3F. Unpacking the Standards and Selecting Common Core-Aligned Texts for the High School ELA Classroom

Description: In this session participants will learn how to choose the appropriate text to meet the Common Core Standards for text complexity and participants will engage in unpacking certain ELA standards and begin working to forge connections between what students know and what they need to be able to demonstrate per the CCSS. We are tasked with creating meaningful, relevant performance standards to help students of all levels achieve at their peak. Teaching in Chicago Public Schools, we know that the task is often daunting and roadblocks and mandates seem to throw us off track at every turn. Our aim is to devise work for students that respects their cultural background and diverse ability levels while scaling up students' intellectual skills to reflect their true academic competency.

Presenters: John Kuijper has been teaching English in CPS for 12 years, 5 in grades 7-8 and 7 in high school. Prior to his Chicago experience John spent 7 years developing and teaching college English Composition courses. He currently serves as a teacher leader at Bronzeville Scholastic Institute, a small school on Chicago's south side, where he serves as English Department Chair and Junior Team Leader. He achieved National Board Certification in 2007 and has been mentoring teacher candidates since then, as well as serving as a scorer for NBPTS.

Allison Dodson has been teaching high school English inside and outside of Chicago Public Schools for the past 10 years. She is currently an 11th grade English teacher at Marshall High School. She is an NBCT and has worked with the Chicago Teacher’s Union on the creation of common core units to share with teachers all over Chicago. 

John Boggs, NBCT graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor of arts in English education in 2000. He has a masters of arts in writing from DePaul University, and he is pursuing another masters in literacy from Northeastern Illinois University. He started his teaching career in 2000 working in Dunnellon, Florida, but started working for Chicago Public Schools in 2002, where he taught at Farragut Career Academy. After Farragut, he moved to Crane Tech. Prep and is currently working at Consuella B. York Alternative High School, which is an alternative school located within the Cook County Department of Corrections. He achieved National Board Certification in 2005.