Common Core

Laura Candler's Common Core Teaching Resources contains dozens of resources for teaching Common Core State Standards in upper elementary classrooms.

With the attention given to the Common Core Informational Text and Literacy Standards, it's easy to overlook the other ELA standards, especially the Speaking and Listening Standard. But even though this is not a tested area, speaking and listening skills are extremely important. Knowing how to participate actively in a discussion involves the highest level of communication because both speaking and listening skills are required. Often it's through talking over ideas with others that we are able to dig deeply into core concepts and understand them fully.

Character Bio Reports is a great way to teach kids how to write an organized report or essay about a person or character... without copying and pasting facts from a website. This assignment requires students to choose a famous person or character, research that person, and write a short character analysis. Complete directions are included, along with graphic organizers and a rubric.

Exploring Poetry: Tools for Teaching Kids to Read and Understand Poetry is a 2-part unit for introducing poetic devices and interpreting poetry. The first part of the poetry unit includes a collection of activities for introducing the basic elements of poetry, and the second part is devoted to reading and responding to poetry. Students begin by exploring the structure and elements of poetry, including the meanings of eight common poetic devices. Next, they apply this knowledge as they engage in close reading strategies, poetry discussions, and written response activities. Lesson suggestions and printables for all activities are included. This unit does not include poems, but it does include links to free online poems that can be used with these lessons. Some of the pages in this packet are in color, but there are black and white versions of all student printables.

Aligned with Common Core Language Standards L.2.4a, L.3.4a, L.4.4a, and L.5.4aBingo Showdown: Confusing Words Review is a variation of the classic Bingo game that can be used for whole group instruction, small guided reading groups, cooperative learning teams or in learning centers. Students will practice how to use words that are often confused, such as homonyms and contractions. This packet includes directions for a quick teacher-directed review activity, as well as everything you need for the Bingo game. You'll find 40 numbered Bingo boards, Team Directions, 24 Confusing Words Task Cards, and an Answer Key. You may preview the entire packet before purchasing to see if these lessons are right for your class. You won't be able to print the preview file, but you will be able to read both lessons and view the printables.

Possessive Noun Showdown: Task Cards & More! includes short answer task cards and lesson suggestions for introducing possessive nouns. This packet includes directions for a whole-class introduction as well as an assortment of activities that can be completed as a class, in cooperative learning groups, in centers, or in small guided instruction groups. Both singular and plural possessive nouns are included.

Is there a school district anywhere that still allows traditional Halloween activities? Most elementary students love to dress up on Halloween, but many schools no longer allow Halloween parties and activities. However, there's fun and educational way to sneak in a dress-up activity if you can get it approved! Host a Book Character Day!

Plural or Possessive? Task Cards and More! includes short answer task cards and lesson suggestions for introducing the concept of possessive nouns. The activities are specifically designed to help students distinguish between plural nouns and singular possessive nouns. This packet includes directions for a whole-class introduction to the concepts as well as an assortment of activities that can be completed as a class, in cooperative learning groups, in centers, or in small guided instruction groups. Directions and task cards are included for the active engagement strategy, "Showdown." Because this product is an introduction to the concept, it does not cover rules for forming plural possessives.

Fun and engaging whole class review and cooperative learning lesson! Save paper by having students work in teams to practice plural nouns. This 21-page packet includes a review of regular and irregular plural noun formation, an interactive cooperative learning game, and two assessments. Task cards with nouns and answers included. Preview entire packet online using the download button on this page. (Does not include multiple choice task cards)

Analyzing Character Traits includes a variety of lessons, strategies, and printables aligned with the Common Core Reading Standards for Grades 3 - 5 that deal with character analysis. In this unit, you'll find a lesson on how authors reveal character traits, two character trait lists, a variety of graphic organizers, several cooperative learning activities, and a list of suggested character trait books. In addition, all of the character maps are provided in landscape format for use with an interactive whiteboard. These lessons are designed to take place intermittently over a period of several weeks or throughout an entire school year. Please download the complete preview version to see if this packet is right for you.

Do your students have trouble writing complete sentences? Do they write in fragments and run-ons? Perhaps they write with complete sentences, but their sentences are short and choppy. Sentence Go Round is a simple and fun cooperative learning strategy to teach students how to write longer, more complex sentences. It starts with a short review of sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and complete sentences that includes a sentence sorting activity. Then students work with a team to expand short, basic sentences into longer, more interesting sentences. Black and white versions of the student printables are included.

Do your students know how to have REAL discussions where they actually listen to each other and link their ideas to others in the group? If not, Discussion Connections has the tools you need to foster effective collaborative discussions. This product includes five lessons that make it easy for K-8 teachers to meet CCSS standards for speaking and listening and to foster effective text-based discussions. Not all lessons can be used with all grade levels, so preview this packet before purchasing to see what's included.

Graphic Organizers for Reading: Teaching Tools Aligned with the Common is a 161-page ebook that includes over 3 dozen graphic organizers, but it's far more than a book of printables. It also includes mini-lessons for how to teach reading skills for informational text and literature selections with those graphic organizers. To see what other teachers think about this book, read the comments at the end of this product description as well as the feedback comments below.

Graphic Organizers for Reading: Teaching Tools Aligned with the Common is a 161-page ebook that includes over 3 dozen graphic organizers, but it's far more than a book of printables. It also includes mini-lessons for how to teach reading skills for informational text and literature selections with those graphic organizers.

Seek & Spell Challenge is an engaging word work strategy that's so fun your kids won't even know they're learning! But while they are working, they're improving both spelling and foundational reading skills.

The CCSS Tools for Effective Reading Discussions K-5 School Site License includes 13 products created by Laura Candler that specifically address Common Core ELA Information Text and Literature Standards as well as the Speaking and Listening Standards. The set includes 6 CCSS Talking Sticks Discussion Mini Packs, 6 CCCS Discussion Prompt Sets, 1 Discussion Connections Mini Pack, and a copy of the site license agreement. A school site license grants the purchasing school the right to upload these files to a secured network where they can be accessed by all staff. The license does not have a yearly renewal fee. You can review a copy of the site license using the download preview feature.

Reading Discussion Combo (5th Grade CCSS) includes 2 related products, my Common Core Aligned Reading Discussion Prompts and the Talking Sticks Book Discussion cards for grade 5. The Reading Discussion Prompts are for whole group use, and the Talking Sticks are best for small groups, centers, or cooperative learning teams. Both items include the same 24 discussion prompts so you can introduce them to the whole class and then let students use them in small groups. Using these prompts will foster effective discussions and help you meet English Language Arts Standards.

Talking Sticks is a management strategy that encourages all students to participate equally in a discussion. It can be used after reading a book aloud, as a part of Literature Circles, during small group literacy instruction, or when conducting a whole class novel study. This pack comes with task cards that have discussion questions based on 4th Grade Common Core Standards. There are three sets of questions: Personal Response Questions, Literature Questions, and Informational Text Questions. The Literature and Informational Text questions are specifically aligned with 12 different Common Core Reading Standards, and the entire activity is aligned with Speaking and Listening Standard SL.4.1.

Reading Discussion Combo (3rd Grade CCSS) includes two products, my Common Core Aligned Reading Discussion Prompts and the Talking Sticks Book Discussion task cards for grade 3. The Reading Discussion Prompts are for whole group use, and the Talking Sticks are best for small groups, centers, or cooperative learning teams. Both items include the same 24 discussion prompts so you can introduce them to the whole class and then let students use them in small groups. Using these prompts will foster effective discussions and help you meet English Language Arts Standards.

Reading Discussion Combo (2nd Grade CCSS) includes two products, my 2nd grade Common Core Aligned Reading Discussion Prompts and the Talking Sticks Book Discussion cards for grade 2. The Reading Discussion Prompts are for whole group use, and the Talking Sticks are best for small groups, centers, or cooperative learning teams. Both items include the same 24 discussion prompts so you can introduce them to the whole class and then let students use them in small groups. Using these prompts will foster effective discussions and help you meet Common Core ELA Standards for literature and informational text.

Reading Discussion Combo (1st Grade CCSS) includes two products, my Common Core Aligned Reading Discussion Prompts and the Talking Sticks Book Discussion cards for 1st grade. The Reading Discussion Prompts are for whole group use, and the Talking Sticks are best for small groups, centers, or cooperative learning teams. Both products include the same 24 Common Core aligned discussion prompts so you can introduce them to the whole class and then let students use them in small groups. Using these prompts will foster effective discussions and help you meet Common Core ELA Standards for literature and informational text.

Reading Discussion Combo (Kindergarten CCSS) includes two products, my Common Core Aligned Reading Discussion Prompts and the Talking Sticks Book Discussion cards for 1st grade. The Reading Discussion Prompts are for whole group use, and the Talking Sticks are best for small groups and centers. Both products include the same 24 Common Core aligned discussion prompts so you can introduce them to the whole class and also use them in small groups. Using these prompts will foster effective discussions and help you meet Common Core ELA Standards for literature and informational text.