MDE C & I Listserv

The MDE has a new C & I listserv where they send “blasts” out very often about new CCSS and PARCC resources, materials,  policy updates, and MDE CCSS trainings.    This listserv is open to anyone and is the MDE’s new way of increasing a direct line of communication between teachers, administrators and other interested parties.

Pease use this link to sign up:
http://fyt.mde.k12.ms.us/subscribe/subscribe_curriculum.html

Please use this link to access their calendar of upcoming trainings:
https://districtaccess.mde.k12.ms.us/curriculumandInstruction/Lists/Calendar/calendar.aspx

MDE on iTunes-U

Mississippi iTunes U

Welcome to the Mississippi Department of Education on iTunes U! This service offers an additional way to access the valuable educational content available from the MDE. Mississippi on iTunes U brings together teaching and professional development resources for educators.

You must have iTunes to view this site.  If you don’t have iTunes,  you can download the free iTunes application for Windows or Mac.

I recently viewed a webinar called CCSS for ELA: Organization of the Standards. In this 35 minute presentation, a convenient graphic organizer is shared, as well as updates regarding the Curriculum and Instruction page at the MDE.

The presenter points out how the Common Core Standards are organized.

• At the top are the Common Core Standards.
• These are subdivided into Strands: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language
• Next are the Anchor Standards – what students need to know and be able to do. For example, Anchor Standard 1 is Read Closely, and Anchor Standard 10 is Cite Evidence.
• Finally, these are divided into Grade Specific Standards

Throughout the entire CCSS, we are going to see that text complexity increases, students will increase their use of informational text, and writing is tied to reading material.