Iowa CoreAlignment of Instructional Content to the Iowa Core

Sue UpdegraffKeystone AEA

TARGET: Complete INITIAL alignment of

local content with CORE Essential Concepts and SkillsJuly 1, 2012, grades 9-122013-14, grades K-8

(from p. 4 of Self-Study and Implementation Handbook)2

4 Alignment Sessions

1. Needs Assessment

2. Planning

3. Implementation

4. Evaluation

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Professional Learning Communities

(PLCs)or

Collaborative Learning Communities

(CLCs)

are the structure to get the work done.4

Why study Alignment?

Iowa Core, April 2008

Outcome 4 Alignment of Content, Instruction, Assessment

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Outcome 4

Use data to increase the degree of alignment of each and every student’s enacted curriculum to Iowa Core

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First FocusUsing summative self-reports to examine alignment of the enacted curriculum to the intended Iowa Core

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Alignment will continue over a number of years and include:

Assessment

Instructional Practices

Instructional Resources

Continuous Evaluation

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ResearchAs alignment between what is taught and what is assessed increases, so, too, do student outcomes for ALL students (Gamoran and Cohen)

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School ImprovementK-12 curriculum must be aligned and must

match state expectations. (Learning Points Associates, 2006)

Explicit focused efforts should be made to ensure alignment of written, taught, tested curricula. (Wallberg, 2007)

Successful students have experienced curriculum aligned with standards and assessments.

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School ImprovementLesson planning and session delivery are the

two places where nonalignment takes place. (Lezotte & McKee, 2002)

Successful school districts align curriculum and instruction between grades. (Zavadsky, 2006)

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In district team, discuss potential implications of this Outcome for:

Practices of teachers

Professional development

District and school priorities

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UNIVERSAL CONSTRUCTSAre these student learning goals?

Complex Communication

Creativity

Productivity and Accountability

Flexibility and Adaptability

Collaboration

Critical Thinking13

What is alignment?Intended content

Enacted instruction

Assessedassessment

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Two State mandates about WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN

1. Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks – broad

2. Iowa Core (includes Common Core) – more detail

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The Relationship

Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks

Iowa Core Curriculum

Primary Focus Broad, general statements to assess student accomplishments.

More in-depth. Details along with Essential Concepts and Skills. Sets higher learning expectations for all students.

Origination Source Iowa Testing Service Collaborative Writing teams assembled by the DE

Content Addressed Literacy, Math, Science Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, 21st Century Skills

Grade Levels 3-12 K-12

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How the Cores Compare

The RelationshipHigh School Math Example

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Common Core Standard

Iowa Core Content Iowa Core

Use the rules of probability to compute probabilities of compound events in a uniform probability model.

Standard: Students can understand and apply a variety of math concepts.

Benchmark: Students can understand and apply concepts in probability and statistics.

Understand and apply the basic ideas of probability.

Essential Concept/Skill: Understands and applies basic ideas of probability.

Alignment Definition

The extent to which and how well all policy elements (content, instruction, assessment) work together to guide instruction and student learning.

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Alignment is anongoing process

The purpose is to determine the extent to which content, instruction, and assessment are in agreement and facilitate student learning

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Alignment provides:

Clear message of goals/outcomes

Consistency

Data about progress

Data for improvement

Fair assessment practices20

Rationale for Alignment

1. Determine WHAT to teach, teach it, assess it

2. If #1 is not done, we are unfair to students

3. Alignment reduces confusion, improves opportunity to learn, improves outcomes for each and every student

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Group DiscussionWhere is your district on the following?

1.Status of local curriculum

2.Understanding and relationship of:

intended

enacted

assessed

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Principles for Alignment Work

1. Once alignment is prioritized, process of developing and implementing practices can begin

2. Focus on deep content knowledge

3. Ongoing training and support for alignment increases quality of work

4. Gradually introducing successively more complex alignment over time will increase skill development

5. Understanding of measurement and data collection for alignment promotes continuous improvement

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What is the work?Alignment of enacted to

intended

Topical first; later by complexity and emphasis

Using alignment data for decision-making

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Foundational Curriculum Terms

Using the Foundational Curriculum Terms, create a framework on Post-It paper (i.e., how the terms work together or are logically organized for your district)

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Explain your framework to others present

In district group, discuss similarities/differences

Make any adjustments

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