• An Overview of the Core Proficiency Series Grades 6-12

    The Developing Core Proficiencies Units are an integrated set of English Language Arts/Literacy units spanning grades 6-12. The series is comprised of four 3-week units at each grade level that provide direct instruction on a set of literacy proficiencies at the heart of the Common Core State Standards: reading closely and researching in order to develop and communicate evidence-based claims and arguments about complex texts and topics.  The units model instruction and provide flexible materials for teachers to use and adapt for a variety of curricular contexts. 

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Six: Reading Closely

    This unit develops students' abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors' perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about human nature.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Six: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts. These units are part of the Developing Core Proficiencies Program.

    This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of the Commencement Address Steve Jobs delivered at Stanford University on June, 2005.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Seven: Reading Closely

    This unit develops students' abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors' perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about human nature.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Seven: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts. This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of Cesar Chavez’s 1984 California Commonwealth Club Address.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Eight: Reading Closely

    This unit develops students’ abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors’ perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about immigration through Ellis Island.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Eight: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of three texts: Ain’t I a Woman?, by Sojourner Truth; Equal Rights for Women, by Shirley Chisholm; and Wimbledon Has Sent Me a Message: I’m Only a Second-Class Champion, by Venus Williams.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grades Nine & Ten: Reading Closely

    This unit develops students’ abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors’ perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about United States education.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Nine: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of an excerpted text from Plato’s Apology.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Nine: Making Evidence-Based Claims Literary Technique

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims about literary technique through activities based on a close reading of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.”

    Comments (-1)

  • Grades Nine and Ten: Researching to Deepen Understanding

    Researching to Deepen Understanding Unit: Research Topic Repository - Technology
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Ten: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of the Nobel Peace Prize Speeches of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Ten: Making Evidence-Based Claims Literary Technique

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students' abilities to make evidence-based claims about literary technique through activities based on a close reading of Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death" and Robert Frost's "Home Burial."

    Comments (-1)

  • Grades Eleven and Twelve: Reading Closely Promised Land

    This unit develops students’ abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors’ perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about the separation of religion and government in the United States.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grades Eleven and Twelve: Reading Closely - Lay Down All My Joys

    This unit develops students’ abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors’ perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about the Civil War.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Eleven: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of the first chapter of W.E.B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Eleven: Making Evidence-Based Claims Literary Technique

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students' abilities to make evidence-based claims about literary technique through activities based on a close reading of Louise Erdrich's "The Red Convertible" and Tim O'Brien's "On the Rainy River."

    Comments (-1)

  • Grades Eleven and Twelve: Researching to Deepen Understanding

    Researching to Deepen Understanding Unit: Research Topic Repository - Food
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Twelve: Reading Closely

    This unit develops students’ abilities to read closely for textual details and compare authors’ perspectives through an examination of a series of texts about human nature.
    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Twelve: Making Evidence-Based Claims

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students’ abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of President Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address and Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2011 APEC Address.

    Comments (-1)

  • Grade Twelve: Making Evidence-Based Claims Literary Technique

    Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts.  This unit develops students' abilities to make evidence-based claims about literary technique through activities based on a close reading of Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love."

    Comments (-1)