. It is important for schools to have an organized, cohesive, cost-effective way

to purchase materials and share texts from grade to grade.

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