More Common Core--Installment 2

I LOVE new professional educational books.  Some of you collect children's books.  I collect professional educational books.  There are times when I will refer to these books over and over and then there are times when I will read a few chapters and realize that it hasn't helped me in the least and I put it back into the shelf.  However, there are 3 authors that I go back and re-read time and time again:  Fountas and Pinnell (you either hate to love them or love to hate them) and Lucy Calkins.  Lucy is a wonderful resource in the language arts areas.  In fact, straight from the Heinemann Professional Development Catalog, you can now read more about Common Core.So, go and explore some more Common Core information!  Read this exerpt from Pathways to the Common Core from Lucy Calkins. 

I have read this book, but it is sort of one of those books that you would have to read 2 or 3 times to get the gist of it.  It is so full of information that I read 2 or 3 chapters and sat it down. Then, I would read 2 or 3 chapters, and so on.  It is really good, but spurs you to think on a High Order Think level.  HOTS anyone?  I recently got it back out to reread and decided it was too close to the end of the school year to really give it my all and figure out how to apply it.

Lucy also has 2 other books that will be released soon.  I looked at the samples, which I provided the links for below and they look really well laid out and easy to read.  If you take a look at these addresses, you will see portions of each grade level

http://www.heinemann.com/shared/onlineresources/E04301/CalkCurrPlanWRITING_sampler.pdf


http://www.heinemann.com/shared/onlineresources/E04301/CalkCurrPlanWRITING_sampler.pdf


The big question that I have is how do these 2 books, her pathway books, and the book I have featured several different times Common Core Curriculum Maps are supposed to work together.  Or, ARE they supposed to work together.  As you read the Pathways book, you get the sense that Lucy Caulkins isn't very fond of it!  

Also, while looking around on the Heinemann website, I found theTeacher's Lounge which is the housing site for free podcasts which are provided for educators to watch.  FREE professional development to list when you are asked to explain what kind of professional develepment you have been part of!!  Plus, most of them are short enough to give you some great information, but they aren't overwhelming!

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Recently there has been a lot of discussion on the pricing of activities between bloggers and sellers from Teachers Pay Teachers in regard to games vs. units.  Do you feel that you should pay more, less, or the same for games or units with the same amount of pages.  For example, would you pay the same for a 10 page unit and a 10 page game?  Just curious and would like reader input.  

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And, finally.....the Freebies!  I created these to be used with a non-fiction unit.  Enjoy!

Enjoy!!