Teachers and students in Common Core classrooms focus on balancing literary and informational texts. Teachers regularly practice complex texts with students and base teaching and learning around text-specific questions. The learning environment features posted essential questions, student work, and balanced libraries. Teachers set an engaged tone where students understand expectations and review each other's work through dialogue. Math classrooms focus on rigor, coherence, and technology integration while maintaining an organized space conducive to learning.

1. What to look for in a Common
Core Classroom
September 3, 2013
ELA CLASSROOMSHIFTS…
For Principals Balance of Literary and Informational
Text
Teachers are: Students are:
Regular Practice with Complex Text
Teachers are: Students are:
What Does the Learning Environment Text Based, Text Specific Teaching and
Look Like? Learning
Teachers are: Students are:
Essential learning Questions are Posted
I Do Statements are Posted
Groupings- not rows of seats
Technology is being utilized
Room is uncluttered
Room has an easy flow of movement
Student work is evident
Libraries are balanced
Teachers set the tone for the class
Students are engaged and on task
Teachers move around the room
Students understand the “rules of
engagement”
Teachers continually focus instruction
Conversation and dialogue and peer review
are encouraged among students
Students are excited about learning

2. SHIFTS IN MATH
FOCUS
Teachers are: Students are:
COHERENCE
Teachers are: Students are:
RIGOR
Teachers are: Students are:
TECHNOLOGY
Walk through Look Fors
in General