Avoid "analysis paralysis" and just get started! Now that most states have adopted the new Common Core State Standards, the next major challenge is to simplify and implement them by 2014. That is why it is important to begin this work now. Joe Crawford, Milken Award-winning educator and author of Using Power Standards to Build an Aligned Curriculum, shares his proven process for building a viable local curriculum based on the CCSS. Readers will find: A system for creating local standards from the CCSS Methods for connecting the common, formative assessments to quarterly instructional objectives Ways to scaffold learning expectations Examples taken from districts where CCSS is currently implemented Included are helpful charts and graphs plus access to Internet-based software for mapping the CCSS to curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Schools cannot continue to do what they have always done and expect a different result. This book explains how to facilitate learning for all students while taking advantage of the new culture, technology, and norms of today′s learning environment.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Karen Young Preface Acknowledgements About the Author partners4results Software Availability 1. Overview of CCSS and Associated Leadership Issues Chapter Expectations Aciton Steps Leadership Challenges for Implementing CCSS What Are Standards? Develop and Use a Standards-Based Curriculum Align the Curriculum Think of Content as a Means to a Performance End Staff Development Issues Build Undersanding of the CCSS Use What Has Already Been Developed as a Basis for Moving Forward Defining and Creating Local CCSS Understand Local CCSS (Power Standards) How to Read These Samples What Are Instructional Objectives? Why Are Instructional Objectives So Important? System Thinking What About Using National Assessments as Formative Assessments? What About Accountability? What About Using the Data? What About Monitoring? System Thinking Summarized Process Summary Process Checklist 2. Curriculum Issues and a National Curriculum Model Chapter Expectations Action Steps What Is a Curriculum? Consider Your Options for Defining Curriculum A New Model for a National Curriculum New National Model Defined Process Summary Process Checklist 3. The Development and Use of Local CCSS, Quarterly Instructional Objectives, and Common Formative Assessments Chapter Expectations Action Steps Build Local CCSS Design Quarterly Instructional Objectives Develop Common Formative Assessments Addressing Formative Assessments Within the Assessment Development Cycle Address Issues in Creating Common Formative Assessments Designing Local Assessments Process Summary Process Checklist 4. A Sample K-12 Curriculum Chapter Expectations Action Steps Read and Understand the New Model Accept the Realities of a Sample From Several Districts How to Read These Samples Sample K-12 ELA Curriculum Sample K-12 Math Curriculum Process Summary Process Checklist 5. The Journey Ahead Chapter Expectations Action Steps Summary of Issues Some Specific Issues Current Reactions Final Thoughts Resource A: Collated Feedback on CCSS Work Resource B: Suggested Forms for Developing Local CCSS (Power Standards) and Instructional Objectives and Feedback Forms B1: Standards to Local Standards B2: Follow-Up Process Guidelines for Local CCSS B3: Quarterly Instructional Objectives, Critical Attributes B4: Follow-Up Process Guidelines: Instructional Objectives B5: Initial Distribution Feedback B6: Local CCSS/Instructional Objectives Quarterly Feedback B7: Quarterly Assessments Feedback B8: End-of-Year Feedback B9: Curriculum Audit: What the Research Tells Us References and Suggested Readings Index