Week 3 - Assignment 2

Reading over the 4th Grade Sample Lesson Plan in the P21 Common Core Toolkit was an eyeopener. Previously, I had viewed the Common Core as a rather rigid set of standards that would be difficult to implement with a wide range of students. However, after reviewing the aforementioned plan, I realized that with a little creativity teachers can effectively insure multiple entry points for tasks that would otherwise be tedious or difficult for ELLs. The fact that the activities presented were both aligned with Common Core and appealing to students with multiple intelligences shows how these standards can be applied in a manner that is applicable to students who may have varying interests and skill sets. In terms of evaluation, as we learned, the QRI-5 and Running Records are important tools that should be used. In addition, teachers should make use of informal assessments throughout the day or keep basic teacher journals so that they can constantly update and adapt their teaching methods.