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CCRS Level D – Newsela “Tough Times” Article
"Newsela 'Tough Times' Article" is part of a series of standards-aligned sample ELA activities that you can use with your students to make connections between their schoolwork (college and career) and the community. In all cases, you can use these activities as is, or you could modify to best fit the needs of your learners. Read More
CCRS Level B – Newsela “Fear” Article
"Newsela 'Fear' Article" is part of a series of standards-aligned sample ELA activities that you can use with your students to make connections between their schoolwork (college and career) and the community. In all cases, you can use these activities as is, or you could modify to best fit the needs of your learners. Read More
Showing Evidence Using Academic Language with Low Literacy Learners
Participants in this workout practice scaffolding a lesson in which literacy level learners can use academic language to show evidence in a text. Read More
America in Class
America in Class offers standards-aligned history and literature lessons. Lesson topics include major events, movements, and themes from specific time periods in American history. In addition to the lessons, teachers can access other primary and secondary sources for class discussion. The materials are adaptable, but are more appropriate for GED and Adult Diploma students. Read More
Playing with Text Dependent Questions
Participants in this ELA Teacher Workout strengthen an existing set of text questions to more strongly align to one or more CCR Standards and create questions that inspire readers to engage with text and fellow students. Read More
The Times in Plain English
This website contains free "Plain English Version" articles about current world and national news or events. All of the articles are edited by Arthur Schiff and grade-leveled according to Flesch-Kincaid. In addition to articles, the website offers Tips for Teachers, which provides text-dependent questions. Read More
Achieve the Core – ELA Standards
The site describes itself as "full of free content designed to help educators understand and implement the Common Core and other college and career ready standards." Resources include CCRS-aligned lessons, activities, assessments and more, but also materials to support educators in understanding the standards and the content. Read More
Suggested Question Stems & Frames for Close Reading
Use these CCRS reading question stems and frames to create text-dependent questions for use in close reading of texts. These stems and questions will also help prepare students for new NRS tests. Read More
Text-Dependent Question Stems & Frames to Reach CCRS Reading Anchors (Levels A-B)
How can we ask text-dependent questions (TDQs) at lower levels, when students' English language and literacy is still emerging? This handout offers a range of question stems and TDQ ideas for teachers at low-levels (CCRS A & B). Read More
ReadWorks.org
ReadWorks provides a large, high-quality library of curated nonfiction and literary articles, along with reading comprehension and vocabulary lessons, formative assessments, and teacher guidance. Through this website teachers can access curriculum, lesson plans, and free training. Read More