CCR Standards Resources
CCRS ELA Resources
CCRS ELA Lesson/Unit Planning Template
This standards-aligned lesson plan template is designed to be used to incorporate the 3 CCRS ELA shifts into unit/lesson plans. This template also provides opportunities to reflect on all the major content standards used in Minnesota’s ABE system and other important components of adult literacy instruction.
CCRS ELA Standards
The College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRS) are a central component of the content standards being implemented in Minnesota ABE. The CCRS is divided into two sections: English Language Arts and Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics.
Navigating the CCRS Tools – ELA
This document provides an overview of the tools to support CCRS Implementation.
A New Home
This beginning ESL ELA Lesson/Unit Plan and accompanying evaluation tools covers a lesson on housing.
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.
All Star 2 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is McGraw-Hill's All Star 2.
Beyond True Stories – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Beyond True Stories.
Birth Order and Characterization
This CCRS Level C ELA Lesson/Unit Plan focuses on helping students to discover how birth order affects personality and behavior. This plan was originally completed by a participant in the 2017/18 CCRS Implementation Cohort.
Building Academic Vocabulary Knowledge with Semantic Maps
Participants in this workout will consider the types of knowledge needed to thoroughly know a word and use semantic maps to build understanding of academic vocabulary.
CCRS and the Reading Foundational Skills
These resources describe Minnesota's combination of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) + CCRS Reading Foundational Skills 1-4, at Levels K-5. The result is a complete and clear sequence for teaching alphabetics and fluency to adult readers at Beginning and Intermediate levels.
CCRS in the ABE Classroom: Beginning ESL
This lesson focuses on Shift 2: Evidence; Reading Anchors 1, 3, and 7, Level A; Speaking and Listening Anchors 1 and 6, Level A; and Language Anchor 1. The learners: 1) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text, 2) Describe the connection between individuals, 3) Use illustrations to describe key ideas, 4) Speak audibly, express thoughts clearly and succinctly, 5) Follow rules for discussions & responding to comments/questions in an exchange, and 6) Understand and use question words, possessive pronouns, and the progressive verb tense.
CCRS in the ABE Classroom: Intermediate ESL
This lesson focuses on CCR standard Reading Anchor 1, Level C. The learners: 1) Identify and highlight evidence that supports their answers to text-dependent inference questions as evidenced by their responses to the questions and highlighting marks in the text, and 2) Accurately quote or paraphrase specific evidence from the text as evidenced by small group and whole class discussions.
CCRS in the ABE Classroom: Literacy Level ESL
This lesson focuses on Shift 1: Complexity; Reading Anchor 1, Levels A and B; Reading Anchor 2, Level A; Speaking and Listening Anchor 2, Level A; and Reading Foundations Anchors 1 and 2. The learners: 1) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text, 2) Ask and answer wh- questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, 3) Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text, 4) Confirm understanding of an oral text by asking and answering questions, and 5) Isolate the initial and final sounds of spoken words.
CCRS in the ABE Classroom: Low Beginning ESL
This lesson focuses on CCR Standard Reading Anchor 1, Level A, Speaking and Listening Anchor 1 and 6, and Language Anchor 1. The learners: 1) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text, 2) Speak audibly, express thoughts clearly and succinctly, 3) Follow rules for discussions & responding to comments/questions in an exchange, and 4) Understand and use question words.
CCRS Individualized Instruction Planning Tool – ELA
The CCRS Individualized Instruction Planning Tool is intended to help teachers in one-room school house or other individualized instruction settings plan and document standards-aligned experiences for all students. This document could be used as a teacher planning tool or as a tracking document in a student’s folder.
CCRS Level B – #StayHomeMN Flyer
"StayHomeMN Flyer" 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.
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.
CCRS Level C – Which Soap is Best?
"Which Soap is Best?" 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.
CCRS Level C – Coronavirus Myth vs. Fact
"Coronavirus Myth vs. Fact" 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.
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.
Challenger 6 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Challenger 6.
CollectEdNY.org – ELA
This site hosts resources in all content areas, including English Language Arts. Some of the materials are taken from K-12, but they are all framed and explored in the context of adult education classrooms. The site is divided into four main parts: 1. Resource Reviews Find free, quality teaching resources…
College Reading Essentials – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is College Reading Essentials from Townsend Press.
Common Core (K-12) ELA Standards
The College & Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) are based on the Common Core standards. Some teachers have found looking at the original Common Core ELA standards helpful.
Common Core Basics – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Common Core Basics.
Common Lit Website – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is the website Common Lit.
Comprehension Skills – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Steck-Vaughn's Comprehension Skills.
ELA CCRS Evaluation & High Value Action Alignment Tool
Use this tool to determine a resource’s (curriculum, text, lesson, book, etc.) level of CCRS alignment and to identify specific high-value actions to improve a resource’s alignment to the CCRS. Use the embedded note sheet to record your thoughts.
ELA CCRS Instructional Task Study Tool
Use this tool to guide small group analysis of student tasks and accompanying student work to identify how effectively they reflect the intended standards.
ELA CCRS Observation Tool
Use this tool to guide observations of standards-based instruction in classroom settings.
ELA CCRS-Aligned Lesson/Unit Planning Template
Use this tool to create units or lessons aligned to the Minnesota ABE State Standards (CCRS, ACES, Northstar).
ELA CCRS-Aligned Qualitative Analysis Rubric
Use this tool to measure the complexity of any informational text (slightly, moderately, very, or exceedingly complex). This rubric is to be used in conjunction with the ELA CCRS-Aligned Unit & Lesson Planning Template also found in this section.
Evaluating Free Text Resources
Participants in this workout evaluate a free online text resource for alignment to the ELA shifts of complexity, evidence and knowledge.
Finding Academic Vocabulary in a Text
Participants in this workout will analyze vocabulary in a text using 3 different online vocabulary tools, two aligned with the previous and current Academic Word Lists and one aligned with the first 2000 most common written words.
Grammar and Beyond, Level 1 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Grammar and Beyond, Level 1 by Cambridge University Press.
Great Writing 3: From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Great Writing 3: From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays from Cengage/National Geographic Learning. This Resource Evaluation was originally completed by a participant in the 2018/19 CCRS Implementation Cohort.
Health
This CCRS Level B ELA Lesson/Unit Plan focuses on students reading key health and medical language on over-the-counter medication with the goal of identifying appropriate treatments for everyday ailments. This plan was originally completed by a participant in the 2017/18 CCRS Implementation Cohort.
Jobs
This CCRS Level B ELA Lesson/Unit Plan focuses on students learning about different jobs in the US, along with the skills, requirements and benefits that come with them. This plan was originally completed by a participant in the 2017/18 CCRS Implementation Cohort.
Matching Readers with Texts and Tasks
Participants review how to interpret quantitative Lexile or ATOS scores of text complexity and apply text complexity measures to classroom situations to aid in choosing texts and activities.
Newsela – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Newsela.org.
Newsela Article
This pre-GED ELA Lesson/Unit Plan and accompanying evaluation tools cover an analysis of a Newsela article.
Observing Standards-in-Action: ELA Classroom Lesson
Bell-to-bell video of an ELA lesson focused on identifying a claim and evidence (52 minutes; ELA High-intermediate/low secondary ABE students).
Observing Standards-in-Action: ESL Classroom Lesson
Bell-to-bell video of ELA ESL lesson focused on the writing process and components of effective paragraphs (1 hour 2 minutes; Intermediate/advanced ESL students).
PBS Learning Media – ELA
This resource organizes video content from PBS around subjects, grade levels, and standards. You can even search by CCRS standard! This provider integrates with Google Classroom. If you use Google Classroom, connect with the provider to make it easy to share materials with your students.
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.
Promoting Collaborative Accountability to Text Evidence
Participants in this workout will collaborate with peers to practice and reflect on a routine to hold learners accountable for supporting text-dependent questions with evidence from the text.
Reading Vine Website – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is the website Reading Vine.
Revolutionary War
This GED ELA Lesson/Unit Plan and accompanying evaluation tools cover factors that led to the Revolutionary War.
Scoreboost Writing Across the Tests: Sentence Structure, Usage, and Mechanics – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Scoreboost Writing Across the Tests: Sentence Structure, Usage, and Mechanics.
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.
Six-Way Paragraphs in the Content Areas Intro Level – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Six-Way Paragraphs in the Content Areas Introductory Level.
Stand Out 2 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Stand Out 2.
Success
This CCRS Level B/C ELA Lesson/Unit Plan focuses on students building listening comprehension, discussion, and writing skills on the academic topic of success. This plan was originally completed by a participant in the 2017/18 CCRS Implementation Cohort.
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.
Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills.
The 3 R’s: Reaping the Rewards of Routines
Participants in this workout will establish a learner routine that aligns to one or more CCR standards. This workout includes looking at some videos about instructional routines on the Teaching Channel website.
The Guardian Newsletter – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is The Guardian Newsletter.
USA LEARNS English Course 1 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is USA LEARNS English Course 1.
Ventures 1 Workbook – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Ventures 1 Workbook by Cambridge University Press.
Ventures 2 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Ventures 2.
Ventures 4 – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Ventures 4.
Ventures Basic – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is Ventures Basic.
We the People – Evaluation
The resource evaluated here for ELA CCRS alignment is We the People by the Center for Civic Education.
What is History?
This CCRS Level B ELA Lesson/Unit Plan focuses on students exploring the concept of “history,”determining what constitutes history, and examining what might be excluded from traditional methods of determining history.
Writing an Email
This ESL 3/ABE 2 ELA Lesson/Unit Plan and accompanying evaluation tools covers writing an email message.