School Leader's Guide to the Common Core: Achieving Results Through Rigor and Relevance

Implement the Common Core State Standards with downloadable reproducibles, lists of resources to support the many topics affected, discussion questions, and relevant information to share with your colleagues. Explore the background of the standards and the changes that must take place to meet them. The authors offer five principles for school leaders on effective coaching and feedback.

Benefits:

• Understand the CCSS and your role in implementing them into the English language arts and mathematics curricula.
• Gain tips and strategies to support teachers, and create long-term professional learning as schools adopt the CCSS.
• Select the best assessment tools to study and track student progress.
• Access reproducibles, discussion questions, and other resources to support CCSS implementation and maintenance.
• Use models of classroom observations to foster collaborative conversations about teaching and learning.
• Learn and apply guidelines for effective coaching and feedback strategies.

Contents:
Chapter 1: The Shift to the Common Core: Transitioning or Transforming Your School
Chapter 2: The Shift in Implementation: Sustaining Professional Learning
Chapter 3: The Shift in Instruction: Attaining Rigor and Real-World Relevance
Chapter 4: The Shift in Coaching and Feedback: Leading With Guiding Principles
Chapter 5: The Shift in Assessing Results: Informing All Stakeholders

James A. Bellanca is nationally recognized as a practical 21st century skills and deeper learning innovator who provides educators with the how-to knowledge to make project- and problem-based learning ready to go on the next school day. He is a senior fellow with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and editor of their innovative online P21Blogazine. He is the 2013 recipient of the Malcolm Knowles Award for lifetime contribution to the field of self-directed learning from the International Society for Self-Directed Learning.

With his extensive experience as a classroom English and language arts teacher, alternative school director, professional developer, intermediate service center director, business owner, and not-for-profit executive, Jim has developed expertise for transforming mandates, such as the Common Core State Standards, into practical classroom tools that enrich instruction and engage students.

Robin J. Fogarty, PhD, has trained educators throughout the world in curriculum, instruction, and assessment strategies. She has taught at all levels, from kindergarten to college, served as an administrator, and consulted with state departments and ministries of education in the United States, Puerto Rico, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Great Britain, Singapore, Korea and the Netherlands.

Dr. Fogarty has written articles for Educational Leadership, Phi Delta Kappan, and the Journal of Staff Development. She is author of Brain-Compatible Classrooms, Ten Things New Teachers Need to Succeed, and Literacy Matters. She is coauthor of How to Integrate the Curricula, The Adult Learner, A Look at Transfer, Close the Achievement Gap, Twelve Brain Principles That Make the Difference, Nine Best Practices That Make the Difference, and Informative Assessment. Her work also includes a leadership series called From Staff Room to Classroom.

Brian M. Pete comes from a family of educators--college professors, school superintendents, teachers, and teachers of teachers. He has a rich background in professional development and has worked with adult learners in districts and educational agencies throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

He has an eye for the "teachable moment" and the words to describe what he sees as skillful teaching. He delivers dynamic, humor-filled sessions that energize the audiences with engaging strategies that transfer into immediate and practical on-site applications.

Brian is coauthor of From Staff Room to Classroom, From Staff Room to Classroom II, Twelve Principles That Make the Difference, Nine Best Practices That Make the Difference, The Adult Learner, and A Look at Transfer.

Rebecca L. Stinson is recognized as one of the most respected educators in Chicago. Her extensive background of over 20 years in education has equipped her with dynamic instructional leadership abilities. Her roles include teacher, educational planner, and principal in the Chicago Public School System (CPS), where she has worked for the past several years to inspire teachers to be the best that they can be.

Rebecca was selected to open new public schools in two of Chicago's most underserved and underperforming communities. She was later recognized for achieving high student scores in reading and mathematics, which put these schools in the top 7 percent of schools that were accelerating. Rebecca received the 2013 Principal Achievement Award for providing exceptional leadership.