Systems of Professional Learning
ELA Module 1: Focus on Instructional Shifts
- Deepen understanding of the CCS-ELA and the implications of the standards for instruction; i.e., foundational reading in early grades, and literacy across the content areas.
- Explore key instructional practices and engage with the standards through video analysis and interactive activities.
- Develop aligned lessons using a lesson planning template that is consistent with CSDE’s sample lessons and resources.
- Use the EQuIP rubric and evidence guides for planning instruction that aligns with the CCS-ELA & Literacy standards.
- Collaboratively plan for sharing key components of Module 2 within schools and districts.
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
Math Module 1: Focus on Practice Standards
- Gain an initial understanding of the CCS-Math and the embedded changes and instructional shifts.
- Explore all eight of the Standards for Mathematical Practice and identified how they are related.
- Explore how practices can be clustered and examine the reasons why Practice 1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them and Practice 6: Attend to precision are considered the two “umbrella” standards that describe the habits of mind of successful mathematical thinkers.
- Identify evidence of the practices, with focus on Practices 1 and 6, in CCS-aligned mathematics tasks.
- Discuss descriptors for all eight practices, and create formal grade level descriptions for Practice 1 and Practice 6.
- Explore how specific instructional strategies (e.g., questioning, engaging students in mathematical discourse, and requiring multiple representations) can help students meet major learning goals.
- Identify relevant resources for implementing the CCS-Math and create a peer support network.
- Identify ways in which coaches will share information with teachers and provide support as teachers make changes to their instructional practice.
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
ELA Module 2: Supporting all Students in Close Reading, Academic Language, and Text-based Discussion
- Become familiar with components of the backward design process for CCS-ELA & Literacy units and lessons.
- Know elements of a high quality CCS-ELA & Literacy unit or lesson.
- Become skillful in creating sequences of text-dependent questions, including those related to academic language.
- Deepen understanding of the relationship between reading and text-based discussion and know how to incorporate discussion into lesson design.
- Understand the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and learn some strategies for incorporating UDL into lesson design.
- Collaboratively plan for sharing key components of Module 2 within schools and districts
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
Math Module 2: Focus on Content Standards
- Strengthen working relationships with peer Core Standards Coaches across their region.
- Deepen their understanding of the practice standards specified in the CCS-Math through sharing of implementation experiences.
- Examine the implications of the language of the content standards for teaching and learning.
- Identify CCS-aligned tasks that combine high-level content with mathematical practices.
- Identify and adapt high-level tasks that combine high-level content with the practice standards.
- Analyze the progression of topics in the content standards both within and across grade levels.
- Deepen their understanding of the potential of the CCS-Math to change mathematics teaching and learning.
- Gain understanding of some of the challenges involved in implementing the CCS-Math.
- Explore strategies for supporting teachers as they make changes in their classroom practice.
- Make plans for next steps.
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
ELA Module 3: Supporting all Students in Writing
- Examine the purposes and genres of writing and the vertical progression of writing standards in the CCS.
- Understand how writing is incorporated and taught in CCS-aligned units and lessons.
- Learn research-based practices for writing to text.
- Understand the use of routine writing tasks as formative assessment.
- Be able to support students in CCS-aligned writing tasks.
- Learn how research skills and processes are integrated throughout the CCS and are developed in CSS aligned units and lessons.
- Collaboratively plan for sharing key components of Module 3 within schools and districts.
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
Math Module 3: Focus on Teaching and Learning
- Strengthen working relationships with peer Core Standards Coaches across their region
- Deepen their understanding of the Practice and Content Standards specified in the CCS-Math through sharing of implementation experiences
- Articulate a common understanding of UDL
- Identify the importance of incorporating UDL practices into lessons
- Describe the alignment of instructional practices and learning expectations of the CCS-Math
- Plan for implementing UDL strategies within classroom lessons
- Assess progress towards learning outcomes using a variety of formative assessment strategies
- Explore strategies for supporting teachers as they make changes in their classroom practice
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
ELA Module 4: Designing and Aligning CCS ELA & Literacy-aligned Instruction and Assessment
- Review and extend their knowledge of unit and lesson design with alignment to the Connecticut Core Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy and the three instructional shifts.
- Begin to build and examine short model curriculum units
- Examine and develop learning goals aligned to the CCS-ELA &Literacy
- Understand the use of key understandings and guiding questions to inform instruction and performance tasks
- Introduce and practice the use of the Cognitive Rigor Matrix
- Examine performance tasks and rubrics and develop aligned performance tasks
- Understand how learning progressions and formative assessment are integrated into lesson design
- Practice reviewing a unit and conducting a structured conversation around unit design
- Collaboratively plan for sharing the key components of this module within their school and/or district
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
Math Module 4: Focus on Learning Design
- Create effective learning targets for use in planning lessons
- Identify the elements that need to be considered when designing and implementing CCS-Math lessons
- Design and/or modify CCS-Math lessons in order to meet the needs of all students
- Explore shifts in classroom practice that maximize students' opportunities to learn at a high level
- Consider meaningful questions to pose to teachers on their lesson design
- Explore strategies for supporting teachers as they make changes in their classroom practice
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
ELA Module 5: Looking at Student Work and Engaging Students in the Learning Process
- Learn and practice protocols for collaboratively looking at student work and using data to inform instruction.
- Learn the importance of student goal setting and feedback and become familiar with related practices.
- Know protocols, practices, and strategies for student engagement in CCS ELA & Literacy-aligned instruction.
- Better understand how to support English Language Learners in CCS ELA & Literacy instruction.
- Understand the purpose of Connecticut Classroom Look-Fors and use it to observe CCS-aligned lessons.
- Review and expand knowledge of principles, protocols, and strategies for working with adult learners around topics related to CCS ELA &Literacy.
- Collaboratively plan for sharing key components of all modules in CT Systems of Professional Learning within schools and districts.
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |
Math Module 5: Focus on Sustaining Change
- Strengthen working relationships with peer Core Standards Coaches across their region
- Deepen their understanding of the CCS-Math through sharing of implementation experiences
- Align types of teacher support to identified teacher needs
- Examine in more depth the Shifts for Classroom Practice from Module 4 and explore ways to support teachers in the implementation of these shifts
- Explore strategies for conducting coaching observations and options for data collection
- Identify strategies and resources for supporting and sustaining change
- Identify opportunities for ongoing teacher professional development and teacher collaboration
| Materials: Grades K-5 | Materials: Grades 6-12 |