Teachers across the country have less than two years to revamp their lessons to meet the new core curriculum standards that go into effect for the 2014-15 school year.
The Common Core State Standards, adopted by nearly all states including Ohio and Michigan, is an effort to set consistent and clear education standards that students are expected to learn across the United States.
To help teachers prepare, The University of Toledo Judith Herb College of Education, Health Science and Human Service is hosting a literacy consultant to discuss changes in the writing curriculum standards.
Tammy Rhomberg, a national literacy consultant for educational publisher Zaner-Bloser, will give the free presentation titled “21st Century Writing to Meet the Common Core State Standards Across the Curriculum: The What, The How and The Why” Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 5:45 p.m. in Nitschke Hall Auditorium.
“Strong K-12 education is important for every person in the community, not just the students and their parents, and The University of Toledo is eager to support efforts to provide students the best education possible,” said Dr. Leigh Chiarelott, professor and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “There are a great number of changes to the core curriculum standards in order to get every state on the same page, and UT is looking forward to helping local teachers update their curriculum accordingly.”
Rhomberg has more than 30 years of educational experience, including teaching reading and serving as a reading specialist and reading intervention coordinator. As a national literacy consultant for Zaner-Bloser, her focus is to provide professional development to educators across the Midwest.
The writing strategies Rhomberg will present include incorporating the six important traits of effective writing, using rubrics to guide student writing, modeling grade level appropriate anchors, guiding the writing process, embedding grammar and conventions into writing instruction, and engaging students in applying strategies to their own writing.
The two-hour presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
The presentation is geared toward teachers who teach kindergarten through eighth grade, as well as interventionists and administrators.
Seating is limited at the free event. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP via email to APD@utoledo.edu.
