Two new resources for Mathematics Educators have been posted under the 'Transition' resources tab: Deeper Insight into Instruction, and Where to Focus: Math Shifts, Key Fluencies, and Major Work of Grade. The first set of resources provide deeper insight into the instructional shifts required by the math standards. The second document provides guidance about which topics constitute the major work of each grade.

RIDE has posted two new resources for ELA/Literacy Educators under the 'Transition' resources tab: a Guide to Creating Questions for Close Analytic Reading, and several close reading exemplars.  Text Dependent Questions are identified within the CCSS as a key skill for students: rather than asking students questions about their prior knowledge or experience, the standards expect students to wrestle with text dependent questions: questions that can only be answered by referring explicitly back to the text in front of them.  The Guide provides questions to help guide thinking on development of text dependent questions.  The close reading exemplars intend to model how teachers can support their students as they undergo the kind of careful reading the Common Core State Standards require.  The exemplars provided are for Grades 6-12.

David Coleman, lead writer for the Common Core State Standards, is coming to Rhode Island on Wednesday, February 29, 2012!

RIDE and RIBGHE have coordinated opportunities for David Coleman to speak to members of the community and share his experience and perspective.  In each session, Mr. Coleman will focus on topics relevant to his audience to support our transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).  One session is offered to district and higher education leadership, the other for educators from K-12 and higher education.

For more information on the times and locations of these sessions, view the PDF flier.

To RSVP to the applicable session:    https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DavidColeman-February29-RSVP

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has issued an invitation to educators to participate in a new series of webinars to support all states in Common Core State Standards implementation.

The first webinar will take place on Thursday (January 26), from 2 - 3 p.m. The purpose is to share tools and resources to support teachers and districts on text complexity, which is the linchpin of the ELA standards. The webinar will feature Sue Pimentel, a member of the Common Core State Standards English language arts writing committee, as well as representatives from the Kansas and Louisiana Departments of Education. All materials and a recording of the webinar will be available on the CCSSO website after the event. Anyone is welcome to register and attend this free webinar.

CCSSO will be hosting additional Common Core implementation webinars throughout the year. The following webinars have been scheduled, and a complete schedule will be posted shortly:
o   February 23, 2 p.m.: Communications with Different Audiences - CCSSO will release a series of customizable one-page handouts to communicate the Common Core State Standards quickly and easily with district leaders, legislators, and other audiences.
o   March 22, 2 p.m.: Engaging Higher Education
To register for the January 26 event, please visit the CCSSO webinar series home page, at: https://ccsso.webex.com/ccsso/onstage/g.php?p=22&t=m.
Recordings of webinars will also be posted to the CCSSO home page after each event.