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Report Overview
Summary of Alignment & Usability: ThinkCERCA Core Curriculum for English Language Arts and Reading | ELA
ELA 6-8
The grade 6-8 instructional materials for ThinkCERCA Core English Language Arts and Reading meet expectations for alignment and usability.
Anchor texts are well-crafted, content-rich, and rich in language and academic vocabulary; texts reflect the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards. The tasks, questions, and assignments are connected to the texts students read and require students to collect textual evidence. Units are grouped around a unit theme or topic and an essential question to build students’ knowledge over the course of the school year. Throughout the program, there are varied culminating tasks. While the program includes research activities, opportunities for practice are generally limited to one particular unit.
Most questions and tasks are aligned to grade-level standards, and the Teacher Guide mostly includes sufficient guidance or resources to support standards-aligned, explicit instruction. The implementation schedules align with the core learning objectives and may be reasonably completed in the time allotted.
The materials provide comprehensive guidance to assist teachers in presenting the instructional materials, including annotations and suggestions in the Teacher Guides, some adult-level explanations so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, and standards correlation documents. The program provides varied approaches to learning tasks over time, variety in how students are expected to demonstrate their learning, and opportunities for students to monitor their learning. The visual design of the materials supports learning. The design of the Student Guide and Teacher Guide is consistent throughout the program and across all grade levels. The materials provide teacher guidance for using embedded technology to support and enhance student learning. The platform allows teachers to use lessons and digital tools in presentation mode by displaying the Spark Teacher View.
The program includes reading, writing, and vocabulary assessments at the end of each module. The materials provide multiple opportunities to assess students’ learning through varied methods of formal and informal assessments and include suggestions for teachers on following up with students. The materials include accommodations that ensure all students can access assessments as well as general teacher guidance on implementing those accommodations.
The materials regularly provide strategies and support for students in special populations to work with grade-level content. They also provide multiple opportunities for advanced students to investigate the grade-level content at a higher level of complexity. Materials provide teachers scaffolds and tools to support students in participating in the regular lesson despite language barriers. Scaffolds and supports for students to use their home language to leverage their learning are generic.
6th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
7th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
8th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
ELA High School
The grade 9-12 instructional materials for ThinkCERCA Core English Language Arts and Reading meet expectations for alignment and usability.
Anchor texts are well-crafted, content-rich, and rich in language and academic vocabulary; texts reflect the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards. The tasks, questions, and assignments are connected to the texts students read and require students to collect textual evidence. Units are grouped around a unit theme or topic and an essential question to build students’ knowledge over the course of the school year. Throughout the program, there are varied culminating tasks. While the program includes research activities, opportunities for practice are generally limited to one particular unit.
Most questions and tasks are aligned to grade-level standards, and the Teacher Guide mostly includes sufficient guidance or resources to support standards-aligned, explicit instruction. The implementation schedules align with the core learning objectives and may be reasonably completed in the time allotted.
The materials provide comprehensive guidance to assist teachers in presenting the instructional materials, including annotations and suggestions in the Teacher Guides, some adult-level explanations so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, and standards correlation documents. The program provides varied approaches to learning tasks over time, variety in how students are expected to demonstrate their learning, and opportunities for students to monitor their learning. The visual design of the materials supports learning. The design of the Student Guide and Teacher Guide is consistent throughout the program and across all grade levels. The materials provide teacher guidance for using embedded technology to support and enhance student learning. The platform allows teachers to use lessons and digital tools in presentation mode by displaying the Spark Teacher View.
The program includes reading, writing, and vocabulary assessments at the end of each module. The materials provide multiple opportunities to assess students’ learning through varied methods of formal and informal assessments and include suggestions for teachers on following up with students. The materials include accommodations that ensure all students can access assessments as well as general teacher guidance on implementing those accommodations.
The materials regularly provide strategies and support for students in special populations to work with grade-level content. They also provide multiple opportunities for advanced students to investigate the grade-level content at a higher level of complexity. Materials provide teachers scaffolds and tools to support students in participating in the regular lesson despite language barriers. Scaffolds and supports for students to use their home language to leverage their learning are generic.
9th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
10th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
11th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
12th Grade
View Full ReportEdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.
Usability (Gateway 3)
Report for 9th Grade
Alignment Summary
The grade 9 instructional materials for ThinkCERCA Core English Language Arts and Reading meet expectations for alignment.
Anchor texts are well-crafted, content-rich, and rich in language and academic vocabulary; texts reflect the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards. The tasks, questions, and assignments are connected to the texts students read and require students to collect textual evidence. Units are grouped around a unit theme or topic and an essential question to build students’ knowledge over the course of the school year. Throughout the program, there are varied culminating tasks.
The materials include grammar and usage activities and opportunities for students to interact with and acquire academic vocabulary. Materials include explicit vocabulary and grammar and usage instruction. Although the materials include research activities, they generally occur in one designated unit.
The materials provide writing instruction that aligns to the standards across the school year and meets the distribution required by the standards for argumentative, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing.
Most questions and tasks are aligned to grade-level standards, and the Teacher Guide mostly includes sufficient guidance or resources to support standards-aligned, explicit instruction. The implementation schedules align with the core learning objectives and may be reasonably completed in the time allotted.
9th Grade
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Usability (Gateway 3)
Overview of Gateway 1
Text Quality and Complexity and Alignment to the Standards with Tasks and Questions Grounded in Evidence
Anchor texts are well-crafted, content-rich, and rich in language and academic vocabulary; texts reflect the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards. Over the course of the school year, materials include 29 informational texts and 26 literary texts, resulting in a 53/47 balance of informational and literary texts, which should support achieving the 70/30 balance of informational and literary texts across the school day that is required by the standards.
The materials contain 55 core unit texts throughout the seven units spanning various text types and genres. Texts have the appropriate level of complexity according to quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as the relationship to their associated student task. Text complexity is mixed throughout the units. The quantitative measures range from 670L–1480L and generally increase throughout the year, and the qualitative measures range from slightly complex to exceedingly complex. Scaffolding suggestions often remain the same throughout the year, regardless of each text’s complexity level.
The materials provide suggestions and guidance for independent reading. Each Unit-At-a-Glance includes a link to “Independent Reading Options” for the Unit. Materials provide students with four independent reading options in every unit, each thematically linked to the unit’s content.
Throughout the program, there are on-demand and process writing opportunities. The materials include opportunities for students to practice and apply different genres of writing. The writing genre distribution is 38.5% argumentative, 38.5% informational/explanatory, and 23% narrative, which closely aligns with the grade-level writing distribution of 40/40/20 required by the standards.There are frequent opportunities across the school year for students to practice and apply writing using evidence.
The materials include grammar and usage activities and opportunities for students to interact with and acquire academic vocabulary. Materials include explicit vocabulary and grammar and usage instruction.
Gateway 1
v1.5
Criterion 1.1: Text Quality and Complexity
Texts are worthy of students’ time and attention: texts are of quality and are rigorous, meeting the text complexity criteria for each grade. Materials support students’ advancing toward independent reading.
Anchor texts are well-crafted, content-rich, and rich in language and academic vocabulary; texts reflect the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards. Over the course of the school year, materials include 29 informational texts and 26 literary texts, resulting in a 53/47 balance of informational and literary texts, which supports achieving the 70/30 balance of informational and literary texts across the school day required by the standards.
The materials contain 55 core unit texts across the seven units spanning various text types and genres. Texts have the appropriate level of complexity according to quantitative and qualitative analysis and their relationship to their associated student task. Text complexity is mixed throughout the units. The quantitative measures range from 670L to 1480L, and the qualitative measures range from slightly complex to exceedingly complex. Scaffolding suggestions often remain the same throughout the year, regardless of each text’s complexity level. Some scaffolding suggestions are present, but require teachers to complete additional research or preparation to implement.
The materials provide suggestions and guidance for independent reading. Each Unit-At-a-Glance includes a link to “Independent Reading Options.” Students are provided with four independent reading options for each unit, each thematically linked to the content in that unit.
Indicator 1A
Anchor texts are of high quality, worthy of careful reading, and consider a range of student interests.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1a.
The materials include publishable texts featuring engaging characters, universal topics, and themes that should appeal to students. Across the year, literary anchor texts are written by a broad range of well-known authors that feature characters from multiple cultures and rich language. Informational texts are grade-appropriate and published in popular news and magazine sources.
Anchor texts are of high-quality and consider a range of student interests, are well-crafted, content rich, and engage students at their grade level. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 1, students read “Once More To The Lake,” a personal essay by E.B. White. Switching between the past and present, White describes returning to a childhood vacation site in Maine with his son while reflecting on his childhood memories. The selection is written in first-person point of view and uses rich word choices and vivid descriptions.
In Unit 3, Module 4, students read “St Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,” a short story by Karen Russell. The author structures the text unusually. Russell begins each section of the text with an imaginary quotation from a handbook that outlines the changes the girls in the book undergo to assimilate. Within those stages, the text is primarily chronological. The story is told in first-person point of view by Claudette, who speaks on behalf of all the girls with the repeated pronoun of “we.”
In Unit 6, Module 2, students read an article from US News and World Report by Tiffany Sorensen titled “How Colleges Weigh School Extracurriculars.” This text is suitable and relevant for 9th grade as the author describes how academic achievement and extracurriculars determine college admissions.
Indicator 1B
Materials reflect the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards at each grade level.
Narrative evidence only
Materials include a variety of text types and genres across the school year. The balance of informational texts to literary texts reflects a 53/47 balance, which supports achieving the 70/30 balance of informational and literary texts across the school day required by the standards. Text types include, but are not limited to, argument, drama, poetry, autobiography, memoir, speech, scientific account, opinion, and personal essay. The texts connect to a common topic or theme for each unit.
Materials reflect the distribution of text types/genres required by the grade-level standards. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, students read a personal narrative, “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White; an excerpt from a memoir, An American Childhood, by Annie Dillard, a poem, “Mango No. 61,” by Richard Blanco, and an informational text, “What Makes a New York City Kid?” by Andy Newman.
In Unit 2, students read an informational text, “Green Teen Memes: How TikTok Could Save the Planet” by Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu, an informational text, “Silicon Valley Says Kids Over the Age of 13 Can Handle the Big, Bad World of Social Media” by Katie Canales; and “Photo Essay: Removed” by Eric Pickersgill.
In Unit 3, students read two short stories, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “A White Heron” by Sara Orne Jewett, a poem, “Aqui” by Carmen Tafolla, and an informational text, “Decision Making” by Psychology Today.
In Unit 4, students read eight informational news articles on the topic of sustainable food production, including “Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better for the Planet? Here’s the Science” by Nancy Matsumoto, “How Cattle Can Help Save the Birds of the Great Plains” by Molly Loomis, and “Can lab-Grown Burgers Help Stop Climate Change?” by Spencer Bokat-Lindell.
In Unit 5, students read from the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, an informational text, “The Infectious Pestilence Did Reign” by Ben Cohen, and a multimedia text, Film Production of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Baz Luhrmann, via Rotten Tomatoes YouTube.
In Unit 6, students read a speech, “Shonda Rhimes Commencement Address” by Shonda Rhimes; a magazine article, “Top Ten Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for High School Students” by Crimson Staff; a magazine article, “The Best Summer Job You’ll Ever Have” by Marcia Amidon Lusted; and an argumentative article, “The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Students” by Mark Anthony Llego.
In Unit 7, students read excerpts from the classic epic poem “The Odyssey” by Homer, a poem “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, a poem “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy; an informational text, “The Greatest Tale Ever Told?” by Natalie Haynes; and an excerpt from the biography, “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario.
Materials reflect a 70/30 balance of informational and literary texts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Across the year, 29 or 53% of the texts read are informational, and 26 or 47% are literary.
Unit 1 contains eight core texts, with 25% being informational and 75% literary.
Unit 2 contains eight core texts, with 100% being informational.
Unit 3 contains eight core texts, with 25% being informational and 75% literary.
Unit 4 contains eight core texts, with 100% being informational.
Unit 5 contains nine core texts, with 22% being informational and 78% literary.
Unit 6 contains six core texts, with 100% being informational.
Unit 7 contains eight core texts, with 12% being informational and 88% literary.
Indicator 1C
Core/Anchor texts have the appropriate level of complexity for the grade according to documented quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, and relationship to their associated student task. Documentation should also include a rationale for educational purpose and placement in the grade level.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1c.
The materials include texts that have the appropriate level of complexity according to qualitative and quantitative analysis and relation to their associated student task. Each Teacher Unit Guide includes a rationale for the purpose of each unit in the curriculum. According to review analysis, anchor texts have the appropriate complexity in relationship to associated student tasks and unit themes. Of the 55 texts analyzed for Grade 9, 23 are within the suggested Lexile bands, 11 are below, and two are above (19 have no Lexile level because they are Non-Prose). When texts are below the quantitative level, qualitative measures such as knowledge demands, language, or structure make them more complex. The Teacher’s Guide, Module Preview, and Connection to Unit briefly describe student tasks associated with the texts. Student tasks are found to be grade-level appropriate, with necessary scaffolding for more complex tasks. The materials include a linked spreadsheet in each Unit-At-A-Glance, which provides quantitative and qualitative data for each text in the curriculum and an associated reader and task analysis of each text.
Anchor/core texts have the appropriate level of complexity for the grade according to quantitative and qualitative analysis and relationship to their associated student task. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 4, students read an opinion piece from the New York Times, “It Was a Mistake to Let Kids Onto Social Media Sites. Here’s What to Do Now” by Yuval Levin. The quantitative measure is 1240L, the verified Lexile is 1310L, and the qualitative measure is moderately complex. This text has the appropriate complexity for student tasks. Students read the text online, and after reading, they answer five comprehension questions and two Pause and Reflect questions. Next, students return to the online Analyze section to highlight sentences that support them in answering the writing prompt. Students return to the Student Guide to complete an Apply Your Learning task. This task is focused on analyzing issues and appeals. Students answer questions about how the author structured information and his argument, such as “The author begins the article with an appeal to readers about the issue. What is the issue the author wants you to understand? Why do you think he used this appeal to begin his argument?” Students move to the Write section online and summarize the text. Next, students use the Student Guide, Share Your Argument Builder graphic organizer, share the information on the graphic organizer with a partner, listen to peers, and record ideas. Lastly, students complete the Writing Lesson online, where they plan, draft, and write an essay answering the prompt, “Trace the issue that seems to be at stake for readers surrounding the debate about children and social media. How does the author appeal to the audience?” Students are expected to use all prior work from the module to write the essay.
In Unit 5, Module 1, students read Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scenes I and II. There is no publisher Lexile provided since the text is Non-Prose. However, the qualitative measure is very complex. After reading the text online, students complete five comprehension questions and seven Pause and Reflect questions. Next, students complete the Analyze section online to highlight sentences that support them in answering the writing prompt, “How does Shakespeare use specific words and phrases to establish the time, place, and social dynamics of Romeo and Juliet’s Verona?” Students move to the Student Guide to complete an Apply Your Learning worksheet focusing on understanding Shakespearean language. During the Write section online, students summarize the text and use the Student Guide graphic organizer, Share Your Argument Builder, to share with a partner, listen to peers, and record valuable ideas. Lastly, students complete the Writing Lesson online, planning, drafting, and writing an essay answering the prompt, “How does Shakespeare use specific words and phrases to establish the time, place, and social dynamics of Romeo and Juliet’s Verona?” Students are expected to use all the prior work from the module to write the essay.
In Unit 7, Module 5, Read Across Genres, students read a collection of poems and informational texts, including “The Greatest Tale Ever Told?” by Natalie Haynes. The quantitative measure provided is 1280L, while the verified measure is 1290L, and the text is qualitatively moderately complex. After reading the text online, students answer five multiple-choice comprehension questions. In the Student Guide, Understanding Multiple Perspectives, students complete a graphic organizer comparing the text with another text, “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario. Directions state: “Take notes, describing what you like about the ideas in both texts, as well as what opinions you agree with or ideas you challenge. Think about: What do I wonder about after reading? What am I curious about?” In Analyze and Compare Tasks, students complete a chart after reading all of the Read Across Genres texts: “Using your notes from the analysis activity, organize your evidence and observations into a claim, reasons, and evidence with reasoning to answer the analysis question below. These will be your notes for your analysis. You may use this analysis in your Socratic discussion in addition to sharing your presentation. Students write a claim to answer the prompt, “How do authors and/or artists draw on and transform source material and themes from The Odyssey?” Students write a claim, give three reasons, three evidence and reasoning, and counterargument notes.
Anchor/Core texts and series of texts connected to them are accompanied by an accurate text complexity analysis and a rationale for educational purpose and placement in the grade level. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Teacher Guide for each module provides a Module Preview with how the selection connects to the unit and the knowledge and skills focus for the text. The Unit-At-a-Glance provides a link to “Detailed Text Complexity Analysis,” which includes quantitative and qualitative analysis of each text and reader and task considerations. This spreadsheet includes the following columns:
Lesson Title and ThinkCERCA Platform Link
Citation or Publisher Permissions Line
Author Bio and Awards
Grade Level
Unit
Unit Name
Anchor or Read Across Genres Text
Lesson Primary CCSS Reading Standard
Certified Lexile
ATOS
Flesch-Kincaid
Ease Score
Qualitative Measures
Structure
Language Conventionality and Clarity
Knowledge Demands
Purpose/Meaning of the Text
Quantitative Measures
Reader and Task Considerations
Recommended Placement
Info vs. Lit Text
Portfolio Writing Genre
Formative and Summative Tasks
In Unit 2, Module 2, students read “Influencers Aren’t Going Anywhere. So What Does That Mean for Today’s Teens?” by Christianna Silva. The Detailed Text Complexity Analysis Spreadsheet includes the following information under Reader and Task Considerations for the educational purpose of this text: “‘Influencers Aren’t Going Anywhere. So What Does That Mean for Today’s Teens?’' was chosen as an anchor text as an excellent model of the unit’s essential question, ‘How do we ensure that we build and become members of healthy virtual communities that allow us to share and learn?’ Through an examination of both the positive and negative effects of social media influencers, along with analysis of the evidence the author provides, this text directly addresses this relevant and critical question for today’s youth.” The Recommended Placement Section states, “Various quantitative measurements place ‘Influencers Aren’t Going Anywhere. So What Does That Mean for Today’s Teens?’ higher than grades 9-10 text complexity band. Despite these higher levels, qualitative analysis, including reader interest and in-text scaffolding activities, warrants this text’s placement in the 9th grade.”
In Unit 6, Module 5, students read “The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Students” by Mark Anthony Llego. The Detailed Text Complexity Analysis Spreadsheet includes the following information under Reader and Task Considerations for the educational purpose of this text: “‘The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Students’ was chosen as a text because it helps readers collect evidence for their arguments as part of the ‘What Interests You?’ unit. This unit asks students to explore the question: ‘How do your interests help you further your own future?’” The Recommended Placement Section states, “Quantitative readability measures for this text vary. However, analysis reveals the qualitative elements of the piece are mostly slightly complex. Due to the nature of the content being more appropriate for 9th-grade interests, as well as the rigor level and scaffolding of ThinkCERCA’s guiding questions and activities, it was deemed appropriate for grade 9.
The accuracy of the provided quantitative measures was verified using MetaMetrics or determined using the Lexile Text Analyzer on The Lexile Framework for Reading site. The accuracy of the provided qualitative measures was verified using literary and informational text rubrics.
Indicator 1D
Series of texts should be at a variety of complexity levels appropriate for the grade band to support students’ literacy growth over the course of the school year.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 partially meet the criteria for Indicator 1d.
The materials include texts that range in complexity below, within, and above the grade band to support literacy growth. Each unit includes texts that fall in the range of 670L–1480L. Quantitative levels across Grade 9 texts (of texts with Lexile data) include 11 below the Lexile stretch band, 23 within, and two above. The overall qualitative range across the year is slightly complex to exceedingly complex. Much of the student learning occurs by reading slideshows with accompanied online activities and quizzes and by reading instructions in Student Guide lessons.After reading texts, students answer five multiple-choice questions. The sentence frames students can use to respond to prompts or write summaries are redundant. The materials provide some scaffolds in student work and in the Teacher Guide to support different populations of students; some of these scaffolds and guidance are repetitive or broad, while some are specific suggestions to support English Language Learners, Students with Exceptional Needs, and Exploration and Extension. Scaffolds are offered before and during the reading of each text. Scaffolds are, at times, suggestions, such as an idea of background information teachers could provide about the text, and are often general and repetitive. Specific vocabulary scaffolds are provided in the Topic Overview of almost every text for struggling readers; the word(s) is always relevant to the specific text. As students read, consistent scaffolds provided throughout all texts include audio read-aloud support and interactive vocabulary definitions in the online text. During writing tasks associated with reading, some specific scaffolds are provided. Many scaffold suggestions remain the same throughout the year, offering little or no guidance to increase students’ ability to engage with increasingly complex text.
The complexity of anchor texts students read provides an opportunity for students’ literacy skills to increase across the year, encompassing an entire year’s worth of growth. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The overall quantitative complexity measures across the year range from 670L–1480L. The overall qualitative range across the year is Slightly Complex to Exceedingly Complex. In Unit 1, the Lexile range is 860L–1380L. The qualitative range is Moderately Complex to Exceedingly Complex. In Unit 2, the Lexile range is 1020L–1330L. The qualitative range is Slightly Complex to Moderately Complex. In Unit 3, the Lexile range is 750L–1200L. The qualitative range is Slightly Complex to Very Complex. In Unit 4, the Lexile range is 1010L–1480L. The qualitative range is Slightly Complex to Moderately Complex. In Unit 5, The Lexile range is 960L–1370L. The qualitative range is Slightly Complex to Very Complex. In Unit 6, The Lexile range is 670L–1200L. The qualitative range is Slightly Complex to Moderately Complex. In Unit 7, The Lexile range is 800L–1280L. The qualitative range is Slightly Complex to Exceedingly Complex.
In Unit 1, Module 2, students read an excerpt from An American Childhood by Annie Dillard (890L) and analyze imagery by examining sensory language and figurative language and noting how imagery affects the tone. The text is qualitatively moderately complex. In the online slideshow, Analyzing Imagery in a Personal Narrative, students learn about how authors incorporate imagery and why connotations of words are important. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, students complete a worksheet where they read an excerpt from the text and analyze different types of imagery, identifying different imagery and explaining how it affects tone. In Unit 4, Module 1, students read “Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For the Planet? Here’s the Science” by Nancy Matsumoto (1220L) and analyze the connotations of words. The text is qualitatively moderately complex. In the online slideshow, Determining the Meaning of Words and Phrases, students learn how connotations of words impact meaning and tone. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, students complete a worksheet where they reread the passage and then use context clues to determine the denotation and connotation of words in the passage. Students analyze how the connotation of words reflects what the author wants the reader to understand about grass-fed beef. In Unit 5, Module 1, students read Romeo and Juliet (NP) by Shakespeare and analyze Shakespeare’s word choice. The text is qualitatively very complex. In the online slideshow, Understanding Shakespearean Language, students learn about Shakespeare’s word choice and how figurative language affects meaning and tone. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning activity, they complete a worksheet to reflect on the meaning of words and phrases from the text and answer questions about what metaphors and symbols the author uses and their deeper meanings.
In Unit 1, Module 4, students read “My Favorite Photograph” by Veera Hiranandani (950L) and determine and analyze themes to better understand meaningful writing. The text is qualitatively moderately complex. In the online slideshow, Determining Theme and Author’s Message in a Personal Narrative, students learn how multiple themes can relay a message. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, students complete a worksheet, selecting specific memories of time and place the author uses to convey the message. In Unit 2, Module 1, students read “You Can Track Almost Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea” by Lisa Damour (1180L) and determine and trace a central idea. The text is qualitatively slightly complex. In the online slideshow, Determining and Tracing a Central Idea Through Details, students learn how to use the structure and evidence in a text to identify a central idea. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, students read a passage and pay close attention to how the author provides details to reinforce the central idea. Students may work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to answer the two questions. In Unit 6, Module 1, students read “Shonda Rhimes Commencement Address” by Shonda Rhimes (670L) and analyze how authors develop central ideas with examples. The text is qualitatively moderately complex. In the online slideshow, Using Examples and Anecdotes to Explain Ideas, students learn how examples explain interactions between ideas. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, students read a provided passage and pay close attention to how Rhimes uses personal anecdotes to develop her central message to graduates. Students reflect on their biggest takeaways from analyzing how the author used examples and anecdotes to explain ideas.
In Unit 2, Module 5, Read Across Genres, students read two texts, “Silicon Valley Says Kids Over the Age of 13 Can Handle the Big, Bad World of Social Media. Experts Say That’s the Result of a ‘Problematic’ 1990s Internet Law” by Katie Canales (1330L) and “Why Kids Shouldn’t Get Social Media Until They Are Eighteen” by Rachel Sample (1020L) and analyze how authors develop and support claims. In the online slideshow, Analyzing an Author’s Choices in Written Arguments, students learn how writers make claims to build strong arguments and “identify the parts of an argument.” The texts are qualitatively both slightly complex. In the Student Guide, Analyze Arguments, students are provided questions for how to evaluate an author’s claim, such as “Is the claim clearly stated? Is it debatable, i.e., does it have at least two sides? Does the writer use data and/or interviews with experts to give reasons for credibility? Do you notice ineffective reasoning, such as reasoning that is not logical?” After reading the information, students complete a chart for each text for categories of argument. In Module 8, Core Assessment, students read “Going, Going, Gone! Saving the World’s Languages” and “Musical Genius: Is It Talent, or Is It Practice?” After reading the text, students answer 13 multiple-choice questions; four questions concern the authors’ claims and the best evidence to support the claim. These are the only two modules in the curriculum that practice and/or assess RI.9-10.8.
As texts become more complex, some appropriate scaffolds and/or materials are provided in the Teacher Edition (e.g., spending more time on texts, more questions, repeated readings, skill lessons). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Before students read each text, a Topic Overview is provided. Directions state, "Read the topic overview to build background knowledge. Preview the vocabulary before reading.” The Topic Overview section includes a brief introduction to the text with a few vocabulary words hyperlinked in blue. Students can click the vocabulary words to find the part of speech and definition.
In Unit 1, Module 4, students read “My Favorite Photograph” by Veera Hiranandani (950L). The text is qualitatively moderately complex. Support and scaffolds available for students as they read include audio read-aloud support and interactive vocabulary definitions in the online text. Teachers have opportunities to scaffold student learning using prompts and notes found in the teacher materials. In the Quick Journal section, support for Multilingual/English Language Learners include words to consider for translation: photograph, comfortable, at ease, miss, and reveal. In the Topic Overview section, teachers are provided with a Support for Struggling Readers: Background Knowledge that includes guiding students to make a personal connection to the term the author uses, “mental snapshots”, by recalling examples of mental snapshots from their childhood. In the Vocabulary section of the Teacher Guide, teachers are provided with a scaffold for Struggling Readers which states,”Key Academic Vocabulary Scaffold: Progressive. Progressive is an adjective, or describing word, that means progress or change. A progressive education would mean something new or different than the traditional school where new ideas are promoted and encouraged.” In the Read section, teacher materials include support for Struggling Readers: Choral Reading. “Reading aloud together provides students with a low-stakes opportunity to improve prosody and fluency while supporting one another.” There is no further explanation of how to conduct choral reading. The Teacher Guide directs the teacher to guide students through the online lesson, where students read the text and complete a five-question comprehension quiz. Students watch the lesson slideshow, Determining Theme and Author’s Message in a Personal Narrative, and answer five questions. Students can either read slides and questions independently or listen to them. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, students discuss the text, selecting specific memories of time and place the author uses to convey the message. This part of the lesson provides a model teachers can use to support students in completing the task. The model states, “When I read the prompts, I know that I am looking for memories and snapshots in ‘My Favorite Photograph.’ First, I will look at the story and snapshots of the author’s experience at the Learning Community. Next, I will record how the snapshots change in fifth grade. Then, I will look for what the author learns about growing up. Finally, I will reflect on which snapshot sticks out the most for me.” To close the lesson, students reflect on how their group discussion went.
In Unit 3, Module 5, students read “Tending,” a poem by Elizabeth Alexander (NP). The text is qualitatively moderately complex. Support and scaffolds available for students as they read include audio read-aloud support and interactive vocabulary definitions in the online text. Teachers have opportunities to scaffold student learning using prompts and notes found in the teacher materials as well as the Diverse Learner Guide. In the Quick Journal section, support for Multilingual/English Language Learners include words to consider for translation: task, responsibility, meaningful, eveloving, duty, and disability. In the Read/Analyze and Compare Poetry section teachers are provided with additional words for translation for English Language Learners. Support for students with Exceptional Needs includes a suggestion to allow students to work in pairs or small groups. There is also a reference to the Diverse Learners Guide for additional modified activities. In the Analyze Poetry Elements section, support for students with Exceptional Needs suggests allowing students to complete only four of the seven sections on a graphic organizer. Directions refer to an “adjusted version of this activity” in the Diverse Learner Guide. The adjusted version includes definitions or guiding questions for each poetry element to help guide the student. The Teacher Guide directs the teacher to guide students through the online lesson, where students read the poem and complete a five-question comprehension quiz. The next online slideshow, Analyzing and Comparing Elements of Poetry, includes a slideshow and a five-question quiz. Students can either read slides and questions independently or listen to them. Next, the teacher directs students to the Student Guide to complete a graphic organizer where they make notes on the subject, language, imagery, structure, speaker and voice, details, and theme of the poem. On the second page of the organizer, students find evidence and reasoning to answer the question, “What descriptive word choices does the poet use to convey the power of heritage, community, and family in shaping who we become?”
In Unit 6, Module 1, students read “Shonda Rhimes Commencement Address” by Shonda Rhimes (670L). The text is qualitatively moderately complex. In the online slideshow, Using Examples and Anecdotes to Explain Ideas, students watch the slides and answer five questions. Support and scaffolds available for students as they read include audio read-aloud support and interactive vocabulary definitions in the online text. Teachers have opportunities to scaffold student learning using prompts and notes found in the teacher materials. In the Quick Journal section, support for Multilingual/English Language Learners include words to consider for translation: example, doer, act on, hopes, dreams, achieve, planners, lawyer and law firm. In the Topic Overview section, teachers are provided with a Support for Struggling Readers: Background Knowledge that states that students should have an “awareness of the transition from college to the ‘real world’, and recognizing the challenges and uncertainties that come with graduation and entering adulthood.” No challenges or uncertainties are provided that students should be aware of. In the Read section, teacher materials include support for students with exceptional needs including “encourage students to listen to the selection and use technology-enabled tools for reading support.” Support for students with Exceptional Needs includes a different version of the activities in the Diverse Learners Guide.
While the materials provide some scaffolds in student work and Teacher Guidance on Supporting different populations of students, some of these scaffolds and guidance are repetitive or broad. In the Draft and Review section across the materials, the following repetitive and broad scaffolds for Multi-Lingual/English Language Learners are included: “Allow for the use of bilingual glossaries, options for recording responses, and translation devices. Support student spelling and mechanics through automatic spelling and grammar checks and predictive spelling.” For Diverse Learners, the following broad scaffold is included: “Support students’ writing with predictive spelling, speech-to-text, voice typing, or dictation. Encourage students to expand each paragraph/section in the copy-and-paste outline from the previous step as needed.” Some of the teacher models for specific strategies are explained and examples provided; some only direct teachers to model or encourage a strategy or scaffold without providing an example in the materials. For example, teachers are provided with some directives on how to alter student work for students who need more support. One example of this is the suggestion to use the chunking strategy with a complex text. The Diverse Learner Guide includes modified graphic organizers and worksheets that provide the students with definitions, sentence starters, or shortened versions of the activity.
Indicator 1E
Materials provide opportunities for students to engage in a range and volume of reading to support their reading at grade level by the end of the school year, including accountability structures for independent reading.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1e.
The materials identify opportunities for students to engage in reading a wide variety of text types and genres to support the achievement of grade-level expectations across the school year; however, the materials do not provide teacher guidance to foster independent reading, such as accountability procedures, schedules, or tracking evidence. The materials provide a Unit Planner that states which days and lessons are dedicated to reading. Students read 55 texts during lessons labeled as individual, small group, pairs, or full-class learning. Students generally read eight texts in each of the seven units across the school year. These texts represent various text types and genres, including fiction, poetry, informational texts, myths, speeches, opinions, and memoirs. Materials provide suggestions and guidance for independent reading.
Instructional materials clearly identify opportunities and supports for students to engage in reading a variety of text types and genres. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 1, students read E.B. White’s essay, “Once More to the Lake;” Annie Dillard’s essay, “An American Childhood;” Richard Bianco’s poem, “Mango No. 61;” and Veera Hiranandani’s excerpt from her essay, “My Favorite Photograph.” The text topics relate to childhood development, dual cultural identity, and how memories create identity.
In Unit 3, Module 2, students read a short story, “A White Heron,” by Sarah Orne Jewett. Students explore how the plot and conflicts an author chooses to include help convey themes around the relationship between humans, nature, and innocence.
In Unit 6, Module 4, students read a magazine article, “Pros, Cons of High School Jobs for College Applications” by Alexandra Pannoni. Students learn that postsecondary planning happens throughout adolescence and that developing a plan helps them get on a path.
Instructional materials clearly identify opportunities and supports for students to engage in a volume of reading. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Unit Planner includes a pacing guide for 50-minute class periods. The 50-minute pacing guide includes 22-26 days of lessons per unit. These include one day to preview the unit and set personal goals, one day to explore the theme, approximately three days to read and analyze each of the four close reading texts for a total of 12 days, two days to read the five Read Across Genres texts, two days for Debate or Socratic Discussion, five days for the portfolio writing assignment, and one day to reflect on learning. Most units consist of three to four close-reading texts and five Read Across Genres texts.
In Unit 2, students read four informational texts. Each text is read over three days for a total of twelve days. Students can complete these lessons individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a whole class. On Days 1 and 2, students preview the unit theme and journal response to a guiding question, complete a vocabulary map, and make a personal connection to the text. On Days 3–5, students read “You Can Track Almost Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea” by Lisa Damour and complete the Before You Read, Read and Analyze, and Write tasks. On Day 5, the Write task is to develop a CERCA argument based on the text. On Days 6–14, students read the other three close-reading texts. On Day 15 and 16, students engage in the Read Across Genres: Multimedia and Opinions and Read Across Genres: Various Texts activities. This pattern is followed in each unit with different texts.
There is sufficient teacher guidance to foster independence for all readers (e.g., independent reading procedures, proposed schedule, tracking system for independent reading). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Unit-At-a-Glance includes a section on independent reading opportunities. For example, the Unit 1 Unit-At-a-Glance includes the following teacher guidance:
“Reserve one to two days for introducing the protocols for student choice during the first month of school:
Introduce best practices for choosing appropriately challenging reading by showing the overview video.
Allow students to brainstorm topics and types of books they may find interesting.
Provide the suggested titles book list but also assure students that they need not restrict their choices only to those titles.
Visit the library and let students select books based on the strategies introduced in the introductory video.
Provide a class period or more for students to ‘get hooked on their book’ of choice while you conduct 1:1 conferences with students to understand their S.M.A.R.T. goals and progress.
Model your expectations of how to complete reading logs and share submission and grading expectations.”
The Unit 2 Unit-At-a-Glance includes the following guidance:
“Select model book logs that demonstrate the expectations of the independent reading protocol and remove student names. Share digital copies of the exemplar work and review its exemplar qualities with the class.”
Under Resources, Curriculum Resources, Grade 9, Reading, Implementing Independent Reading, slide 8, the materials include a blank reading log with sentence stems to support students in writing about texts.
Each Unit-At-a-Glance includes a link to “Independent Reading Options” for the Unit. There are four independent reading options provided to students for each unit. Each of the options is thematically linked to the content in each unit. The materials include a summary of each text to support students in making a selection based on their individual interests (student choice structure). The materials present teachers with several independent reading structures in the Implementing Independent Reading Guide. In addition to this “student choice” structure, teachers could choose to implement book clubs in two different structures: “one longer work, small groups” or “multiple longer works, small groups.” The materials include the pros and cons of all three structures for independent reading so that teachers can make the right choice for their students.
Criterion 1.2: Tasks and Questions
Materials provide opportunities for rich and rigorous evidence-based discussions and writing about texts to build strong literacy skills.
The materials provide students with opportunities to respond to text-specific and text-dependent questions that require students to engage with the text directly.
The materials provide a variety of protocols to support students in speaking and listening skills. Throughout the course of the year, students participate in Socratic discussions, panel discussions, debate games, pitch decks, and performances. The materials provide opportunities across a variety of speaking and listening skills for students to demonstrate knowledge of what they are reading.
The materials include on-demand and process writing opportunities. On-demand writing tasks, including Quick Journals and Responses to Text, are varied and frequent. Process writing is included in each unit and varies throughout the year in type, including research writing, opinion essays, narrative writing, and personal statements. The materials include opportunities for students to practice and apply different genres of writing. The writing genre distribution is 38.5% argumentative, 38.5% informational/explanatory, and 23% narrative, which closely aligns with the grade-level writing distribution of 40/40/20 required by the standards. There are frequent opportunities across the school year for students to practice and apply writing using evidence.
The materials include grammar and usage activities and opportunities for students to interact with and acquire academic vocabulary. Materials include explicit vocabulary and grammar and usage instruction.
Indicator 1F
Most questions, tasks, and assignments are text-specific and/or text-dependent, requiring students to engage with the text directly (drawing on textual evidence to support both what is explicit as well as valid inferences from the text).
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1f.
The materials contain text-specific and text-dependent questions, tasks, and assignments requiring students to engage with the text directly. Students read texts multiple times to demonstrate comprehension and complete tasks that require textual evidence to support what is explicitly stated and make valid inferences. The materials follow a specific pattern across all units where students read texts with embedded pauses and reflection questions. They complete the Check step, where they answer five text-specific multiple-choice questions. In the next step, Analyze, they highlight details that will help them provide evidence for a text-dependent writing prompt. The Teacher Guide provides guidance for each step of the lesson; however, this guidance is often general and restates the information found in the Student Guide. Direct instruction and teacher modeling are not always directly related to each text. Guidance is often not specific to text-dependent questions and tasks of each lesson, and they are the same for Grades 9–12. The Resources tab contains training, on-demand videos, and Teacher Toolkit materials to support general planning and implementation.
Text-specific and text-dependent questions and tasks support students in making meaning of the core understandings of the texts being studied. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 3, students read “Green Teen Memes: How TikTok Could Save the Planet” by Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu and answer the prompt: “How does the author use examples and text features, such as TikTok memes, as evidence to support the arguments around social media and activism?” Students then analyze the article with a highlighting method: “Use Green to highlight examples of how people use social media to learn and to create change. Add notes about how effective social media is for learning and sharing information. Use Purple to highlight specific ways in which the platform of TikTok has been beneficial for these purposes. Add notes about what the TikTok screenshots and examples add to your understanding of the argument in the article.” In addition, students answer five multiple-choice questions based on reading and viewing a slide show about Analyzing Text Features.
In Unit 5, Modules 1–5, students read Acts I to V of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Students read each act and answer five multiple-choice questions for each act. In addition, materials include text-specific questions for each act, such as in Module 4 for Act III: “How does Shakespeare use parallel plot structure in Act III to comment upon the relationship of Romeo and Juliet and create drama and suspense for the audience?” In Module 6, for Act V: “At the resolution of the play, what might be the enduring legacies of Romeo and Juliet for their families and the city of Verona? What are the enduring lessons of their story for viewers?”
In Unit 7, Module 5, students read “The Greatest Tale Ever Told?” by Natalie Haynes. Students answer five multiple-choice questions in the Check step:
“The author uses each of the following details to support the idea that The Odyssey remains central to our culture today, except which of the following?
The author supports the idea that ‘the fantastical elements of The Odyssey have made it a source of inspiration to writers in virtually every field by including each of the following except which of the following?
Based on the excerpt above and the author’s depiction of the film scene, which statement best compares how each of the scenes presents the idea of transformation?
Which of the following statements from the article expresses a theme of The Odyssey that is also represented in the excerpt above?
The author details Odysseus’s encounter with the sirens and Polyphemos, the cyclops, in order to support which claim about his character?”
Teacher materials provide support for planning and implementation of text-based questions and tasks. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Teacher Guide provides general guidance for each lesson step in each unit.
In Unit 1, Module 2, students read An Excerpt from An American Childhood by Annie Dillard. In the Teacher Guide, the Share Your Reflection section includes the following guidance:
“Assist students in switching between the Pause and Reflect questions online and recording their responses in the Student Guide.
Facilitate pairs or small groups for students to discuss their responses.
Remind them to record their discussion reflections in the Student Guide.”
In Unit 4, Module 5, students read “Food and Climate Change: Healthy Diets for a Healthier Planet” by United Nations and “Your Questions About Food and Climate Change, Answered” by Julia Moskin, Brad Plumer, Rebecca Lieberman, and Eden Weingart. The Teacher Guide provides guidance for the Evaluating Information Texts section, including:
“Explain that students will read the articles and complete the Check step.
Evaluate specific categories of evidence and focus on the overall analysis of each text.”
In Unit 5, Module 1, students read Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scenes I, and II by William Shakespeare. At the end of the module, students draft a paragraph response. The Teacher Guidance for the Draft and Review section of the lesson is
“ Have students drop their drafts into the drafting space and develop their CERCAs.
Feedback Focus: Encourage students to share different aspects of their CERCA drafts to ensure they have included a strong claim, supportive reasons, and evidence.”
In the Resources tab, Training Courses, materials provide video training modules for teachers, including “Establishing Literacy Routines with CERCA Slides, Direct Instruction Lessons, Skill Practice Lessons, and Six Steps for Close Reading and Writing Lessons.” The On-Demand Video Library contains on-demand training videos, such as “Must Moments in Literacy” videos, demonstrating the conditions needed for successful implementation and the common challenges. The Help Center, Teacher Toolkit, Graphic Organizers to Support Close Reading, Effective Writing, and Critical Thinking provides teachers with graphic organizers for reading texts.
Indicator 1G
Materials provide frequent opportunities and protocols for evidence-based discussions.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1g.
The materials provide frequent and varied opportunities and protocols to support students’ speaking and listening skills across the year. In each unit, students have opportunities for evidence-based partner, small group, and whole class discussions using formal protocols, such as Socratic Discussions, Debates, Panel Discussions, and Performances. The materials provide direct instruction and skills practice lessons around each speaking and listening protocol in a tab at the top of every unit. These lessons are the same across Grades 9–12. The student guide includes worksheets to help students prepare for more formal speaking and listening activities. Each unit incorporates various speaking opportunities for students to react to and reflect on the unit content. The materials provide teacher guidance to help the teacher support students throughout the lesson. The guidance provides lesson rationale, Lesson snapshots, Lesson Roadmap, Support for English Language Development, Support for Students with Exceptional Needs, and Support for Further Exploration and Thinking. In the Resources tab, teachers can access materials to support implementation, such as training courses, on-demand videos, the Help Center, the ThinkCERCA Blog, and rubrics.
Materials provide varied protocols to support students’ developing speaking and listening skills across the whole year’s scope of instructional materials. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Direct Instruction and Skills Practice slideshow lessons in each unit include instructions for performing each speaking and listening task. Topics and protocols include:
Rules for Discussion
Be prepared.
Define goals and roles.
Participate in a respectful way.
Ask and respond to questions.
Reflect on ideas.
How to Deliver an Oral Presentation
Keys to a strong oral presentation
Types of oral presentations
Organization
Tips for writing note cards
Presentation language - formal and informal
Appropriate use of voice, props, and gestures.
Socratic Discussions
What is a Socratic Discussion?
Steps to answer the Socratic Question
Prepare Reasoning for the Discussion
Create your argument and forming a counterargument
Respectful speaking and listening rules including expressing ideas civilly, questioning members to bring in all viewpoints, and making eye contact to show active listening.
Sentence frames provided for questions and statements to build effective discussion
Panel Discussion
What is a panel discussion?
Panel members - each bringing a different type of expertise or point of view on the topic
The Moderator and audience roles
Format - brief introduction by each panel member, questions from the moderator, questions from the audience, and brief closing by each panel member
How to prepare
Respectful speaking and listening rules including expressing ideas civilly, questioning members to bring in all viewpoints, making eye contact to show active listening.
Sentence frames provided for questions and statements to build effective discussion
Pitch Deck
Definition of Pitch Deck
How to prepare for the pitch
How to prepare reasoning
Characteristics of a great pitch deck
Listening rules of the audience
Debate Game
Preparing reasoning and evidence for the discussion
Forming a counterargument
How to speak and listen in a Socratic Discussion
Speaking and listening rules
Questions and statements to build effective discussion
Performance
Prepare
Perform
Be a Respectful Audience Member
Speaking and listening instruction includes facilitation, monitoring, and instructional supports for teachers. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each unit contains one module focused on a speaking and listening activity. The Teacher Guide for this module includes guidance for all parts of the activity.
Under Resources, Speaking and Listening, Speaking and Listening Toolkit- Grade 9, materials include a toolkit for teachers and students. This toolkit includes observation tools and guidance for each Speaking and Listening activity type in the curriculum.
In Unit 1, Module 6, students participate in a Socratic Discussion. The Teacher Guide provides a step-by-step plan for the teacher to familiarize themselves with the online lessons about Socratic Discussions, the Rules of the Discussion, and the Student Guide activities. It also provides four options for setting up the discussion:
“Two discussions that change in intervals of 10-15 minutes: an inner and outer circle that switch places.
One discussion with the whole class. Prepare your classroom by putting the chairs in a circle.
Fishbowl discussion where 4-6 students engage in discussion. Others tap in at intervals to join the discussion.
Independent student groups engage in discussions.”
In Unit 3, Module 3, Share Your Reflections, the Teacher Guide states, "Facilitate pairs or small groups for students to discuss their responses.”
Indicator 1H
Materials support students’ listening and speaking about what they are reading and researching (including presentation opportunities) with relevant follow-up questions and evidence.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1h.
The materials support students’ listening and speaking about what they are reading and researching. Materials provide multiple opportunities over the school year for students to demonstrate what they are reading and researching through varied speaking and listening tasks. Unit tasks include Socratic Discussions, Debates, Performances, and Pitch Decks. They all require students to synthesize information from the unit texts and include text evidence in their speaking and listening tasks. Texts build knowledge, and tasks require students to use evidence to support their thinking and research. Materials include multiple opportunities for pair, small group, and class discussions. Direct Instruction lessons include Speaking and Listening protocols, and the protocols include formats for peer feedback and reflection. Materials provide teacher guidance for speaking and listening opportunities.
Students have multiple opportunities over the school year to demonstrate what they are reading through varied speaking and listening opportunities. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 6, students participate in a Socratic Discussion focused on the unit’s Essential Question, “How can certain memories, places, and experiences shape who we become?” Students prepare for the discussion by making a claim and supporting it with three reasons and evidence from the unit texts that support each reason. They also make notes on the counterargument.
Work with peers to set rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g., informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual roles as needed. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 6, students have a Socratic Discussion on the question, “How do our experiences shape our values and reveal the choices we have available to us?” In the Student Guide, students use the following guidelines for participating in the lesson: “Prepare observations about the texts you have read, and be ready to share your evidence and explain your reasoning effectively. The goal is not to just share your point of view or “win” but to explore a text together, so good listening is important. Take notes. Speak respectfully. You might not agree with everything your peers share about the topic or text, but you can still express your ideas civilly.”
Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 6, students create a Pitch Deck, a set of recorded slides to accompany a presentation that communicates the solution to a problem or answers a question. The Teacher Guide provides guidance for the activity before, during, and closing, focused on the Essential Question, “How do your interests help you further your own future?” Using the template in the Student Guide, students create a Pitch Deck that includes information they have learned from unit texts, their own retrospection, and other sources. The Pitch Deck includes the following sections: Title Page, The Importance of Activities, My Interests, My Current Activities, My Extracurricular Path Options, Possible Changes, Pitch Your Top Activity, Explanation of Activity Selected, Postsecondary Plan, and Closing Page.
Speaking and listening work requires students to utilize, apply, and incorporate evidence from texts and/or sources. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Explore the Theme, Preview the Essential Question, and Knowledge, Understanding, and Skills lesson, students explore the Essential Question, “How do we ensure that we build and become members of healthy virtual communities?” In a class discussion, the teacher asks several guiding questions, giving students an opportunity to brainstorm, such as “Is it possible to make social media and other online communities healthy for teens? How can schools address cyberbullying and improve student safety online? Do social media influencers have too much influence on adolescents? Can social media be used to make a positive change in the world? And should there be age limits for social media?” There was no evidence found of students posing questions.
Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 4, Share Your Personal Connection, students participate in a Think, Pair, Share. They read the topic of the text, “St Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,” then write a brief response based on their personal experience to the prompt, “Consider a time in your life when you felt you had to choose between being true to yourself or conforming to a set of expectations. How did you feel? Did you take any action?” Students discuss with a peer and then write answers to the following questions: “What ideas did others share that you hadn’t considered? How were your ideas alike?”
In Unit 4, the Student Guide includes instructions for planning and taking part in a Panel Discussion. Student instructions state to plan for the following parts: “an opening statement, opportunities to answer 3–5 questions from the moderator and the audience, and a closing statement.” Discussion guidance includes: “Listen Respectfully: During the panel discussion, it is important to listen to others so your answers to questions can add new information to the discussion. While all of you are looking at similar topics, you will also use evidence differently. It is important to listen to your peers closely so that you can answer appropriately.”
Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally), evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 6, students prepare for and conduct a debate on the Essential Question, “Is it possible to make social media and other online communities healthy for teens?” Students review two informational articles, a video, two opinion texts, and two photo essays. Students take notes on each source to prepare to argue their side of the debate.
In Unit 7, Read Across Genres, students watch “A Black Odyssey” by Romare Bearden and complete a Quick Journal prompt, “How is the hero’s journey represented in modern stories and works of art?” Students analyze the structure of two poems: “Siren Song: by Margaret Atwood and “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy. Students analyze multiple perspectives using the informational texts “The Greatest Tale Ever Told?” by Natalie Haynes and an excerpt from “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario. There was no evidence found on evaluating the credibility and accuracy of sources.
Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 1, students build a claim and write an argument to the prompt, “What values and emotional experiences does the author convey through the descriptions of his childhood vacation spot? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your response.” After writing their argument, students conduct a peer review. The peer reviewer uses the Student Checklist for Peer and Self Editing, which includes statements such as, “Takes a clear stance based on the question, States an alternative or opposing viewpoint, Explains why the alternative viewpoint is not as strong as the claim, Includes three or more clear facts or examples that support the claim and reasons, etc.” After students receive feedback from their peers, they complete a feedback loop worksheet answering questions: “From the feedback provided, what is one thing you agree with? From the feedback provided, what’s one thing you’ll improve before you complete the next assignment? From the feedback you received, what is one question you have?”
In Unit 7, Module 2, students summarize “The Wanderings of Odysseus: Excerpts from ‘The Odyssey of Homer’ Books 7–12” by Homer. Students use the Share Your Argument Builder to build a claim using the prompt, “How do Odysseus’ decisions in the face of moral dilemmas define him as a leader?” Students share their arguments in small groups and use the Student Checklist for Peer and Self Editing. As students receive peer feedback, they take notes in the student guide. The ThinkCERCA Feedback Loop Example is another resource to help students reflect on the feedback they receive. There was no evidence found for identifying fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 6, students prepare for and conduct a debate on the Essential Question, “Is it possible to make social media and other online communities healthy for teens?” Students participate in a Debate Game in which the class is divided into two teams, each with one to four speakers. The remaining team members participate by helping to develop arguments, plan rebuttals, and write closing arguments. Teams take turns presenting their arguments to each other, develop rebuttals or counterarguments, and state their objections to the opposing argument. Students are encouraged to listen carefully and take notes while the opposing team presents. At the end of the debate, the class answers, “What side were you first leaning toward in the debate? Has it changed? What role did your peers have in your learning?” Then they discuss as a class, “Which arguments were the strongest on both sides during the debate?”
Indicator 1I
Materials include a mix of on-demand and process writing (e.g., multiple drafts, revisions over time) and short, focused projects, incorporating digital resources where appropriate.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1i.
The materials include a variety of on-demand, process writing, and short-focused project opportunities across the school year. Digital resources are incorporated since the materials are accessed in the publisher’s online platform. Learning opportunities are available for full class, small group, pairs, or individual work. On-demand writing tasks include goal setting, unit preview analysis, Quick Journal, Topic Overview, Connect, Write to Impress, Reflect on Your Learning, and Text Summaries. The Your Portfolio section includes Process writing tasks at the end of each unit, which are connected to the unit in theme and writing tasks. The tasks include personal narrative, argumentative essay, short story, research paper, cause and effect essay, and literary analysis. Other process writing tasks include the Develop step online, Share Your Argument Builder in the Student Guide, and Research Big Ideas. The process writing tasks are expected to be completed over three to five days. The Student Guide provides guidance for each step of the writing process. The online lesson interface also provides guidance for students through sentence frames, graphic organizers, and peer editing checklists. Because the materials are mainly accessed digitally, students have many opportunities to incorporate digital resources while composing written work online. The Teacher Guide provides a Lesson Snapshot and Lesson Roadmap. Support for English Language Learners, Students with Exceptional Needs, and Further Exploration and Thinking are also provided.
Materials include on-demand writing opportunities that cover a year’s worth of instruction. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 2, prior to reading “An American Childhood,” students respond to the following Quick Journal, on-demand writing prompt: “Certain moments from childhood build lasting memories. In turn, these memories help us understand the process of growing up. Think about an event that captures the spirit of your childhood. Why is this event something that you remember? How does it illustrate an important part of you, the people you were with, or the place in which it took place? Then answer: How can a small moment capture the spirit of childhood?” Students share their writing in pairs or small groups.
In Unit 7, Module 3, students read “Return to Ithaka: Excerpts from ‘The Odyssey of Homer’ Books 13-19” by Homer. After reading about the topic in the Overview, students think about related experiences and respond in writing using the prompt, “What is it like to be absent from somewhere for a long time and then return? Think about visiting old classrooms or special places that have been torn down or renovated. Write about those experiences here.” Using a Think-Pair-Share, students share their reflections. Students also complete an on-demand summary in the ThinkCERCA.
Materials include process writing opportunities that cover a year’s worth of instruction. Opportunities for students to revise and edit are provided. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, students write a personal narrative that “illustrates a moment within a specific place and time that has an impact on who you are becoming.” In the 50-minute class pacing guide, this activity covers five days and includes a day for pre-writing, two days for drafting, a day for editing and revising, and a final day to share and reflect. The student guide includes a checklist with relevant skills lessons for each writing process step, a final narrative rubric, a graphic organizer to map the narrative, a peer editing checklist, and a reflection page. A student exemplar is included for students to read and answer questions about as part of the online lessons. The teacher guide includes guidance on each step of the writing process.
In Unit 5, students write a cause-and-effect essay for the prompt, “Choose one of the protagonists - either Romeo or Juliet - and analyze the character traits, personal choices, and external factors that ultimately led to his or her final fate.” The Teacher Guide estimates 3-5 days to complete the essay. Students use several online resources in the Student Guide to complete pre-writing, draft writing, and editing the draft. Students share the initial draft with a partner, providing feedback on the Share Your Essay page. Students use the Edit the Draft Together page to individually assess their draft and then collaborate with a peer or peers to evaluate each other’s work using a rubric. Before submitting the final essay, students write a brief reflection describing their experience using the Reflect on Your Writing page.
In Unit 7, students write a literary analysis essay for the prompt, “Select one or two texts that build on or transform ideas about themes, plot points, or characters from The Odyssey. Make a claim about how each author conveys their own unique perspective on an idea from The Odyssey and support it with examples from the original text as well as the newer text.” In the 50-minute class pacing guide, students write the essay in five days, and the process includes one day for pre-writing, two days for drafting, one for editing and revising, and one for sharing and reflecting. The Student Guide includes a checklist with relevant skills lessons for each step of the writing process, a final argumentative rubric, graphic organizers to map the similarities and differences between the texts, a graphic organizer for organizing the essay, a peer editing checklist, and a reflection page. Students also read and answer questions about a student exemplar. The Teacher Guide includes guidance on each step of the writing process.
Materials include digital resources where appropriate. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
All units include interactive digital components such as video/slideshow skills lessons, online reading of texts including audio and multiple choice comprehension questions, guided writing lessons which include digital highlighting and note taking on the texts as a prewriting step, sentence frames, instruction for each step in the writing process, and interactive rubric checklists.
In Unit 1, students write a personal narrative that “illustrates a moment within a specific place and time that has an impact on who you are becoming.” Students write the narrative in the online lesson, Portfolio: Writing Your Personal Narrative, which includes multiple steps of typing the narrative. In the Develop step, students make a digital copy of the graphic organizer and then use the information from the organizer to write a statement to explain the message they want their audience to think about after reading their narrative. In the Create step, students write a draft, including an introduction and conclusion. The digital interface provides help if students click a “Need help getting started” link, which opens up general instructions about structure, audience, purpose, pacing, and dialogue in a narrative.
In Unit 6, students create a Pitch Deck on the online platform. They use knowledge from unit texts and their own retrospection to create the presentation on the Essential Question, “How do your interests help you further your own future?” Students insert required information using a template that includes the following topics: Title Page, The Importance of Activities, My Interests, My Current Activities, My Extracurricular Path Options, Possible Challenges, Pitch Your Top Activity, Explanation of Activity Selected, Postsecondary Plan, and Closing Page.
Indicator 1J
Materials provide opportunities for students to address different text types of writing that reflect the distribution required by the standards.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 p meet the criteria for Indicator 1j.
The materials provide opportunities for students to address different types of writing. The materials focus on argumentative writing skills; the CERCA acronym stands for Claims, Evidence, Reasoning, Counterarguments, and Audience. In each unit, the first four modules include multiple writing lessons connected to an argumentative or informative/explanatory prompt related to unit texts. For this reason, the distribution of writing types across all tasks is 38.5% argumentative, 38,5% informational/explanatory, and 23% narrative, which closely reflects the 40/40/20 writing distribution requirement. At each grade level, the Portfolio writing tasks are personal narrative, argumentative essay, short story, research paper, cause-and-effect essay, personal statement, and literary analysis. Some writing instruction is included throughout the materials through a series of slide decks that present guidance for students in planning, drafting, and revising. The Teacher Guide includes extra writing instruction guidance in Show and Tell, and Teach Academic Writing Skills boxes. Rubrics included require students to implement the elements of writing as required by the standards.
Materials provide multiple opportunities across the school year for students to learn, practice, and apply different genres/modes/types of writing, that reflect the distribution required by the standards. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Percentage or number of opportunities for argumentative writing: Three units addresses argumentative writing. Portfolio writing assignments include an argumentative essay in Unit 2 and literary analysis in Unit 7. Five (38.5%) of writing opportunities are argumentative.
Unit 1: 0
Unit 2: 2
Unit 3: 0
Unit 4: 0
Unit 5: 1
Unit 6: 0
Unit 7: 2
Percentage or number of opportunities for informative/explanatory writing: Three units address informative/explanatory writing. Portfolio writing assignments include a research paper in Unit 4 and a cause-and-effect essay in Unit 5. Five (38.5%) of writing opportunities are informative/explanatory.
Unit 1: 0
Unit 2: 0
Unit 3: 0
Unit 4: 2
Unit 5: 2
Unit 6: 1
Unit 7: 0
Percentage or number of opportunities for narrative writing: Three units address narrative writing. Portfolio writing assignments include a personal narrative in Unit 1, a short story in Unit 3, and a personal statement in Unit 6. Three (23%) of writing opportunities are narrative.
Unit 1: 1
Unit 2: 0
Unit 3: 1
Unit 4: 0
Unit 5: 0
Unit 6: 1
Unit 7: 0
Explicit instruction in argumentative writing:
In Unit 2, Module 7, students write an argumentative essay for the prompt, “Based on your readings, what changes would you make as a user and community member to build a healthier online experience for all?” Students use online modules, graphic organizers, and direct instruction to write an argumentative essay in an estimated three to five days. The Teacher Guide and Student Guide have Pre-Writing, Draft, and Edit sections with multiple resources. During Pre-Writing, students read the Argumentative Writing Rubric and score an exemple. As students score the example, they practice giving it feedback. The Teacher Guide include the following guidance for this section, “Show and Tell—Student Exemplar Scoring: Model for students how to engage with the scoring process and to understand the criteria used to determine quality writing. Point to an example from the text and share how it meets/doesn’t meet the criteria in the rubric. Another option is to exemplify the criteria in the rubric. See the Answer Key for ideas. Also see Best Practices: Student Scoring.” In the Student Guide, students use the Choose Your Argument guide and the Map Your Argument graphic organizer. During the Draft, students navigate online to the Portfolio: Writing Your Argumentative Essay to complete the Develop and Draft section. In the final section, Edit, students revise and edit the draft. Next, students partner and use the Make It Powerful graphic organizer to find the most important appeal sections and look for neutral words that can be improved upon. Students then navigate to the Portfolio: Writing Your Argumentative Essay, Review step and use the Share Your Argument graphic organizer to work with a partner to read and listen to the argument to locate major parts that need more development. In the Portfolio: Writing Your Argument Essay, students complete the Review step and then complete the Share Your Argument in the Student Guide. In this step, students work with a partner to complete a graphic organizer with the following questions: “What is your claim? What evidence do you have to support it? Do you have a counterargument?” The Read and Analyze step within Portfolio: Writing Your Argumentative Essay is completed next. In the Student Guide, students edit their drafts with a partner according to the Edit the Draft Together guide. A Student Checklist for Peer and Self Editing Argumentative Writing is available as needed. Students write a brief reflection of their experience. In closing the lesson, this reflection may take the form of a quick-write, exit ticket, or turn and talk.
Explicit instruction in informative/explanatory writing:
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write a research paper listed as informative writing for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” Direct instruction is provided in a self-paced digital slideshow lesson, Writing the Research Paper, including slides defining a research paper, steps in the research writing process, synthesizing information and organizing the essay, introduction, body, and conclusion dos and don’ts, and examples. A five-question quiz follows the slideshow to check for understanding. During pre-writing, students read the Informative Writing Rubric. The Teacher Guide includes the following teacher guidance for this section of the lesson: “Teach Academic Writing Skills: In this module, students will complete the entire research paper writing process. After multiple informal and formal research projects, students have a clear point of view on their topic, and it is time to impress with writing. They should develop a formal introduction with a clear thesis, strong reasons to support each section of their piece, and sufficient evidence to support their paper. Students may need support with integrating evidence smoothly. They sometimes copy large tracts of a source text into their papers, believing it is most valuable in the author’s own words. Let them know that the quotes they can integrate into their own writing should be effective and concise, while the larger direct quotations worth integrating will be fewer. Anything longer than 2-3 sentences might call for a conversation with you. Have students complete or review Citing and Documenting Sources and leverage digital resources to complete the bibliography. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab is an excellent resource for tools and information in addition to the Direct Instruction provided.” In the Student Guide, a checklist of tasks is provided for the pre-writing, drafting, and revising steps, as well as an informative rubric for the paper. A graphic organizer is provided with prompts and guidance for students to make notes about the hook, claim, evidence, and conclusion. Students complete writing online in the Portfolio: Writing Your Research Paper Writing Lesson. They are guided through each step with sentence frames and organizing features, including plan, outline, draft, and review. The Teacher Guide includes guidance for the pre-writing, drafting, and editing stages.
Explicit instruction in narrative writing:
In Unit 3, Module 7, students compose a short story for the prompt, “Think about the factors that lead to certain decisions. Write a short story in which a character or several characters make choices that are shaped by their experiences and values.” Students read four short stories as anchors for the task. In Module 7, Portfolio: Writing the Short Story, students read Direct Instruction, Writing the Short Story, and answer five multiple-choice questions. Students read a Student Exemplar and begin mapping the short story. After students map their stories, they engage in a Show, Don’t Tell activity. The Teacher Guide includes the following teacher guidance for this section of the lesson “Show and Tell - Using Concrete, Sensory Details in Narrative Writing: Remind students why concrete and sensory details are essential in narrative writing to make stories more engaging. Review the following excerpt from the student exemplar: “The tree looked to be barely a sapling. The sunlight bounced off the crystal-like water, shining light onto the new, spring flowers dotted around the opening.” Discuss how these details create vivid visuals for the reader. Next, students should examine their drafts or outlines, focusing on where they can incorporate specific sensory (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) and concrete (objects, actions, settings) details into two key scenes. If time permits, pair students for peer feedback on their revisions, discussing how effectively the added details enhance their narratives.” Students complete the steps Think: Develop and Create: Draft and Review. The Teacher Guide includes guidance for pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing, which correspond to short story development in the Student Guide.
Different genres/modes/types of writing are distributed throughout the school year. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Students have opportunities to engage in argumentative writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 7, Module 7, students complete online lessons and pre-writing activities in preparation to write a literary analysis essay. In the Student Guide, Organize Your Essay, students use a graphic organizer to develop an introduction, state key points of similarity or difference, and state their conclusion. When students have organized these pieces, they plan any additional paragraphs and expand the conclusion.
Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 7, Develop, students plan an argument by filling in various boxes. They enter their claim in one box and click to enter information into the following additional boxes: Add Another Reason, Add Another Evidence, Add Another Reasoning, and Add Another Counterargument. In Share Your Argument, when the initial draft is complete, students pair with a partner and ask questions to help strengthen each other’s argument using greater detail. Students ask the following questions: “What is your claim? What evidence do you have to support it? Do you have a counterargument?” The graphic organizer has a Share and Listen column for students to complete. In the Share column, students list three major parts of the person’s argument that need development, and in the Listen column, students list major parts of their own argument that need development.
Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 7, Module 7, Use Transition Sentences, when the initial literary analysis draft is complete, students pair together to look for sentences in the essay that need transitions and determine how to choose words that transition from one idea to the next. When completed, students reflect on whether or not the revisions reinforced the relationships between ideas in the essay and if there are opportunities to revise to develop those ideas further.
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 7, students view slides to learn the components of an argumentative essay. In the Check section, one slide is included that references tone and style, which reminds students to maintain a formal style and objective tone and also provides examples of what to avoid. No evidence was found that supports students during the writing process to establish and maintain an objective tone and formal style. In the Review section, students can edit their text and review their work, including punctuation and spelling, before clicking the submit box.
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 7, Module 7, students view slides to learn components of a Literary Analysis. In the Check section, two slides are related to the conclusion. One provides a definition, and the second is an example. In the Student Guide, Organize Your Essay, a graphic organizer has a space for students to write a conclusion.
Students have opportunities to engage in informative/explanatory writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 4, Module 1, students write a response for the prompt, “How does the author give readers a clear understanding of the differences between grass-fed and feedlot beef?” In the Student Guide, a graphic organizer is provided for students to plan their writing. The Teacher Guide provides the following guidance for teachers as students plan: “Explain to students that their claims should answer all aspects of the prompt, provide a clear focus for the writing, and present the points they will cover in their writing.”
Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write a research paper for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” A graphic organizer is provided in the worksheet, Plan Your Research - Step 2: Find Reliable Sources. Students note the source title, author, type of source, summary, and citation. In Step 3, students collect relevant and reliable evidence to prepare for Step 4: Create a Thesis Statement.
Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write a research paper for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” The rubric for this assignment includes checklist items “Writer uses appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.”
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write a research paper for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” The rubric for this assignment includes checklist items, “Uses precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.” No further instruction is found in the Student or Teacher Guide.
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write a research paper for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” The rubric for this assignment includes checklist items, “Writer establishes and maintains a formal style and objective tone throughout this longer research project. The style of writing is appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.” No further instruction is found in the Student or Teacher Guide.
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write a research paper for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” In the online writing lesson, some guidance includes, “A strong CERCA includes a brief conclusion that wraps up your argument. Look back at your CERCA and write a conclusion that reinforces your claim. It can include a call to action, a question you want your audience to consider, or a statement of your personal opinion in response to the selection.”
Students have opportunities to engage in narrative writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 6, Module 7, students write a personal narrative for the prompt: “Describe something you’re passionate about. What makes it so appealing? How do you learn more about it?” In Map Your Plan, students complete a chart with four categories: Hook, Understanding Choices, Making Decisions, and Postsecondary Plan and Conclusion. In the Hook section, the following instruction is provided: “In this paragraph, you will paint a picture of your interest. Specifically, you should hook your reader by proudly announcing the interest you chose. Additionally, you should give a bit of background on the importance of extracurricular activities.” In the Hook box, students answer the question, “How will you tell your reader about your interest?”
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 7, Student Guide, Show, Don’t Tell, student instructions state: “When you have finished an initial draft, pair with another writer and ask each other to find a character, description of the setting, and an event in each other’s stories. Then determine how you might show, not tell, by using descriptions for each.” A chart is provided with four categories: Character, Setting, and Event. An example of character description is included: “Experiment with ways to describe your character by showing what they feel rather than telling the reader what they feel. Instead of saying, ‘She was very surprised,’ have the character do or say something that shows surprise. ‘Her eyes grew wide, and when she opened her mouth to speak, nothing came out.’”
Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 7, Student Guide, Plot Your Story, Plotting Your Narrative Arc, students use a provided diagram to plot the events in their story. Each part of the plot diagram is described, including “Rising Action: Include 2-3 rising action events. Falling Action: Make sure you resolve all conflicts, no matter how minor. This will give your readers a sense of closure.”
Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 7, Student Guide, Show, Don’t Tell, students instructions state: “When you have finished an initial draft, pair with another writer and ask each other to find a character, description of the setting, and an event in each other’s stories. Then determine how you might show, not tell, by using descriptions for each.” A chart is provided with four categories: Character, Setting, and Event. An example of character description is included: “Experiment with ways to describe your character by showing what they feel rather than telling the reader what they feel. Instead of saying, ‘She was very surprised,’ have the character do or say something that shows surprise. ‘Her eyes grew wide, and when she opened her mouth to speak, nothing came out.’”
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Student Guide, Your Portfolio, Map Your Story, students complete a table with the following instructions: “Organize your writing with a clear beginning, middle, and end.” Additional questions are provided: “What are the events that comprise the story’s Falling Action? How do the events in the Falling Action resolve the conflicts? This is your Resolution.”
Where appropriate, writing opportunities are connected to texts and/or text sets (either as prompts, models, anchors, or supports). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 5, Modules 1-6, students read Romeo and Juliet and write a cause-and-effect essay for the prompt, “Choose one of the protagonists, either Romeo or Juliet. In your cause-and-effect essay, analyze the character traits, desires, personal choices, and external factors that ultimately lead to his or her final fate.” Students are instructed to use their reflections on the various causes and effects of conflicts driven by the setting, characters, and language to answer the prompt and write their essays. This pattern is followed in all units.
Indicator 1K
Materials include frequent opportunities for evidence-based writing to support sophisticated analysis, argumentation, and synthesis.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1k.
The materials provide frequent opportunities for students to complete evidence-based writing tasks across the school year. The Teacher Guide provides a Module Overview, which identifies the evidence-based writing prompt and genre. Writing opportunities are largely focused on developing and planning an argument, though analysis and synthesis are also included. Each unit includes opportunities to write claims about the text and support the claim with reasons and evidence from the text. In each unit module, the Write section includes tasks such as summarizing the selection, developing and building an argument, completing a draft, and reviewing the draft. Students work with a peer to complete graphic organizers or obtain feedback that occurs frequently during writing. When drafting, students can use an Automated Feedback feature for grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling, but the tool does not provide support for strengthening the argument. However, not all of the drafting tasks are required assignments throughout the program. While some of the module's writing pieces are essential for completion, most are optional. During the Closing of the Lessons, students reflect and share progress as a whole class. At the end of each unit, Your Portfolio writing tasks provide opportunities to write a short story, research paper, literary analysis, personal narrative, cause and effect essay, and argumentative essay. These are closely tied to the texts in their respective units and often require the synthesis of multiple texts. The Student Guide provides several graphic organizers to help students organize their thoughts and text evidence to support their claims. The Teacher Guide provides guidance for specific writing instruction throughout the materials, including reasons for the writing instruction focus, what students should be able to do, and what to focus on to grow as a writer. There is direct instruction guidance for teachers to implement. Teachers and students have access to slideshow lessons and support in the Student Guide. The materials include scaffolds for students in the Student and Teacher Guides.
Materials provide opportunities across the school year for students to learn, practice, and apply writing using evidence. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 1, students read “You Can Track Almost Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea,” by Lisa Damour, and write an argument in response to the prompt, “Does the author use convincing evidence to appeal to the audience about the negative impacts of monitoring teens’ social media activity?” The Teacher Guide includes support for teachers as students learn about “Introducing Arguments” and “Determining and Tracing Central Ideas in Texts” through Direct Instruction lessons:
“Explain that understanding central ideas helps students grasp the key messages, which is essential for comprehension.
Guide students in identifying details that support the central idea and distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information by analyzing text structure to engage more deeply with text and draw informed and accurate conclusions.
Explain that students will learn how to introduce an argument effectively by understanding introductory methods and how the inclusion of background information establishes context or relevance for the reader.”
In the Write section, Develop, students use an interactive argument builder to make a claim and add reasons and evidence from the text to support their claim. Students may click the “Need help getting started?” link that provides sentence frames to guide students in making their claims, adding reasons and evidence, and writing a counterargument. After students have drafted their response, the Teacher Guide includes steps such as,
“Explain to students that their claims should answer all aspects of the prompt, provide a clear focus for the writing, and present the points they will cover in their writing.
Remind students to provide at least two reasons to support the claim.
Explain to students that no reason can be submitted without supporting evidence, and that no evidence can be provided without an explanation of reasoning.
Guide students in sharing their CERCA plans with peers.”
Teachers may click on the ThinkCERCA Argumentative Writing Feedback Bank provided in the Writing Resources in the Feedback Guidance document to find examples of writing feedback they can give students based on how well they perform on certain skills against the rubric. For example, if a student performs at a 3 out of 5, the teacher can say, “You’re getting there! You have provided evidence to support your analysis, but it’s not sufficient enough to develop your claim or counterclaim. Go back to the text and find a quotation that reinforces your thinking.” The materials also include a Teacher Flex strategy with additional support for helping students develop arguments. “Select a ThinkCERCA Best Practices Activity to enhance students’ arguments: Collaborating to Find Evidence or Pairing to Share Argument Builders.”
In Unit 4, Module 1, students read “Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better for the Planet? Here’s the Science” by Nancy Matsumoto and write a response to the prompt, “How does the author give readers a clear understanding of the differences between grass-fed and feedlot beef?” In the Write section, Develop, students use an interactive argument builder to make a claim and add reasons and evidence from the text to support their claim. In this module, students complete one Direct Instruction lesson on “Determining the Meaning of Words and Phrases.” The Teacher Guide includes the following guidance on this assignment: “Explain to students that recognizing an author’s choice of words to convey meaning will help them to see and talk about how these choices make a text effective. Analyzing an author’s use of words and phrases will help students evaluate them for purpose and effect.” Students may click the “Need help getting started?” link that provides sentence frames to guide students in making their claims, adding reasons and evidence, and writing a counterargument. The Teacher Guide provides the following guidance:
“Explain to students that their claims should answer all aspects of the prompt, provide a clear focus for the writing, and present the points they will cover in their writing.
Remind students to provide at least two reasons to support the claim. Explain to students that no reason can be submitted without supporting evidence and that no evidence can be provided without an explanation of reasoning.
Guide students in sharing their CERCA plans with peers.”
In Unit 5, Module 4, students read Romeo and Juliet: Act III by William Shakespeare. In Develop, students plan a response in the CERCA format for the prompt, “How does Shakespeare use parallel plot structure in Act III to comment upon the relationship of Romeo and Juliet and create drama and suspense for the audience?” Students are guided online to write a claim, reasons and evidence, reasoning, and a counterargument. Sentence frames are provided for each of the required components. The Rubric tab provides evaluation criteria. Students draft using their Argument Builder and notes from peer collaborations to write the CERCA paragraph that answers the writing prompt. The “Need help getting started?” link provides support for writing a claim, evidence, reasoning, and counterargument. The Teacher Guide includes information on the purpose and connection to the Direct Instruction lesson, “How Playwrights Develop Dramatic Action Through Scenes” and “Precise Language and Vocabulary in Informative Writing.” The materials state,
“Explain that understanding how playwrights develop dramatic action in their scenes will help students not only understand what is going on in a play but also appreciate the way that drama works to keep audiences engaged.
Explain that by learning how to use precise language and domainspecific vocabulary in writing, students improve their ability to communicate accurately and e!ectively with their intended audiences.”
The Teacher Guide includes steps such as:
“Explain to students that their claims should answer all aspects of the prompt, provide a clear focus for the writing, and present the points they will cover in their writing.
Remind students to provide at least two reasons to support the claim.
Explain to students that no reason can be submitted without supporting evidence and that no evidence can be provided without an explanation of reasoning.
Guide students in sharing their CERCA plans with peers.”
Students share their responses in small groups, using the Student Checklist for Peer and Self Editing. The note from the Teacher Guide states, “Feedback Focus: Check in with students to ensure their claims are supported with at least two reasons.”
Writing opportunities are focused around students’ analyses and claims developed from reading closely and working with texts and sources to provide supporting evidence. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 7, students write a personal narrative. Throughout the unit, they read a variety of texts and complete responses to guide them in composing their personal narratives. After reading one of the texts, “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White, students complete the activity “Citing Evidence to Write About Literary Texts.” Students also read an excerpt from “An American Childhood” by Annie Dillard and complete the activity “Analyzing Imagery in a Personal Narrative.”
In Unit 2, Module 7, students write an argument for the prompt, “Based on your readings, what changes would you make as a user and community member to build a healthier online experience for all?” Throughout the unit, students read informational articles, opinion articles, and visual texts about teens’ social media use. Student directions for the prompt state to add evidence from the unit texts. The Student Guide provides a Map Your Argument worksheet with the following instructions: “As you read the texts, the writers used strong and credible evidence in the form of summaries, quotations, and examples that supported the arguments and issues. What evidence have you evaluated from your readings that supports your claim and allows you to further support your argument with reasoning?”
In Unit 7, Module 7, students develop a comparative analysis for the prompt, “Select one or two texts that build on or transform ideas about themes, plot points, or characters from ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer. Make a claim about how each author conveys their own unique perspective on an idea from ‘The Odyssey’ and support it with examples from the original text as well as the newer text. Be sure to focus on one idea or element they share in order to focus your argument.” Students complete online lessons to support their writing, including pre-writing activities. During Pre-Write, students complete three online activities: Writing the Literary Analysis, Portfolio: Writing Your Literary Analysis, and Analyzing an Exemplar. In the Student Guide, students select texts for comparison in the Compare Similarities, Analyze Differences, and Finalize Your Analysis tasks. Students develop and draft their writing on the ThinkCERCA platform. Students complete the Writing the Literary Analysis module and answer five Check questions at the end. The Portfolio: Writing Your Literary Analysis section takes students through the process of drafting, reviewing, and submitting their essays.
Indicator 1L
Materials include explicit instruction of the grade-level grammar and usage standards, with opportunities for application in context.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1l.
The materials provide explicit instruction on grammar and usage standards, and opportunities for students to demonstrate the application of grammar skills in context are available. The materials include a Language and Styles Best Practices Toolkit, which is presented as a resource “for teachers and students to improve audience outcomes on writing rubrics.” This toolkit provides key definitions, generic examples, and a strategy for that particular skill, including capitalization and spelling, punctuation, end punctuation, subjects and predicates, subject-verb agreement, tense, commas, varied sentence structures, redundancy, clarification, modifiers, parallelism, formal and objective style, active and passive language, and style. The materials also include direct, explicit instruction that scaffolds instruction of grammar and usage standards, especially for how students apply the skills in larger writing contexts. The Direct Instruction slideshows include 26 grammar topics. Students practice grade-level grammar standard lessons through a mix of online lessons and corresponding tasks in the Student Guide. Teachers facilitate learning by helping students move to the next online module, moving students into pairs or small groups, having students read or share aloud, having students reflect on takeaways at the close of the module, and monitoring learning progress. Illuminating Key Concepts sections in the Teacher Guides provide additional teacher guidance on teaching specific grammar and usage skills throughout the lessons. The lessons are connected to reading a text and answering questions in the Write to Impress, Build Vocabulary, Citing Evidence, Understanding Author’s Craft, or Sharpen Your Sentences tasks. These opportunities to practice grammar skills give a brief explanation of the standard with examples, general instructions that tell students to experiment with the skill and apply it to writing, and a chart to complete with single-sentence responses to prompts. While there is evidence of focused work for spelling, it is not present throughout the modules. Using quotations and correct citations is addressed by reminding students to review an online MLA Style Manual. In essay writing, grading rubrics state students should follow standard conventions, and teachers are to use the Language and Style Guide for instruction of specific skills during Module 7, Your Portfolio.
Materials include explicit instruction of the grade-level grammar and usage standards. Materials include authentic opportunities for students to demonstrate application of skills in context, including applying grammar and convention skills to writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Students have limited opportunities to use parallel structure. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 7, Module 1, Student Guide, Write to Impress - Parallel Structure, students read examples of parallel structure. Student instructions state: “In ‘The Telemachy: Excerpts from The Odyssey of Homer Books 1-6,” poet Homer uses parallel structure to demonstrate the common level of importance between ideas. Authors also employ parallel structure to create cohesiveness or rhythm.” Two bolded examples of parallel structure with explanation are provided, including: “‘Then [Athene] caught up a powerful spear, edged with sharp bronze...and descended in a flash of speed from the peaks of Olympus, and lighted in the land of Ithaka…’ This parallel structure begins with the word and is followed by a past tense verb and a prepositional phrase that begins with the word in.” Students complete two practice sentences with the following instructions: “Underline the examples of parallel structure and record explanations of how they represent parallel structure. Then apply your learning to your writing.” In The Teacher Guide, Illuminating Key Concepts in Language and Grammar—Parallel Structure, includes guidance on how to go over this concept with students. The guidance states, “: Before beginning the activity, ensure that students are familiar with parallel structure and specific examples. Show examples such as, “My hobbies are singing, dancing, and playing sports,” (correct) versus, “My hobbies are singing, dancing, and to play a sport” (incorrect). Discuss that parallel structure occurs when the syntax of a sentence is utilized to create cohesiveness, clarity, and rhythm by repeating similar forms and lengths of clauses and phrases. Discuss with students how in “The Telemachy: Excerpts from The Odyssey by Homer Books 1-6,” poet Homer uses parallel structure to demonstrate the common level of importance between ideas. Use the model sample passage from The Odyssey and point out instances of parallel structure within the passage. Ask students to share some of their findings for each prompt and discuss.”
In Unit 1, Module 1, Direct Instruction, teachers lead students through a Direct Instruction lesson on collecting evidence from the text in order to complete a writing task. Part of this lesson includes a bullet under the Students Will section that states “...how to use parallel structure in a sentence.” However, there are no teacher supports or examples provided for teachers to teach this skill. A link to the Language & Style Focus materials is provided that includes a section on Parallelism that states what it is and some generic examples.
Students have opportunities to use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 1, Read, teacher materials include a Show and Tell strategy to explore the use of phrases in the text. Teachers group students and then have each group look at a provided sentence. Students present their sentences without the adjective and adverb phrases. The teacher can also read a sentence stripped of its phrases and then discuss the differences. Students answer which type of phrases the author most uses in the text, adverb, adjective, appositive, or prepositional phrases.
In Unit 1, Module 1, Student Guide, Write to Impress - Use Phrases and Clauses, students read a four-sentence excerpt from “Once More to the Lake” by E.B White that includes bolded phrases and clauses: “I took along my son, who had never had any fresh water up his nose and who had seen lily pads only from train windows. On the journey over to the lake, I began to wonder what it would be like.” Students complete a chart with the following instructions: “In the chart below, experiment with writing sentences responding to the prompt using a variety of phrases and clauses. Then apply your learning to your writing.” The chart includes four types of phrases with examples of each: relative clause, prepositional phrase, absolute phrase, and dependent clause. Students answer the following prompt to practice using phrases, “What values and emotional experiences does the author convey through the descriptions of his childhood vacation spot? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your response.” An example response is provided in the relative clause box with the clause underlined. The Teacher Guide, Illuminating Key Concepts in Language and Grammar—Phrases and Clauses section includes guidance on how to go over this concept with students. The guide states, “Phrases are groups of words that are not complete thoughts but provide meaning to sentences. Clauses are parts of sentences that can function independently and are complete thoughts. Despite clauses being complete thoughts, they may or may not be complete sentences in isolation. Clauses that are complete sentences in isolation are independent clauses; those that cannot stand as complete sentences are known as subordinate or dependent clauses.”
In Unit 2, Module 2, Student Guide, Sharpen Your Sentences, students practice rewriting sentences. Instructions on the worksheet state: “By beginning sentences with phrases in counterclaims, authors can summarize and respond to issues raised by those with alternate or opposing viewpoints. Revise the sentence above using the phrases below that indicate counterclaims. You can then expand your own sentences in your CERCA as you write your counterclaim.” A claim is provided at the top of the worksheet: “The author argues that social media should be regulated to combat the negative effects on teens.” Students practice writing the sentence using the following introductory phrases, “On the other hand, Some say that, [and] Despite the fact that.”
Students have opportunities to use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 6, Module 1, Student Guide, Write to Impress - Use Punctuation to Link Ideas, students complete a chart practicing using a semicolon. Instructions before practicing include: “In ‘Shonda Rhimes Commencement Address,’ speaker Shonda Rhimes uses a semicolon to combine closely related independent clauses into a single compound sentence.” Students read two sentences that include semicolons: “I come from a middle-class family, my parents are academics, I was born after the civil rights movement, I was a toddler during the women’s movement, I live in the United States of America, all of which means I’m allowed to own my freedom, my rights, my voice, and my uterus; and I went to Dartmouth, and I earned an Ivy League degree.” A sentence of instruction states: “A writer might also use a semicolon, conjunctive adverb, and a comma to combine closely related independent clauses. Conjunctive adverbs include consequently, for example, furthermore, however, indeed, instead, meanwhile, similarly, and therefore.” Students complete the chart with two practice opportunities. The instructions state: “Using sentences from the selection, experiment with writing compound sentences by combining closely related independent clauses with a semicolon or with a semicolon, conjunctive adverb, and comma. Then apply your learning to your writing.” Students rewrite the sentences as a compound sentence using the semicolon. This is the only lesson in the curriculum on semicolons. The Teacher Guide, Illuminating Key Concepts in Language and Grammar— Punctuation, includes guidance on how to go over this concept with students. The guide states, “ For further support in discussing punctuation, see the Direct Instruction. Semicolons are used to link two ideas that are closely related. Writers may sometimes pair semicolons with a conjunctive adverb (such as “meanwhile”, “however”, or “consequently”) and a comma. Two examples of semicolon use are as follows: It was raining; the party ended early. It was raining; consequently the party ended early. After completing the Direct Instruction, highlight that semicolons may appear in either of the two structures mentioned above. Read the passage in the activity with the students. Have them identify the semicolon in each sentence and the structure following each semicolon. More examples may be used if necessary or desired.”
Students have opportunities to use a colon to introduce a list or quotation. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 6, Module 2, Student Guide, Write to Impress - Use Punctuation to Introduce Ideas, students are provided two example sentences from the article “How Colleges Weigh High School Extracurriculars” by Tiffany Horensen, in which the author uses colons to introduce a list and a quotation. One example sentence is: “As a guiding force, bear in mind these two factors as you select extracurriculars: your intended career path and your secondary passions.” Students complete a chart with the following instructions: “Using the writing prompt, experiment with writing sentences using colons to introduce lists and quotations. Then apply your learning to your writing.” The prompt connected to the article asks, “How does the author develop a clear and complete set of considerations for each aspect of the value of extracurriculars in the college admission process?” An example sentence is provided in the chart for using a colon to introduce a list. Students answer the question by writing sentences that include a colon to introduce a list and introduce a quotation. This is the only lesson in the curriculum on colons.
Students have opportunities to spell correctly. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 7, Edit the Final Draft, teacher instructions say to use the Capitalization slide in the Language and Style Toolkit to teach capitalization rules. Teachers are instructed to make an anchor chart covering these rules and are provided with a list to include. Teachers are told to go over homonyms, such as there/they’re/their. Additionally, teachers are told to show the Punctuation slide and make an anchor chart for punctuation rules, including commas, parenthesis, and dashes.
In Unit 2, Module 7, Read the Final Argumentative Rubric, one of the rubric criteria for Audience Appeal states: “This piece of writing is strengthened by a skillful command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling and has very few errors.” In Score the Exemplar, students read the student essay and use one scoring criteria to evaluate conventions: “Standard English with very few errors.“ Another opportunity to evaluate their use of conventions is in Edit the Draft Together: “Do a self-assessment of your draft. Use the online rubric for the lesson on learn.thinkcerca.com, checking each box where you find evidence that you have achieved the criteria.” Each unit includes the same tasks in Module 7, Your Portfolio.
In Unit 3, Module 2, Student Guide, Write to Impress - Spell Correctly, students complete a lesson for these rules:
Drop the silent -e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.
Double the final consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.
Keep the silent -e when adding a suffix that begins with a consonant.
I before -e, except after -c, or when sounded as -a, as in neighbor and weigh.
Student instructions state: “Use the spelling rules to spell words correctly.” Students read a passage and “ Experiment with writing sentences that demonstrate the spelling rules and describe Sylvia’s conflicts from the story. Then apply your learning to your writing.”
Students have opportunities to write and edit work so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g., MLA Handbook, Turabian’s Manual for Writers) appropriate for the discipline and writing type. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 1, Student Guide, Write to Impress - Using Evidence from Sources, student instructions state: “Review the Writing According to Style Manuals-MLA lesson. Good writers will use a combination of direct quotes and paraphrasing of evidence to support their claims.” Students read a four-sentence paragraph from an article and answer the prompt, “How closely should you inspect your teens’ online lives?” Student instructions state: “In response to the writing prompt, experiment with writing sentences that conform to the direct quoting and paraphrasing guidelines from the MLA Style Guide.” Two examples are provided from the paragraph, one for direct quotation and one for paraphrasing information. Students complete two sentences from the same paragraph, one each for direct quotation and paraphrase information.
In Unit 2, Module 2, Write to Impress - Edit Citations, instructions state: “Review the Writing According to Style Manuals-MLA lesson. In ‘Influencers Aren’t Going Anywhere. So What Does That Mean for Today’s Teens?’ author Christianna Silva offers evidence in support of her argument about social media influencers.” The excerpt includes source information with a title and date. Students complete a chart with the instructions: “Using an additional example from the selection, record the evidence and edit the citation so that it conforms to the guidelines in the MLA Style Guide.” One example of evidence with an in-text citation is provided, and one example source using MLA Works Cited entry format for the evidence is provided. Students complete a different piece of evidence and edit the MLA Works Cited entry to conform to the MLA Style Guide.
Indicator 1M
Materials include a cohesive, year-long plan for students to interact and build key academic vocabulary words in and across texts.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 1m.
The materials include a way for students to interact with and build text-specific vocabulary in the texts. The materials include a scope and sequence with the vocabulary tasks for each unit. Vocabulary facilitates students’ understanding of what they are reading. In each module, in the Student Guide, the Build Your Vocabulary activities provide one to four words that appear in the text for students to work with. While reading the text online, vocabulary words are blue so that students can click on them for a definition. Vocabulary support is also built into the online lessons through a glossary of terms. Some vocabulary words were repeated within a unit or across a unit. The year-long vocabulary plan is included in the Unit Planning Tools document for explicitly teaching vocabulary strategies and debriefing vocabulary words. The Build Your Vocabulary activities are listed as essential, and the materials also include online direct instruction, student guide tasks, and some additional offline resources. The Unit Planning Tool includes teacher guidance to support vocabulary instruction, including explicit vocabulary instruction strategies that differentiate between academic vocabulary terms and CERCA words, and a vocabulary presentation resource that provides the vocabulary terms and definitions organized by unit.
Materials provide teacher guidance outlining a cohesive year-long vocabulary development component. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Unit Planning Tools document provides a Vocabulary Instruction Guidance document for each unit. This document includes definitions of Key Academic Terms, CERCA words, and Focus Words (words from the reading selections). Throughout the program, the following 17 word learning strategies with guidance are provided for teachers: Morphology, Word Relationships, Prefixes, Synonyms, Frayer Model, Context Clues, Map a Word, Antonyms, Shades of Meaning, Compare and Contrast, Word Analysis, Concept Map, Word Study, Roots Words, Word Web, Analogy Chart, and Etymology of Words. Each Unit focuses on two to four of these strategies. For Unit 1, four explicit Vocabulary Strategy Instructions are presented with key strategies: “Frayer Model -Analyzing words using characteristics, examples and non-examples, Word Relationships - finding common ideas or relationships with groups of words, Map a Word - Populating a graphic organizer with meaningful aspects of new words, [and] Word Analysis - Breaking apart words to discover their meaning.” There is a link to additional guidance, including establishing vocabulary notebooks and routines. An additional link to twenty-two Vocabulary Best Practice lessons.
Unit Planning Tools include a Key Vocabulary document for each unit. This document includes a link to a slideshow of Explicit Vocabulary Instruction Resources. The slideshow includes how to set up a Vocabulary Notebook, and slides on all of the vocabulary routines provided in the materials. This document includes key academic terms and CERCA words for the unit, as well as a slide show of the Focus words and their definitions for each module. ThinkCERCA defines these different types of vocabulary words as follows and provides the following high-level teacher guidance for each type:
“Key Academic Terms include high-value vocabulary introduced in class and reviewed in the unit’s Direct Instruction. After leading students through the presentation, provide instruction to support understanding of the key concepts and skills they represent and have students record new terms. (See unit Direct Instruction for resources.)
CERCA Words found in the Build Your Vocabulary sections of the student guide deepen key conceptual understandings and enable the expression of reasoning. (The word may not appear in the text, but it captures a key concept for interpreting the text.) Use the Explicit Vocabulary Instruction in the Teacher’s Guide to provide students with explicit support for vocabulary skill development prior to facilitating the collaborative learning experience.
Focus Words are a subset of words from reading selections. They enrich grade level readings and often appear in assessments. (After teaching the Focus Words using the slide show and modeling the vocabulary strategies, use Best Practices Facilitation Resources in the Teacher’s Guide to help students develop strategies for vocabulary using engaging tasks.)”
Throughout the Teacher Guides, general Vocabulary Explicit Strategy Instruction Guidance is provided. For example, in Unit 1, Module 1, Teacher Guide, for the Build Your Vocabulary Activity, teachers have the following guidance: “Explicit Vocabulary Strategy Instruction—Word Parts: Use the Vocabulary Presentation Resources to introduce the Vocabulary Notebooks Routine and the routine of Building Your Vocabulary. Ask: “What other words can you think of that end with -ia?” Discuss the possible meaning of the word part that connects the words students have generated. These are word parts that have meaning. We call them morphemes. Morphology is the study of word parts. Have students record the terms morphemes and morphology and the definitions in their Vocabulary Notebooks.”
The Student Guide provides one Build Your Vocabulary worksheet per module, including Map a Word, Word Analysis, Word Web, and Analogy Chart. The worksheets often include two to three vocabulary terms. In Map a Word, students write the word and definition, part of speech, root word or origin, picture of the word, synonym, antonym, and sentence using the word. In Word Analysis, students write the word, give an example, a definition or explanation, and respond to “makes me think of/connotation. In Word Web, students name words or phrases that are synonyms or closely related to the center word. In the Analogy Chart, students list a familiar concept, the new concept (word), similarities, differences, relationship categories, and what they now understand about the new concept. Other Student Guide activities that may include vocabulary practice include Raise Your Score and Write to Impress, where students practice using context clues to determine word meaning. A glossary of vocabulary terms is included with each text, and those terms are highlighted within the text so that students may click on them to see the definitions. Some general guidance is found in the Unit Planning Tools Document.
In Unit 4, Module 1, Direct Instruction, teacher materials provide a Show and Tell strategy to explore the denotation and connotation of words the author uses. An example and definition of connotation and denotation are provided. Teacher instructions state to put students into small groups to read a short passage and discuss the denotation of vocabulary words, including power, footprint, cost, and savings. Students write two sentences using a provided word demonstrating the different meanings. Finally, students summarize the “...importance of understanding word meanings and their impact on writing.”
In Unit 5, Module 1, Teacher Guide, Build Your Vocabulary, in the Teacher Will section, teacher guidance states:
“Introduce the Build Your Vocabulary task and review the example provided.
Organize students into small groups and assign them one or more words per group.
Assist each group in sharing their findings with the entire class.”
Teacher directions provide an Explicit Vocabulary Strategy Instruction for Map a Word. This has the same instructions as the “Teacher Will” section with the additional directions to “Explain that a good way to learn words is to take a deep dive and learn all about them, not just the definition.”
Vocabulary is repeated in contexts (before texts, in texts) and across multiple texts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Your Portfolio: Writing Your Personal Narrative, 12 vocabulary words are listed, which are the same for Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, including cohesive, concrete, eliminate, enhance, enthralling, envision, mechanics, omniscient, simultaneously, speech patterns, vital, and weave.
In Unit 1, Module 4 and Unit 2, Module 3, the vocabulary word inclusivity is listed in the Teacher Guide, Module Preview. In Unit 1, students complete the Build Your Vocabulary - Word Analysis graphic organizer; in Unit 2, students complete the Build Your Vocabulary - Map a Word graphic organizer using the word inclusivity.
In Unit 1, Your Portfolio: Writing Your Personal Narrative, the word eliminate is listed as a vocabulary word, and in Unit 2, online Portfolio: Writing Your Argumentative Essay, the word eliminated is listed as a vocabulary word.
In Unit 5, Module 1, Student Guide, Build Your Vocabulary - Map a Word, students complete a chart for the words tragedies and social dynamics. In the online lesson, before students read Romeo and Juliet: Act I, Scenes I, and II, a glossary of vocabulary terms and definitions that students will encounter in the text, including tragedies, is provided. As students read the text, the vocabulary words appear in blue font, and students may click on the term to see a definition. In the Check step, students complete five multiple-choice questions after reading the text. Two of the questions are about the meaning of vocabulary terms portentous and propagate. These words were not presented in the vocabulary list before reading the text or highlighted in blue. In the Write step, students answer the prompt, “How does Shakespeare use specific words and phrases to establish the time, place, and social dynamics of Romeo and Juliet’s Verona?” In the Student Guide, Write to Impress - Use Context Clues for Meaning, students analyze lines from the text containing valiant, adversary, and augmenting. Students identify words or phrases that provide context clues that support their understanding of the word and then record a definition of the word. Adversary and augmenting are found in the vocabulary list, but valiant is not.
In Unit 5, some vocabulary terms appear across texts: In Module 1, Explore the Theme, the word asides is found. In Module 2, asides is a vocabulary term in the Build Your Vocabulary chart. In Module 2, Build Your Vocabulary, and later in Your Portfolio prompt at the end of the unit, the word protagonist is used as a vocabulary word. The prompt states, “Choose one of the protagonists—either Romeo or Juliet. In your cause-and-effect essay, analyze the character traits, desires, personal choices, and external factors that ultimately lead to his or her final fate.”
In Unit 7, Module 3, Student Guide, Build Your Vocabulary, portent, and vengeance appear as vocabulary words. Students practice using the word Vengeance in Module 3, Build Your Vocabulary - Map a Word. The words appear again in Module 4 in the online Check quiz after reading “The Stringing of the Bow: Excerpts from The Odyssey of Homer Books 20-24.” This term also appears in the Check quiz in Module 1.
Attention is paid to vocabulary essential to understanding the text and to high-value academic words (e.g., words that might appear in other contexts/content areas). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 4, Teacher Guide, Module Preview lists Key Vocabulary Words, such as regulate, policymaker, verification, acute, compelled, feasible, federal, fraught, hone, laborious, margins, plausible, proposed, routinely, and untapped. In the Student Guide, Build Your Vocabulary - Map a Word is completed before reading the module text; instructions state: “Analyzing vocabulary will help you better understand, discuss, and write about a text. Complete the analysis of vocabulary terms for the selection. Use a dictionary if necessary. Fill in as many parts as you can.” Students fill in one chart for the words regulate, policymaker, and verification. Sections to map include definition, part of speech, root word or origin, picture, synonym, antonym, and sentence using the word. Students read “It Was a Mistake to Let Kids Onto Social Media Sites. Here’s What to Do Now” by Yuval Levin, which includes a vocabulary list with 69 words; policymaker is not on the list. In the online text, all 69 words are blue, and students can click on them for the definition. Explicit Vocabulary Strategy Instruction provided for Word Relationships is provided in the Teacher Guide with more specific guidance in the Unit Planning Tools Document. This is completed after the Map a Word task.
In Unit 4, Module 3, Student Guide, Build Your Vocabulary - Concept Map is completed before reading the module text; instructions state: “Analyzing key concepts will help you better understand the texts you are reading. Use this technique to help the concepts ‘stick’ in your memory. Select one of the concepts above to map below.” Students complete one chart for cultivate, greenhouse gas, and factory farming. Five parts of the chart include
“Concept to define and explain.
What part of speech is it? What is it like?
What are some examples?
My explanation of the concept.”
Explicit Vocabulary Strategy Instruction is provided for Concept Map in the Teacher Guides with more specific guidance in the Unit Planning Tools Document.
In Unit 5, Student Guide, Explore the Theme, Before You Read the Play - Stage Directions, students view a list of stage direction terms and their definitions, including the following statement: “Playwrights use stage directions as a way to communicate not only what the actors should be doing but what the audience will see the characters doing. Stage directions are an important part of every play. They help readers visualize the action.” Some vocabulary terms listed are advances, alarum, aside, exeunt, flourish, and retires/withdraws. Student instructions state: “Review a few common stage directions. Then, write 3-5 sentences of your own using at least five of the stage directions to describe a typical scene from your life at home or school.”
Overview of Gateway 2
Building Knowledge with Texts, Vocabulary, and Tasks
The materials are grouped around a unit theme or topic and an essential question to build students’ knowledge over the course of the school year. The sequence of the texts helps students read and comprehend complex texts independently and proficiently. Tasks are sequenced in a way that is appropriate for the grade level, and the materials include text-specific and text-dependent questions and/or tasks.
The materials include two culminating tasks for each unit: a speaking and listening task and a writing task that becomes part of the student’s portfolio. In each culminating writing task, students show their knowledge and understanding of the topic by writing an essay for a specific genre. In each culminating speaking and listening task, students participate in various speaking and listening activities as they explore each unit’s essential question(s) and knowledge.
The materials provide writing instruction that aligns to the standards across the school year and meets the distribution required by the standards for argumentative, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing. The program allows students to conduct some research activities connected to the unit topics as a part of the research process. The research opportunities are not consistently integrated throughout the curriculum; they generally occur in one designated unit, although occasional research activities are associated with specific texts in some other units.
The materials spend the majority of instructional time on tasks and assessment questions aligned to grade-level standards. The Teacher Guide includes guidance and resources to support standards-aligned, explicit instruction. The majority of questions and tasks are aligned to grade-level standards. By the end of the academic year, most standards are repeatedly addressed within and across units.
The implementation schedules align with the core learning. The materials include lesson-specific task timing guidance and implementation schedules can generally be completed in the allotted time. Optional tasks are meaningful and should not distract from core learning. The materials contain seven units, with each unit taking 22 to 26 days to complete, assuming 50 minutes of instruction a day.
Gateway 2
v1.5
Criterion 2.1: Building Knowledge
Materials build knowledge through integrated reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language.
The materials are grouped around a unit theme or topic and an essential question to build students’ knowledge over the course of the school year. The sequence of the texts helps students read and comprehend complex texts independently and proficiently. The program includes opportunities for students to analyze the key ideas, details, craft, and structure within individual texts and across multiple texts. The materials include multiple opportunities for students to read and analyze individual texts as well as multiple texts. Tasks are sequenced in a way that is appropriate for the grade level and include text-specific and text-dependent questions and/or tasks.
The materials include two culminating tasks for each unit: a speaking and listening task and a writing task that becomes part of the student’s portfolio. In each culminating writing task, students show their knowledge and understanding of the topic by writing an essay for a specific genre. In each culminating speaking and listening task, students participate in various speaking and listening activities as they explore each unit’s essential question(s) and knowledge. Student tasks are Socratic discussions, pitch decks, performances, debate games, and panel discussions.
The materials provide writing instruction that aligns to the standards across the school year and meets the distribution required by the standards for argumentative, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing. Materials allow students to conduct some research activities connected to the unit topics as a part of the research process. The research opportunities are not consistently integrated throughout the curriculum; they generally occur in one designated unit, although occasional research activities are associated with specific texts in some other units.
Indicator 2A
Texts are organized around a cohesive topic(s)/theme(s) to build students’ ability to read and comprehend complex texts independently and proficiently.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2a.
The materials include texts that are connected by a grade-appropriate cohesive theme or topic. In each unit, the first lesson, Explore the Theme Overview, introduces the theme or topic. This one-day lesson includes instruction where students set goals, preview and analyze the theme or topic, and review the Essential Question. They may also engage in a poll, create a concept map, and analyze art, images, or quotations related to the theme or topic. Texts build knowledge and the ability to comprehend and analyze complex texts across a school year. While students engage with the texts in each unit to explore the theme’s or topic’s Essential Question, they also build skills in vocabulary and standards-based reading analysis of craft and structure and author’s style. Texts at various complexity levels help build comprehension across the school year.
Texts are connected by a grade-appropriate cohesive topic/theme/line of inquiry. Texts build knowledge and the ability to read and comprehend complex texts across a school year. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each of the seven units includes a variety of texts to illustrate and develop the theme or topic and Essential Question. Unit foci include: “Where Are You From?,” “How Do Communities Connect Safely?,” “How Do We Make Difficult Decisions?,” “How Does Food Impact the Environment?,” “What Is This Thing Called Love?,” “ What Interests You?,” and “Does the Odyssey Endure?” Each unit contains seven to nine grade-appropriate modules connected by the theme or topic.
In Unit 1, the topic is “Where Are You From?” and the Essential Question is, “How can certain memories, places, and experiences shape who we become?” Students read four texts related to the theme. In “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White, students consider how locations can help develop identity. In Annie Dillard’s “An American Childhood,” students analyze themes about childhood development. While reading the poem “Mango No. 61” by Richard Blanco, students make inferences about how the author is shaped by his culture and community. In “My Favorite Photograph” by Veera Hiranandani, students analyze themes to better understand the idea of growing and becoming. Additional selections in the Read Across Genres section include poetry, informational texts, and a media literacy selection, “NPR’s Morning Edition: Where I’m From” by Kwame Alexander and Rachel Martin. As students listen to the audio broadcast, they answer, “How does the crowdsourced poem illustrate the idea that objects and ideas come together and illustrate who we are in life?”
In Unit 2, the topic is “How Do Communities Connect Safely?” and the Essential Question is, “How do we ensure that we build and become members of healthy virtual communities?” Students use four texts to complete close reading and academic writing tasks. In “You Can Track Almost Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea” by Lisa Damour, students journal, determine and trace central ideas, analyze the author’s craft and structure, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. In “Influencers Aren’t Going Anywhere, So What Does That Mean for Today’s Teens?” by Cristianna Silver, students journal, cite text evidence in a discussion, analyze the author’s craft coherence and audience appeal, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. In “Green Teen Memes: How TikTok Could Save the Planet '' by Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu, students journal, analyze text features, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. In “It Was a Mistake to Let Kids on Social Media. Here’s What to Do Now” by Yuval Levin, students journal, analyze issues and appeals, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. Four additional texts are available for students to read across genres.
In Unit 6, the theme is “What Interests You?” and the Essential Question is, “How do your interests help you further your own future?” Students read four texts to complete close reading and academic writing tasks. In the “Shonda Rhimes Commencement Address” speech by Shonda Rhimes, students journal, plan their future, use text examples and anecdotes to explain ideas, appreciate the author’s craft, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. In the magazine article “How Colleges Weigh High School Extracurriculars” by Tiffany Sorensen, students journal, plan their future, examine the author’s choices of selecting and arranging details, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. In the magazine article, “Top Ten Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for High School Students,” by Crimson Staff, students journal, plan their future, examine the author’s choice of words and images, draft a paragraph, and build vocabulary. In the magazine article “Pros, Cons of High School Jobs for College Applications” by Alexandra Pannoni, students journal, analyze informational text connections, draft a paragraph, plan research, and build vocabulary. Three additional texts are available for students to read across genres.
Indicator 2B
Materials require students to analyze the key ideas, details, craft, and structure within individual texts as well as across multiple texts using coherently sequenced, high-quality questions and tasks.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2b.
The materials include opportunities for students to analyze the key ideas, details, craft, and structure within texts, though opportunities across multiple texts are limited. The questions and tasks are sequenced and sufficient to help students analyze, though they follow a similar pattern across all units and grade levels. In each unit, as students read the texts in Modules 1-4, they complete the Student Guide worksheet, Apply Your Learning, where they practice either a key ideas and details task or a craft and structure task. These tasks include a Direct Instruction slideshow lesson on the standard, often an informational or literary reading passage from the text, and questions tied to the standard being addressed. The questions and tasks support students in understanding the content of the texts and prepare them to complete the culminating Your Portfolio writing task.
For most texts, students analyze key ideas and details (according to grade-level standards). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 1, students read “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, Citing Evidence to Write About Literary Texts, students review the online slideshow, Citing Evidence to Write about Literary Texts, then read a passage from the text. Student instructions state: “In this excerpt, White provides a rich description of his summertime experience at the lake with his son. Identify two pieces of evidence that show how the author conveys his values and emotions through descriptions of his childhood vacation spot.” Students gather the evidence and answer a final question, “Based on your evidence, how does the author convey how he feels and what he values through these descriptions of his childhood vacation spot?”
In Unit 3, Module 3, students read “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, Developing Point of View in Literature, students review the online slideshow, Developing Point of View in Literature, and read a passage and reflect on Point of View and Perspective in Literature. Students answer the following questions, “Identify and describe the different perspectives that are present in this passage. How is the narrator’s mother described by others in this passage? How might the narrator’s first-person point of view impact the retelling of these perspectives? How would you describe the family’s connection with each other and with their neighbors?” Students cite evidence from the passage.
In Unit 6, Module 4, students read “Pros, Cons of High School Jobs for College Applications” by Alexandra Pannoni. Students complete the online lesson, Analyzing Connections within Informational Texts. Students participate in a group discussion to identify key ideas using the following questions: “According to Trout’s comments, how can students’ part-time jobs function similarly to extracurricular activities? How does the example of the best college admission essay help support the idea that jobs can be significant to college admission? How does Strickler’s quote help support the idea that part-time jobs can reflect just as positively on college applications as other experiences?”
For most texts, students analyze craft and structure (according to grade-level standards). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 3, students read Ken Liu’s “The Paper Menagerie.” Students view the Direct Instruction slideshow, Developing Point of View in Literature. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, Developing Point of View in Literature, students read a passage from the text and complete a chart with three tasks: “Identify and describe the different perspectives that are present in this passage. How is the narrator’s mother described by others in this passage? How might the narrator’s first-person point of view impact the retelling of these perspectives? After reading the passage, how would you describe this family’s connection with each other and with their neighbors?”
In Unit 4, Module 1, students read “Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better for the Planet? Here’s the Science” by Nancy Matsumoto. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, Analyze the Connotation of Words lesson, students review the Direct Instruction slideshow, Determining the Meanings of Words and Phrases, then read a passage from the text in which the author discusses the impact of grass-fed beef on the environment using connotation to influence the readers’ perceptions about the topic. The instructions state: “Reread the passage. Determine the denotation and then the connotation of words in the passage using context clues. How might the connotation of words reflect what the author wants the reader to understand about grass-fed beef?” On the worksheet, students write the connotation and denotation of the word holistic and analyze how the connotation influences the reader’s perception. They are instructed to find more words that create a positive or negative connotation.
In Unit 6, Module 2, students read “How Colleges Weigh High School Extracurriculars” by Tiffany Sorensen. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, The Impact of an Author’s Choices: Selecting and Arranging Details, students review the Direct Instruction slideshow, The Impact of an Author’s Choices: Selecting and Arranging Details, and apply the learning to a close reading passage. The passage focuses on one of the author’s considerations for the value of extracurriculars in the college admission process. Students answer the questions, “How does the author explain and interpret the idea of ‘degree of commitment’ to extracurriculars? How does the author provide practical advice for what students should do? Why is this important for readers? Why do you think the author chose to organize the article in this way?”
Indicator 2C
Materials require students to analyze the integration of knowledge within individual texts as well as across multiple texts using coherently sequenced, high-quality text-specific and/or text-dependent questions and tasks.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2c.
The materials provide opportunities for students to analyze the integration of knowledge and ideas within individual texts and sometimes across multiple texts. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning task, standards related to Integration of Knowledge are practiced with a focused lesson using coherently sequenced, high-quality text-specific and/or text-dependent questions and tasks. Students use the questions and tasks to analyze the content of the text(s) and to prepare for the completion of the Your Portfolio writing task; however, there are limited opportunities for students to practice analysis. The questions and tasks are similar across units and grade levels. Students analyze these standards across multiple texts in each unit’s Read Across Genre module.
Most sets of questions and tasks support students’ analysis of knowledge and ideas. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 4, students read the argumentative essay, “It Was a Mistake to Let Kids Onto Social Media Sites. Here’s What to Do Now,” by journalist Yuval Levin. After reviewing the online slideshow, Analyzing Issues and Appeals, students answer questions about how the author structured information and his argument. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, Analyzing Issues and Appeals, students answer the following questions:
“What is the issue the author wants you to understand?
Why do you think he used this appeal to begin his argument?
How does this lead to questions about whether or not regulation works?
What other issues does the author want you to understand?
Do you agree or disagree with his idea that platforms need to change the model to be effective in protecting kids?
How well does he make that case with the evidence he provided throughout the article?
Do you feel that the options for reforming it that the author suggests could or should be done? Why or why not?”
In the Student Guide, Share Your Argument Builder, students answer the following prompt: “Trace the issue that seems to be at stake for readers surrounding the debate about children and social media. How does the author appeal to the audience?” Students document the claim, evidence, examples, reasoning, elaboration, and analysis explaining why they chose the evidence.
In Unit 5, Module 5, students compare the written text to film production after reading Romeo and Juliet. They review the online slideshow, Compare and Contrast Literature in Different Mediums, and watch a clip from Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. In the Student Guide, Apply Your Learning, Compare and Contrast Literature in Different Mediums, the student instructions state, “Use the guiding questions below to compare elements in the text that the playwright intended with the choices that the actors, directors, and designers made in the film production.” Students complete a chart with questions, such as
“Characters - Consider who the characters are and how they are directed to interact by the playwright. Do the characters in the film production appear and interact as you visualized them in the text?
Setting - What is the setting of the scene as intended by the playwright? How is it different from the set in the film production?”
The lesson continues with the following instructions: “After discussing the text and the multimedia, find at least two pieces of evidence to explain how the elements that are unique to each genre affect the meaning.” They complete a chart with evidence and reasoning for both the text and film version to answer the questions: “How do the details and interactions in the play illustrate the characters’ relationships, setting, and events in this scene? How do the actors’ choices (movement, delivery) and the film’s production elements (lighting, props, sound) convey the characters’ relationships, setting, and events?”
In Unit 7, Module 8, Unit Reading Assessment and Reflecting: Why Does the Odyssey Endure, students first read an “Excerpt from The Odyssey” by Homer, Translated by Samuel Butler, and “Sirens” by James Russell Lowell. After reading, students answer 15 multiple-choice questions in which they analyze the texts for literary elements and occasionally compare the two texts. Questions include character development and figurative language elements, such as, “Which structural element of ‘Excerpt from The Odyssey’ best develops the character of Odysseus? How does the absence of any mention of Odysseus in ‘Sirens’ most significantly transform the poem from its source ‘Excerpt from The Odyssey’?” The questions address each text, but students do not complete a final task based on these two texts. This module contains the final reading assessment of the unit. In Module 6, students participate in a Socratic discussion around the Essential Question, “What makes the Odyssey such an enduring tale in world literature?”
Sets of questions and tasks provide opportunities to analyze across multiple texts as well as within single texts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 5, Read Across Genres, students examine a Photo Essay, “Removed,” and the informational text with text features, “The Impact of Social Media on Body Image” by Dove. In the Student Guide, Visualize Information, students review the online slideshow, Understanding Visual Sources. The instructions state, “After completing Understanding Visual Sources, take notes, describing what you notice about both texts, as well as what you can infer about the arguments as well as the ideas you challenge. Think about: What do I notice in the details? What does this make me think about? What argument is the text trying to make?” A chart is included for students to answer the questions about each source.
In Unit 5, Module 7, Read Across Genres, students view a Romeo and Juliet film production and read two informational texts, “Romeo and Juliet Has No Balcony” by Lois Leveen and “The Infectious Pestilence Did Reign” by Ben Cohen. In the Student Guide, Build Context, students review the online slideshow, Using Historical Background to Build Context for Dramas. The instructions state, “Complete the Using Historical Background to Build Context for Drama lesson. After reading the informational texts, find evidence in the play to support the answers to the questions. Questions following “Romeo and Juliet Has No Balcony” include: “How can set pieces, like Juliet’s balcony, become symbols for large themes within a play? What lines from the play can you find to support your answer?” Questions following “The Infectious Pestilence Did Reign” include, “How did the plague that dominated Shakespeare’s world inspire and shape his work and career? What lines from the play can you find to support your answer?”
In Unit 7, Module 7, Your Portfolio, students write an essay for the prompt, “Select one or two texts that build on or transform ideas about themes, plot points, or characters from The Odyssey. Make a claim about how each author conveys their own unique perspective on an idea from The Odyssey and support it with examples from the original text as well as the newer text. Be sure to focus on one idea or element they share in order to focus your argument.” In the Student Guide, Choose Your Texts for Comparison, student instructions state: “Keep in mind that you have already read, mapped comparisons, and written about each of these stories in detail, so you can pull from those past writings to help you develop your full comparative analysis.” Students are given five topics to choose for their essay, such as “Compare and contrast how Odysseus is characterized in The Odyssey versus one or more of the poems/texts that tell the story from Penelope’s perspective (The Penelopiad, Penelope). Develop a claim about what defines a hero.” Students complete charts for Compare Similarities, Analyze Differences, and Finalize Your Analysis before they start writing their claim.
Indicator 2D
Culminating tasks require students to demonstrate their knowledge of a unit's topic(s)/theme(s) through integrated literacy skills (e.g., a combination of reading, writing, speaking, listening).
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2d.
The materials include two culminating tasks for each unit: a speaking and listening task and a writing task that becomes part of the student’s portfolio. The materials include culminating tasks that integrate the topic/theme and readings from each unit in a process writing task at the end of each unit. Each unit includes a Your Portfolio module as the culminating writing task. Across the year, Your Portfolio tasks are varied, including personal narrative, short story, cause and effect essay, argument essay, personal statement, research paper, and literary analysis essay. Speaking and listening activities within these writing tasks are demonstrated through peer review of the essay during the writing process. In each culminating speaking and listening task, students participate in various speaking and listening activities as they explore each unit’s essential question(s) and knowledge. Student tasks are Socratic discussions, pitch decks, performances, debate games, and panel discussions.
Culminating tasks are evident and varied across the year and they are multifaceted, requiring students to demonstrate mastery of several different standards (reading, writing, speaking, listening) at the appropriate grade level, and comprehension and knowledge of a topic or topics through integrated skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Modules 1-6, students read four narrative texts. The Essential Question is, “How can certain memories, places, and experiences shape who we become?” In Module 7, Your Portfolio, students process-write a personal narrative for the prompt, “Write a personal narrative that illustrates a moment within a specific place and time that has an impact on who you are becoming.” In preceding lessons, students preview the writing rubric, read a sample exemplar of the narrative and use the rubric to score it, and practice giving feedback by filling out a worksheet noting areas of success and areas that need growth in the exemplar. Guidance is provided for prewriting, including a graphic organizer to map the narrative. After writing the first draft, students meet with a peer and look for transitions in each other’s narratives. They also meet with another peer to share and listen to each other about what parts of the narrative need more development. Next, they work with a peer to edit each other’s draft before submitting. Finally, they reflect on their writing.
In Unit 2, Modules 1-6, students read four informational texts. The Essential Question is, “How do we ensure that we build and become members of healthy virtual communities?” In Module 7, Your Portfolio, students process-write an argumentative essay for the prompt, “Based on your readings, what changes would you make as a user and community member to build a healthier online experience for all?” In preceding lessons, students preview the informative writing rubric, read a sample exemplar of the essay, and use the rubric to score it, as well as practice giving feedback by filling out a worksheet noting areas of success and areas that need growth in the exemplar. Guidance is provided for prewriting, including a graphic organizer to map the essay. After writing the first draft of the essay, students meet with a peer and look for transitions in each other’s essays. They also meet with another peer to share and listen to each other about what parts of the essay need more development. Next, they work with a peer to edit each other’s draft before submitting the essay. Finally, they reflect on their writing.
In Unit 3, Module 6, students participate in a Socratic Discussion. Students begin by independently reviewing the Socratic Discussion direct instruction slick deck. Then, students look at a list of texts they read throughout the unit, which should be considered in their discussion. They use a few handouts in the Student Guide to prepare for discussion, including the Reflect on the Essential Question handout and the Prepare for the Discussion graphic organizer. In both these handouts, students consider their claims with supporting evidence from the unit’s texts to answer the essential question, “How do our experiences shape our values and reveal the choices we have available to us?” After preparing, students move into the discussion. They may use sentence starters on the Build Knowledge Together handout if they need help. Once the discussion is over, teachers Conduct the Poll Again activity to see if students changed their minds throughout the discussion. Lastly, students answer questions to reflect on their discussion.
In Unit 4, Module 7, students participate in a Panel Discussion. They begin by independently reviewing the Panel Discussion direct instruction slick deck. Then, they look at a list of texts they read throughout the unit that should be considered in their discussion. They use a few handouts in the Student Guide to prepare for discussion, including the Reflect on the Essential Question handout and the Plan Your Points graphic organizer. In both these handouts, students consider their claims with supporting evidence from the unit’s texts to answer the essential question, “How can we make protein sources healthy and sustainable?” After preparing, students move into the discussion. They may use sentence starters on the Build Knowledge Together handout if they need help. Once the discussion is over, teachers Conduct the Poll Again activity to see if students changed their minds throughout the discussion. Lastly, students answer questions to reflect on their discussion.
In Unit 5, Modules 1-6, students read Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. The Essential Question is, “What happens when adults get in the way of childhood?” In Module 9, Your Portfolio, students process-write a “cause-and-effect essay” to the prompt, “Choose one of the protagonists—either Romeo or Juliet. In your cause-and-effect essay, analyze the character traits, desires, personal choices, and external factors that ultimately lead to his or her final fate.” In preceding lessons, students preview the informative writing rubric, read a sample exemplar of the essay and use the rubric to score it, and practice giving feedback by filling out a worksheet noting areas of success and areas that need growth in the exemplar. Guidance is provided for prewriting, including a graphic organizer to map the essay. After writing the first draft of the essay, students meet with a peer and look for transitions in each other’s essays. They also meet with another peer to share and listen to each other about what parts of the essay need more development. Next, they work with a peer to edit each other’s draft before submitting the essay. Finally, they reflect on their writing.
Indicator 2E
Materials include a cohesive, year-long plan for students to achieve grade-level writing proficiency by the end of the school year.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2e.
The materials provide writing instruction that aligns to the standards across the school year and meets the distribution required by the standards for argumentative, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing. Each unit includes lessons and activities that follow a consistent pattern for developing students’ writing. The modules provide guidance and protocols for students to practice writing summaries and argumentative paragraphs with respect to the readings. Over the school year, students focus on writing an argumentative paragraph for the modules within each unit. Still, they also write full-length essays in the form of a personal narrative, an argument, a short story, a research paper, a cause-and-effect essay, a personal statement, and a literary analysis. Within each instruction unit, students have opportunities to engage in direct instruction slide decks focused on composition skills related to the culminating writing task for the unit. The Student Guide allows students to complete graphic organizers to develop and organize ideas, analyze student examples, and participate in revising and editing tasks to improve writing. Each unit provides mentor texts that emphasize different writing techniques for students to reference and learn techniques to apply in their writing. Guidance is provided for students as they practice and apply writing standards. The standards can be located in each Unit-At-a-Glance, Scope and Sequence, and Teacher Guide. The Teacher Guide includes Teach Academic Writing Skills, Show and Tell, and Model Your Thinking strategies to support the tasks, and additional materials found in the Resources tab of the platform provide guidance for implementing and monitoring students’ writing development. Each culminating writing assignment includes a final rubric to evaluate student writing.
Materials include writing instruction that aligns to the standards for the grade level and supports students’ growth in writing skills over the course of the school year. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Units 2 and 7, argumentative writing is the culminating task in the Your Portfolio section. Students write an argumentative essay and a literary analysis essay, respectively.
In Units 4 and 5, informational/explanatory writing is the culminating task in the Your Portfolio section. Students write a research paper and a cause-and-effect essay, respectively.
In Units 1, 3, and 6, narrative writing is the culminating task in the Your Portfolio section. Students write a personal narrative, short story, and personal statement.
In all units, the Student Guide offers support in the form of a prewriting, drafting, and revising checklist, an informative writing rubric, a student model that students score using the rubric, and a worksheet to practice giving feedback to peers. The Student Guide includes a page with specific guidance for the writing task with instructions, the writing prompt, and notes on either collecting research or planning the writing task. Graphic organizers are provided to complete various tasks, such as goal-setting, mapping the task, gathering evidence, and proofreading evidence for mistakes and inconsistencies. For argumentative and informative/explanatory writing, the lesson, “Citing and Documenting Sources,” reviews citing sources, avoiding plagiarism, summarizing, paraphrasing, bibliography, and citation generators and style (MLA or APA). Lessons are provided to teach students how to use appropriate transitions, and then students are directed to pair with another writer to look for sentences that need transitions. Students share, edit, and reflect on their writing following guidance from additional worksheets in the Student Guide.
In Unit 1, Module 7, during the prewriting step, students read and score a student exemplar titled “Claire.” The student guide includes a worksheet with the following instructions: “When you have finished reading, use the online rubric (linked for students) for the lesson and give each aspect of the narrative a score. Use the sentence starter to describe your reasons for each score. If you are not sure of the score, ask yourself, is it closer to 1 or 5? Then, ask is it closer to 3 or 1? Or if it is a higher-scoring piece, is it closer to 3 or 5? That will help you discern between the different levels of achievement more easily.” Students then score in the categories of establishing setting, point of view and characters, narrative techniques, theme/message, coherence (organization), and audience appeal. In the Teacher Guide, Show and Tell, teacher instruction states, “Model for students how to engage with the scoring process and to understand the criteria used to determine quality writing. Point to an example from the text and share how it meets/doesn’t meet the criteria in the rubric. Pull examples from the text that exemplify aspects of the rubric.”
In Unit 4, Module 8, students write an informational/explanatory research paper related to multiple texts on food’s impact on the environment for the prompt: “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” Students start the unit by setting a Personal SMART goal using the graphic organizer in the Student Guide. Students explore the theme, key issues, and essential questions, review the purpose of research writing, and review the final portfolio rubric. In the first four Modules of the unit, students journal in the Before You Read section using a prompt in the Quick Journal graphic organizer in the Student Guide. In the Analyze section, students use the Share Your Argument Builder graphic organizer to answer the question, “How does the author give readers a clear understanding of the differences between grass-fed and feedlot-fed beef?” In the Write section, students use graphic organizers in the Student Guide to summarize the anchor text, Share Your Argument Builder. Students work online during the Develop step to plan an argument that answers the writing prompt. During the Draft step, students use their Argument Builder and notes from peer collaborations to write a CERCA paragraph that answers the writing prompt. In Module 5, students Read Across Genres. Using graphic organizers in the Student Guide, students Quick Journal for the question, “How can the US lead the world in sustainable farming?” and evaluate informational texts using Understanding a Topic through Multiple Texts graphic organizer. In Module 6, students Research Big ideas and complete multiple graphic organizers to Plan [Their] Research, including one to Create a Thesis Statement. In Module 7, students write the essay using pre-writing, writing, and revision tasks in the Student Guide and online. In the Teacher Guide, Teach Academic Writing Skills, teacher guidance states, “Students may need help integrating evidence smoothly. They sometimes copy large tracts of a source text into their papers, believing it is most valuable in the author’s own words. Let them know that the quotes they can integrate into their own writing should be effective and concise, while the larger direct quotations worth integrating will be fewer. Anything longer than 2-3 sentences might call for a conversation with you. Have students complete or review ‘Citing and Documenting Sources’ and leverage digital resources to complete the bibliography. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab is an excellent resource for tools and information in addition to the Direct Instruction provided.”
In Unit 7, Module 7, students write an argumentative literary analysis essay after reading The Odyssey: “Select one or two texts that build on or transform ideas about themes, plot points, or characters from The Odyssey. Make a claim about how each author conveys their own unique perspective on an idea from The Odyssey and support it with examples from the original text as well as the new text. Be sure to focus on one idea or element they share in order to focus your argument.” Students start the unit by setting a Personal SMART goal using the graphic organizer in the Student Guide. Students Explore the Theme, Essential Questions, review the purpose of a Literary Analysis, and review the final Portfolio rubric. In the first four Modules of the unit, students read four mentor texts. For each text, they journal in the Before You Read section using a prompt in the Quick Journal graphic organizer in the Student Guide. In the Analyze section, students use the Write to Impress graphic organizer to respond to the writing prompt using text evidence. In the Write section, students use graphic organizers in the Student Guide to summarize the anchor text, Appreciate the Author’s Craft, and Share Your Argument Builder. Students work online during the Develop step to plan an argument that answers the writing prompt. During the Draft section, students use their Argument Builder and notes from peer collaborations to write a CERCA paragraph that answers the writing prompt. In Module 5, students Read Across Genres. Using graphic organizers in the Student Guide, students complete a Quick Journal: “How is the hero’s journey represented in modern stories and works of art?,” analyze the poetic structure of two poems through online tasks, and Analyze and Compare two related texts using graphic organizers in the Student Guide. In Module 7, students write the essay using pre-writing, writing, and revision tasks in the Student Guide and online. In the Teacher Guide, Show and Tell, Literary Analysis, the teacher guidance states, “As students prepare to write their literary analysis, they should reflect on the various activities in this unit that strengthened their understanding of the author’s craft. Start by reflecting on how analyzing intentional choices in setting, theme, and character development (like in Toy Story 3) helped them identify key characteristics of characters and techniques that clarify the author’s themes. Consider how comparing characters, such as Simba and Scar from The Lion King, highlighted similarities and differences. Discuss the exploration of conflict resolution through complex characters with moral dilemmas, as seen in Star Wars, and how it deepened their understanding of storytelling. Reflect on the exploration of archetypes in The Lion King and how it revealed universal character types and themes. Encourage students to discuss how these insights will inform their literary analysis essays. Ask, ‘What will you draw from each activity? Which activity is most closely connected with the claim you plan to explore?’ Students should share specific activities that helped them identify and analyze characters, themes, and techniques more effectively across different texts.”
Each Student Guide in the materials provides students with scaffolds and structures for writing practice. The Teacher Guide includes Teach Academic Writing Skills, Show and Tell, and Model Your Thinking strategies for the writing tasks, which provides teachers with support for modeling and scaffolding.
Instructional materials include well-designed guidance, protocols, models, and support for teachers to implement and monitor students’ writing development. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Assessments tab, Writing Benchmarks are included for the beginning, middle, and end of the year. The stated purpose is “to personalize instruction for your students and track progress throughout the year.” Each benchmark test includes a text to read, ten multiple-choice questions to answer, and an argumentative writing prompt. Teacher directions state: “Assign lessons to introduce the CERCA framework and gain insight into student writing readiness. Evaluate completed student work and review results. Assign each student a personal growth focus.” In the Resources tab, training course videos show how to enter the rubric score. Benchmark summary reports in the Reports tab include performance by class, rubric category score, growth focus distribution by class, and individual student data.
In the Resources tab, implementation resources are available for teachers. Links are provided to Training Courses, the Help Center, the On-Demand Video Library, and a ThinkCERCA Blog. These links provide support from setup to assessment.
The Writing section has three sections in the Direct Instruction and Skills Practice tab, including 50 Argument and 20 Narrative slideshows. The third section is Informative Texts. There are no slideshows for informational/explanatory writing. The Direct Instruction slideshows cover various writing topics, including comprehension questions at the end. They are referenced in the Teacher Guide in multiple lessons when appropriate to the writing task. Topics include but are not limited to The Purpose of Arguments, Identifying Parts of Written Arguments, The Impact of an Author’s Choices: Words, Integrating Evidence, Tone, Characteristics of Formal Style, Characters in Narrative Writing, Developing Events in Narrative Writing, Using Time as a Storytelling Tool, Transitions and Linking words in a Narrative, Dialogue in Writing, Summarizing Informational Texts, Informative and Explanatory Writing, Developing Effective Paragraphs, and Research Skills. Some of the slideshows are identical in Grades 6-12. The Skills Practice lessons offer various writing topics and lessons in interactive slideshows. The lessons are assigned online and include a mix of instructional slides and practice for the student, including matching definitions, highlighting text, and answering multiple-choice questions. Some of the topics include but are not limited to Organizing Arguments, Introductions in Arguments, Supporting Claims with Evidence, Conclusions in Arguments, Summarizing Informational Texts, and Citing Evidence to Support Analysis in Informational Texts.
Under the Resources tab, Curriculum Resources, Writing, the materials include guidance documents on the following topics (not limited to): Feedback Guidance, Writing Revisions Strategies Toolkit, and Best Practices: Compare Writing.
The Feedback Guidance document includes general guidance for using ThinkCERCA’s provided writing feedback banks across the three core writing types: argumentative, informational, and narrative. This document also links each feedback bank.
The Writing Revision Strategies Toolkit document includes general guidance for teachers to provide student feedback on their writing. It links parts of the CERCA process and how teachers can respond to each student depending on their learning gap. The document also links a Personalized Growth Plan Document, which outlines and provides general guidance on the different settings teachers can use to give feedback (1:1, small group, whole class). This document also includes links to other resources for supporting students with specific action steps based on data from benchmark writing assessments.
The Best Practices: Compare Writing document provides general guidance for a strategy teachers can use to support students in comparing two pieces of writing to analyze and evaluate the “techniques employed by writers.”
In the Teacher Guide of each unit, guidance includes Support for English Language Learners, Support for Students with Exceptional Needs, and Support for Further Exploration and Thinking.
In Unit 6, Module 7, Teacher Guide, instructional resources for personal narrative writing development are available. The Teacher Guide Pre-Writing guidance states:
“Explain that the personal statement is useful for applying for programs, scholarships, jobs, and leadership positions. While it is a narrative, it has a persuasive and informational purpose. Like most writing in the real world, this is a text that brings all aspects of the writing together.
Instruct students to review the evaluation criteria for ‘Your Portfolio.’
Instruct students to complete the reading ‘Writing and the Joys of Creativity’ by Gabriella Deckard and answer the Check questions.
Explain that students will practice giving feedback about the Student Exemplar.
Guide students in sharing one area of growth, a success, or an insight about the Student Exemplar draft.”
Indicator 2F
Materials include a progression of focused research projects to encourage students to develop knowledge in a given area by confronting and analyzing different aspects of a topic using multiple texts and source materials.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 partially meet the criteria for Indicator 2f.
The materials provide some opportunities across the school year for students to conduct research that develops knowledge and synthesizes and analyzes content related to the unit themes. The research opportunities are not consistently integrated throughout the curriculum; they generally occur in one designated unit, although occasional research activities are associated with specific texts in some other units. In Unit 4, at all grade levels, students write a research paper related to the theme of the unit. This is the only opportunity for students to develop a research question. Students develop knowledge on the given topic by confronting and analyzing multiple provided texts related to a topic or theme. Students are instructed to find information from outside sources, but there is limited instruction and guidance on selecting sources, including using advanced searches effectively. In other units, students gather information, evaluate resources, avoid plagiarism by correctly citing sources, and adhere to MLA formatting. While these areas are addressed, instruction is limited. The materials also include a “Student Research Toolkit,” which includes independent guidance for students on several parts of the research process, such as evaluating sources for credibility. This Toolkit is the same across all grades in the program. Much of the instruction is to refer students to documents that explain research or to Research Skills and Strategies slideshows, not guidance on direct instruction of the skills.
Research projects are somewhat sequenced across a school year to include a progression of research skills according to grade-level standards. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 5, students engage in Inquiry-Driven research related to the Essential Question. The Student Guide states, “Based on the essential question of the unit, develop a key question to begin brief, informal research on the topic. After evaluating 2-3 sources related to your specific topic, modify your question. Continue research to find the 3 most valid, credible, or reliable in terms of answering your new research question. Summarize, paraphrase, or directly quote sources.” The Teacher Guide includes support for teachers to guide students through the process. The Show and Tell strategy states, “Introduce or Review the Research Toolkit. Help students begin practicing the process of refining research questions by asking the question, “What was happening where I’m from the year I was born?” As students begin research, they should focus on the local community, ideally, but when that is difficult to research, they should apply the research to the region or even a national experience. Their goal will be to capture the three top facts about what was happening where they are from. (Major local or national events that made the news, particularities about industries or innovations, and popular culture of the time. By the end of the unit, students should prepare a 3-5 slide presentation about themselves: Name, location, birth year, and top 3 facts.) They should cite sources for their research. Details from their research can also be incorporated into their own “Where I’m From” poem.”
In Unit 2, Module 1, students read “You Can Track Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea” by Lisa Damour. In the online Writing Lesson, students answer the prompt, “Does the author use convincing evidence to appeal to the audience about the negative impacts of monitoring teens’ social media activity?” The prompt requires students to assess the usefulness of the source but does not require students to answer a research question. In the online slideshow, Writing According to Style Manuals-MLA, students learn how to use MLA format for citations. In the Student Guide, Write to Impress, students complete a worksheet with the instructions, “In response to the writing prompt, experiment with writing sentences that conform to the direct quoting and paraphrasing guidelines from the MLA Style Guide. Then apply your learning to your writing.”
In Unit 2, Module 7, Your Portfolio, students write an argumentative essay to the prompt, “Based on your readings, what changes would you make as a user and community member to build a healthier online experience for all?” Students find evidence from the readings to support their claims. Students are also expected to find two sources outside the provided texts to use in their essays.
No evidence was found for using advanced searches effectively to find sources.
No evidence was found for selectively integrating information into the text to maintain the flow of ideas.
No evidence was found for assessing sources’ usefulness in answering a research question.
Materials somewhat support teachers in employing projects that develop students’ knowledge of different aspects of a topic via provided resources. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 5, students complete an inquiry-driven research project based on the essential question of the unit. The Teacher Guide includes a Show and Tell Strategy which provides support for teachers to introduce the project: “Introduce or Review the Research Toolkit. Help students begin practicing the process of refining research questions by asking the question, “What was happening where I’m from the year I was born?” As students begin research, they should focus on the local community, ideally, but when that is difficult to research, they should apply the research to the region or even a national experience. As they research, encourage them to refine their research questions based on their findings and the direction they want to go with their research. Students might re-frame their research question to “What was happening in my state in the year I was born?” or “What was happening that shaped history in the year I was born?” Their goal will be to capture the three top facts about what was happening where they are from, major local or national events that made the news, specific accomplishments in industries or innovations, and popular culture of the time. By the end of the unit, students should prepare a 3-5 slide presentation about themselves: Name, location, birth year, and top 3 facts. They should cite sources for their research. Details from their research can also be incorporated into their own ‘Where I’m From’ poem.”
In various units, Direct Instruction and Skills lessons include research topics, such as Selecting and Evaluating Evidence in Informative Writing, Citing and Documenting Sources, Understanding the Research Process, Research Skills, Reference Materials, Synthesizing Information from Sources, and Understanding a Topic through Multiple Texts.
While some teacher guidance is provided, research instruction throughout the program is limited.
Each unit includes a Unit-At-a-Glance that states that students will engage in a research activity. For example, the Teacher Guide for Unit 2 states, “Through teacher-led instruction, students will be introduced to research strategies in the Research Toolkit and will gain practice with the inquiry-driven research process, refining research questions, and sharing research with citations. For their inquiry-driven research project, students will research an author’s biography and refine questions based on their initial findings. Students will learn when to summarize, paraphrase, and use direct quotations through a Documenting Sources Activity.”
Materials provide some opportunities for students to synthesize and analyze content tied to the texts under study as a part of the research process. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 5, Read Across Genres, students research for clarification. The Student Guide includes an explanation of formal and informal research before students complete a graphic organizer in response to the directions, “Research some examples of popular fictional pieces that allude to other literary works (i.e. ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’) and decide whether the allusion supports the overall theme or distracts from it.” The Teacher Guide provides support for instruction through modeling the strategy. The materials state, “ Researching for Clarification: Highlight examples of literary allusion in the unit texts for students (e.g. Zaroff reading Marcus Aurelius and the dog’s name, Lazarus, in ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ or the reference to China’s Cultural Revolution in ‘The Paper Menagerie’). Lead students through a brief discussion of why authors might draw from other literary works for their own fictional writing. How can that help or hinder the reader? Ask students to research one or two examples of popular fictional pieces that allude to other literary works (i.e. ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’) and decide whether the allusion supports the overall theme or distracts from it. Have students share their results with a partner or with the whole class.”
In Unit 4, Module 8, Your Portfolio, students write a research paper for the prompt, “Based on the readings and other research, what are the most pressing issues surrounding meat sustainability?” In Module 6, Research Big Ideas, students review two slideshows, Understanding the Research Process and Synthesizing Information from Sources. In the Student Guide, students plan their research in three steps using three worksheets. In Plan Your Research Step 1: Explore the Topic, they complete a worksheet to plan their research by using the 3-2-1 Strategy to explore three things they know about the topic, two things they’ve learned that they want to learn more about, and one question they have about food and the environment. Next, in Plan Your Research Step 2: Find Reliable Sources, they complete a chart with the instructions, “Review Step 2 of the Understanding the Research Process lesson. Find five sources with evidence to address your research question. Summarize your findings and carefully cite each source.” For each source, three provided sources and two outside sources, students list the title, author, source, summary, and citation. Next, in Plan Your Research Step 3: Collect Relevant and Reliable Evidence, they gather evidence according to these instructions, “Review Step 3 of the Understanding the Research Process lesson. Then, find pieces of evidence that address your question and that can be found in at least two sources. Record your direct citations to use as you draft your essay.” They list paraphrased evidence as well as direct quotes. In Module 8, students write the research paper using the research work from Module 6. Prior to writing, they review two Direct Instruction slideshows, Writing the Research Paper and Citing and Documenting Sources.
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 1, students read “You Can Track Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea” by Lisa Damour. In the online Writing Lesson, students answer the prompt, “Does the author use convincing evidence to appeal to the audience about the negative impacts of monitoring teens’ social media activity?” Students analyze the text by highlighting evidence of how social media monitoring impacts parents, caregivers, and teens and also highlight the author’s advice to parents and caregivers. They summarize the text and then build an argument using reasons and evidence from the text to answer the prompt.
In Unit 7, Module 4, students read “The Stringing of the Bow: Excerpts from The Odyssey of Homer Books 2-24.” In the online Writing Lesson, students answer the prompt, “How do the qualities of an epic hero like Odysseus compare to modern ideas about heroism?” Students analyze the text by highlighting details of how other characters describe and/or react to Odysseus and add notes about how these details portray him as a hero. They also highlight any actions that suggest Odysseus has extraordinary abilities. They summarize the text and then build an argument using reasons and evidence from the text to answer the prompt.
Criterion 2.2: Coherence
Materials promote mastery of grade-level standards by the end of the year.
The materials spend the majority of instructional time on tasks and assessment questions aligned to grade-level standards. The Teacher Guide includes guidance and resources to support standards-aligned, explicit instruction. The majority of questions and tasks are aligned to grade-level standards. By the end of the academic year, most standards are repeatedly addressed within and across units. Assessment questions are multiple-choice and only include reading standards.
The implementation schedules align with the core learning. The materials include lesson-specific task timing guidance and implementation schedules can generally be completed in the allotted time. Optional tasks are meaningful and should not distract from core learning. The materials contain seven units, with each unit taking 22 to 26 days to complete, assuming 50 minutes of instruction a day.
Indicator 2G
Materials spend the majority of instructional time on content that falls within grade-level aligned instruction, practice, and assessments.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2g.
The materials spend the majority of instructional time on tasks and assessment questions aligned to grade-level standards, including instruction delivered through online slideshows that students complete at their own pace, followed by short multiple-choice quizzes and PDF worksheets. Teachers have access to the Unit Planning Tools that provide support for guidance, planning, and explicit instruction for each unit, as well as a Teacher Guide for each unit. These include clarification of directions and notes to direct students into the online program or Student Guide, suggestions for teacher modeling of aspects of lessons, and opportunities to conduct think-alouds. Assessment questions are multiple-choice and only include reading standards. In other parts of the program, most standards are repeatedly addressed within and across the units to ensure students have multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery of the standard; however, some standards are covered only once.
Over the course of each unit, most instruction is aligned to grade-level standards. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each unit of instruction includes a Unit-At-a-Glance, a Teacher Guide, a Student Guide, a Diverse Learners Guide, and an Answer Key. While each module in the online portal is labeled with the primary standard focus, the explicit instruction for meeting each standard does not appear in the materials. The Unit-At-a-Glance overviews the skills addressed with key standards identified. The Teacher Guide includes a Skills Students Will Know, Understand, and Apply Section listing some of the unit's key standards. The units consistently include close reading and academic writing, which are facilitated through an online slide deck presentation labeled Direct Instruction. In the Student Guide, students have various activities aligned to the standards, but the connection to the standard is not directly labeled. Each module in the Student Guide contains the following lessons: Apply Your Learning, Appreciate the Author’s Craft, Draft Your Argument, Building Vocabulary, and Write to Impress; however, the standards are not identified with each activity.
In Unit 2, Module 1, Apply Your Learning, Student Guide, students review the Direct Instruction slideshow, Determining and Tracing a Central Idea Through Details, then apply their learning to the task. Slides include the definition of the central idea, the difference between a topic and a central idea, where to find the central idea, how to look for evidence of the central idea, how to find evidence an author uses, and why it matters. In the five-question quiz, students read a passage and answer questions where they determine the central idea or evidence about the text. This task is aligned to standard RI.9-10.2. This same slideshow and quiz are used in Grade 10. In the Teacher Guide, the module timeline states that “Students will complete the Direct Instruction lesson independently.” Teacher materials state to conduct explicit reading instruction on annotating and close reading. Specific teacher directions are called out, including modeling how the details highlighted to support the central idea and highlighting exemplars with the class. Additionally, there are directions on how to model thinking about the prompts and how to look for details and evidence in the text. The remaining teacher guidance states,
Remind students that the Direct Instruction lesson is a useful resource.
Have students hear the prompts out loud before they begin working.
Facilitate pairs or groups for students to complete the tasks.
In Unit 6, Module 3, students read “Top Ten Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for High School Students” by Crimson Education Staff. The Teacher Guide identifies that before the students read the text, the teacher facilitates two essential tasks, Quick Journal and Overview and Connection, and one recommended task, Vocabulary. Students complete the Read and Check tasks, answering five multiple-choice questions. In the Analyze step, students use a Direct Instruction slideshow, The Impact of an Author’s Choices: Words and Images, to complete tasks for Apply Your Learning: The Impact of an Author’s Choices: Words and Images, Write to Impress: Understand Word Nuances, and Share Your Argument Builder. These tasks align with standards RI.9-10.6 and W.9-10.2. In the Teacher Guide, the teacher guidance provide step-by-step lesson directions.Teacher materials for the Apply Your Learning provide an opportunity to model thinking about the prompt with a script. Additionally, there is explicit reading instruction for visualization. Teacher materials state: “Think about it this way: if you join a philosophy club, you’ll begin to look at the world through the eyes of a budding philosopher.” This sentence evokes the idea that participating in extracurricular activities can profoundly change one’s perspective and way of thinking, allowing students to see the world in new and insightful ways.“
Over the course of each unit, the majority of questions and tasks are aligned to grade-level standards. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 4, publisher materials list RL.9-10.3 and W.9-10.1 as focus standards. Students read “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” by Karen Russell. During Share Your Argument Builder, students complete the online Develop section to plan an argument to answer the prompt, “What observations is the author making about adolescence in this story? Trace the main character’s development, and use details from the story to support your claim.” (W.9-10.1) Students share their argument builder with a partner. Students ask questions and provide feedback to help strengthen their partner’s reasons, evidence, and reasoning and incorporate the feedback they receive into improving their own writing. Next, students use their Argument Builder and notes from peer collaborations to write a CERCA paragraph that answers the writing prompt.
In Unit 4, Module 2, publisher materials list RI.9-10.5 and W.9-10.2 as focus standards. During Apply Your Learning, students use the article “How Cattle Can Help Save the Birds of the Great Plains” by Molly Loomis to analyze cause-effect text structure (RI.9-10.5). Students answer the questions, “According to Loomis, what has caused the dwindling of bird species in the Great Plains region? Look for signal words that indicate cause and effect. What is the effect of cattle grazing that mimics bison grazing techniques from the past? How does this technique improve the soil? As noted by rancher Milton, what obstacles to implementing sustainable grazing techniques might prevent a solution to the problem? Does the solution of sustainable grazing that mimics bison grazing sound like a viable solution to the problem? Why or why not?” In Module 4, publisher materials list RI.9-10.2 and W.9-10.2 as focus standards. In Apply Your Learning, Summarize an Informational Text, students read “Factory Farms Provide Abundant Food, But Environment Suffers” by John Flesher and answer the questions, “According to Flesher, what has caused the negative impact on the environment from factory farms? According to Flesher, what are the consequences of farming practices on our health and the environment? As noted by Flesher, how can factory farming practices be improved to reduce environmental harm?” (RI.9-10.2)
Over the course of each unit, the majority of assessment questions are aligned to grade-level standards. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Materials include Writing Benchmark Assessments. Writing benchmarks are intended for the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. However, they are not referenced in the Teacher Guide. These benchmarks include two reading passages. Students are given a highlighter tool and instructed to “Use blue to mark sentences that help you in this assessment.” After reading, they answer eight multiple-choice questions about the passages. Then, they are prompted to write an argumentative essay in response to the reading passages: “Be sure your response includes a clear and precisely articulated argumentative claim supported by evidence from the texts and acknowledges opposing or alternate viewpoints. It should be logically organized and articulate clear relationships among the claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. Use well-chosen language and be sure to apply appropriate grammar conventions (punctuation, spelling, etc.).”
In Unit 1, Module 8, students take the Unit 1 Core Assessment online. After reading two passages, “You Could Break Her!” by Sarah Miller and “Letters of a Woman Homesteader” by Elinore Stewart,” they answer 14 multiple-choice questions aligned to grade-level standards. Questions require students to determine the theme, determine important details for a summary of the text, analyze figurative language, select evidence to support the analysis of a character, meaning of words and phrases, analyze the tone, and determine the central idea. Individual questions are not labeled by the standard being assessed.
In Unit 5, Modules 1-6, students read the six acts of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. After reading each act, students answer five multiple-choice questions and answer a writing prompt, such as “How does Shakespeare use specific words and phrases to establish the time, place, and social dynamics of Romeo and Juliet’s Verona?” In Module 10, Unit Reading Assessment and Reflection, students complete a final assessment using two texts, “Excerpt from Pygmalion, Act II” and “Video Clip from My Fair Lady.” After reading, the students answer 16 multiple-choice questions. Twelve questions focus on Pygmalion (story structure, character development and motivation, and dramatic tension), and four questions focus on My Fair Lady. Individual questions are not labeled by the standard being assessed.
By the end of the academic year, most standards are repeatedly addressed within and across units to ensure students master the full intent of the standard. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Standard RL.9-10.3, characterization, is addressed multiple times in the program. In Unit 3, Module 1, students read “The Most Dangerous Game” and answer the question, “In this passage, Connell explores Rainsford’s development as a character as he tries to escape from General Zaroff. What motivates Rainsford in these final moments?” Students answer questions about the character - what he is thinking and feeling and how his actions compare to his thoughts and feelings. In Module 2, students read “A White Heron” and answer the question, “Jewett develops the complexity of the characters in ‘A White Heron’ by revealing their values and motivations. While Sylvia mostly stays silent, the author vividly describes her inner world. The hunter, on the other hand, has much to say. What are some ways in which each of these characters’ motivations are revealed through what they say, think, and do?” In Unit 5, Module 2, students read Romeo and Juliet and answer, “What conclusions can be drawn about the characters below that have not been written directly on the page? Consider how they look, speak, behave, and interact with others.”
Standard W.9-10.2, argumentative writing, is addressed multiple times in the materials. In Unit 2, Module 4, students read “It Was a Mistake to Let Kids Onto Social Media Sites. Here’s What to Do Now” by Yuval Levin and write a CERCA paragraph answering the writing prompt, “Trace the issue that seems to be at stake for readers surrounding the debate about children and social media. How does the author appeal to the audience?” to write a CERCA paragraph meeting W.9-10.2. Students state a claim, add reasons, evidence, reasoning, and a counterargument. The standard is also addressed in Unit 4, Module 3, and in Unit 7, Module 2.
Other standards that are repeated at least two times in the program are RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.5, RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.3, RI.9-10.4, RI.9-10.6, RI.9-10.7, RI.9-10.8, W.9-10.1, W.9-10.3, W.9-10.4, W.9-10.5, W.9-10.8, W.9-10.9, W.9-10.10, L.9-10.3, L.9-10.4, L.9-10.6, SL.9-10.1, SL.9-10.2, and SL.9-10.4.
Standard L.9-10.5 is only addressed once in the program.
Indicator 2H
Materials regularly and systematically balance time and resources required for following the suggested implementation, as well as information for alternative implementations that maintain alignment and intent of the standards.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 2h.
Each unit and module is accompanied by a Unit At-a-Glance that includes high-level pacing guides for a 50-minute or 90-minute class session. The pacing guides can also work with an online or a blended model. Task-specific timing guidance is found in the Teacher Guides. Tasks that are deemed essential are starred in the Unit-at-a-Glance document as well as the Teacher Guide. Most units are designed to be completed within 22-26 instructional days, so the seven units can reasonably be completed within a school year. Each unit includes complementary writing tasks that teachers can use to provide students with additional writing practice. The materials also provide Longer Works units, which are novel-centered and can be used to enhance units within the core curriculum. The provided optional Longer Work of Fiction novel study units are meaningful and follow the same pacing as a core unit. The publisher recommends these as optional units of study during a regular weekly choice period as independent exploration time, schoolwide WIN time, silent sustained reading, or at home independent reading.
Suggested implementation schedules and alternative implementation schedules align to core learning and objectives. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Unit At-a-Glance includes a 50-minute Class Pacing Guide and a 90-minute Class Pacing Guide. The 50-minute Class Pacing Guide for one unit covers 22-26 days or blocks per unit, which would account for up to 182 school days to complete seven units. The 50-minute Class Pacing Guides include:
One block for previewing the unit theme and setting personal goals.
One block to explore the theme.
12 to 16 blocks to read and analyze the texts for the unit. Individual core texts take three instructional blocks: Before you Read, Read and Analyze, and Write to a prompt.
Three to four blocks to read across genres.
One to two blocks for an integrated speaking and listening activity, such as Socratic discussion, debate, etc.
Three to five blocks for the Your Portfolio process writing task.
One to two blocks for assessment and reflection.
The Teacher Guide provides timing for each part of the lesson. Parts of lessons are labeled as “essential” in the Unit-At-a-Glance, Teacher Guide, and Module-At-a-Glance.
Novel study units are optional choices and include a Unit Planner with 50-minute and 90-minute pacing guides. The 50-minute class schedule covers 31 blocks, and the 90-minute block schedule covers 18 blocks.
Suggested implementation schedules can be reasonably completed in the time allotted. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In each unit, the Unit-At-a-Glance lays out the schedule for the unit.
In Unit 1, Module 1, the Module-At-a-Glance states the estimated time to complete is three to four 50-minute sessions (one to two 90-minute sessions). Students complete a quick journal and vocabulary activity. Then, they read “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White. Next, they complete the Analyze, Apply Your Learning, Write to Impress sections, and summarize the text. Lastly, students plan and draft a CERCA response. The suggested timing guidance for all tasks in the Teacher Guide totals 180 minutes; therefore, this module could be reasonably completed in four 50-minute sessions or two 90-minute sessions.
In Unit 6, Module 5, the Module-At-a-Glance states the estimated time is three to four 50-minute sessions (one to two 90-minute sessions). First, students watch a video, “Why Extracurricular Activities Are So Important,” and complete a journal entry. Then, they read and analyze two articles using various graphic organizers in the Student Guide. Last, students complete two extension activities that will “further their quest to build a strong postsecondary plan for themselves. The suggested timing guidance for all tasks in the Teacher Guide totals 164 minutes; therefore, this module could be reasonably completed in three 50-minute sessions or two 90-minute sessions.
As an added resource, the publisher provides teachers with a Class Planner and Pacing Calculator, which includes the following guidance:
“In the sheets that follow, you will find calculators that help you gauge the time it takes for your students to complete certain tasks.
We know each of the opportunities for learning that we provide takes time, and we want to empower you to make the most of your time by planning for your students’ needs efficiently and realistically.
Simply adjust the number of minutes per session and start recording your estimates or actual minutes spent on given tasks to gauge how long it takes your students to complete them. As they gain experience and practice, they will need less time, so consider adjusting throughout the year so you can plan carefully to meet your students’ needs.”
Optional tasks do not distract from core learning. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Unit Planning Tool, additional complementary writing prompts are provided as “practice options as students progress through the curriculum prior to the portfolio piece for each unit.” These prompts are aligned texts read in the unit. The Planning Tool includes student worksheets and graphic organizers to plan their writing as well as reflect on writing. There are no direct instruction notes for the teacher for these prompts. The teacher guidance says, “Make planning decisions based on schedule, your program, and your students’ needs. Use the complementary prompts to ensure appropriate levels of standards coverage in student experiences with the process of writing.”
Longer Works of Fiction novel studies for Grades 9 and 10 include Animal Farm by George Orwell, Night by Elie Wiesel, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. These units include a Unit-at-a-Glance, Teacher Guide, Student Guide, and Diverse Learner Guide in the same format as the Core ELAR.
The publisher provides the Longer Works Units and some guidance on incorporating these units into the curriculum as part of the unit of instruction, independent reading, at-home enrichment, or schoolwide reading programs.
In each module throughout the program, there are “recommended” and “essential” tasks for each lesson. While the publisher suggests completing all activities in a lesson, the “recommended” tasks could be optional and cut when teachers are short on instructional time; however, cutting material repeatedly could affect the delivery of instruction essential to achieving grade-level standards.
Optional tasks are meaningful and enhance core instruction. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In each unit, complementary writing prompts are provided. Teachers are able to use these prompts to give students extra practice with different types of writing and standards.
Longer Works of Fiction novel studies include similar tasks as core units. The novel studies are supplemental for core instruction. The novel studies are intended to enhance core instruction. The materials for Animal Farm by George Orwell include eight modules that follow the same format as the Core ELAR units. In Module 1, What is the Russian Revolution, students are introduced to how informational texts can help them understand fictional texts and learn about the Russian Revolution by reading an article, “What Was the Russian Revolution?” by the BBC, and answering the prompt, “Using evidence from the text, what role did political leaders Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin each have on the Russian revolution?” In Modules 2-5, students read the anchor text and complete Direct Instruction and Writing Lessons that follow a similar format as the Core ELAR units. In Module 6, Read Across Genres, students read and analyze poetry and understand dystopian literature. In Module 7, Socratic Discussion, students learn about and prepare to participate in a Socratic discussion for the prompt, “ How can we recognize and respond to abuses of power and control in our society?” In Module 8, Your Portfolio, students write a literary analysis essay for the prompt, “Identify three major themes from George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Use details from the text to analyze how the author uses the characters, conflicts, and/or setting to create a social commentary on each of these themes.” Module 9, Unit Reading Assessment and Reflection, which is found in the Core ELAR units, is not available in this unit.
Overview of Gateway 3
Usability
The materials provide comprehensive guidance to assist teachers in presenting the instructional materials, including annotations and suggestions in the Teacher Guides, some adult-level explanations so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, and standards correlation documents. In addition, the materials include family letters for each unit in English and Spanish that inform parents and caregivers about the program and student learning throughout the curriculum. Supporting documentation on the ThinkCERCA website outlines how the program works and the program's research-based strategies.
The materials include reading, writing, and vocabulary assessments at the end of each Module. The Unit At-a-Glance includes a Unit Assessment Blueprint that provides the primary and item standards. The materials provide multiple opportunities to assess students’ learning through varied methods of formal and informal assessments and include suggestions for teachers on following up with students. The materials include accommodations that ensure all students can access assessments as well as general teacher guidance on implementing those accommodations.
The materials regularly provide strategies and support for students in special populations to work with grade-level content and to meet or exceed grade-level standards that will support their regular and active participation in learning English Language Arts and literacy. Materials provide multiple opportunities for advanced students to investigate the grade-level content at a higher level of complexity. Materials provide teachers scaffolds and tools to support students in participating in the regular lesson despite language barriers. Scaffolds and supports for students to use their home language to leverage their learning are generic.
The program provides varied approaches to learning tasks over time, variety in how students are expected to demonstrate their learning, and opportunities for students to monitor their learning. Teachers can use a variety of grouping strategies.
The materials provide a balance of images and information about people representing various demographic and physical characteristics. In each unit, texts are balanced with a variety of author voices from across cultures. Both fictional and nonfictional depictions of people are balanced across ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. The program provides some guidance for teachers to leverage students’ cultural and social backgrounds, particularly in units with texts that are diverse.
The platform allows teachers to use lessons and digital tools in presentation mode by displaying the Spark Teacher View. The student materials mostly provide students with a robust array of digital tools, including but not limited to immersive reading tools, generative writing tools, and digital highlighting. However, tools are not universal, as the direct teaching lessons do not have any tools available, and the highlighting tools are only available in some of the lessons. Some units provide a way to collaborate digitally, such as creating a class presentation for questions, predictions, and images or having students create videos and then have the class view and provide feedback. However, the platform does not provide any of these, and they would need to be created and shared by the teacher.
The visual design of the materials supports learning. The design of the Student Guide and Teacher Guide is consistent throughout the program and across all grade levels. The materials provide teacher guidance for using embedded technology to support and enhance student learning. Embedded technology is a central part of the program; however, implementation models are provided for 1:1 and low-tech access.
Gateway 3
v1.5
Criterion 3.1: Teacher Supports
The program includes opportunities for teachers to effectively plan and utilize materials with integrity and to further develop their own understanding of the content.
The materials provide comprehensive guidance to assist teachers in presenting the instructional materials, including annotations and suggestions in the Teacher Guides, some adult-level explanations so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, and standards correlation documents. In addition, the materials include family letters for each unit in English and Spanish that inform parents and caregivers about the program and student learning throughout the curriculum. Supporting documentation on the ThinkCERCA website outlines how the program works and the program's research-based strategies.
Indicator 3A
Materials provide teacher guidance with useful annotations and suggestions for how to enact the student materials and ancillary materials to support students' literacy development.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3a.
The materials for each unit include a Unit At-a-Glance, a Teacher Guide, and Unit Planning Tools. The Unit At-a-Glance document is also included in the first pages of the Teacher Guide. It includes a unit snapshot, rationale, and breakdown of the skills that will be addressed in the unit. The essential question is presented, along with the timings of each section of the unit. A Unit Assessment Blueprint is found here as well as a document on the progression of scaffolds for independent learning. The Teacher Guides include instructions for implementing the program. Lesson summaries and objectives are found for each module. Teacher tips, support for students with exceptional needs, support for multilingual/English Language Learners, as well as gifted and talented enrichment opportunities are found. Unit Planning Tools include a Comprehensive Scope and Sequence and Planning Guidance document, Vocabulary Instruction Guidance, Key Vocabulary, Resources for Volume Reading, Resources for Students, and a Family Letter in English and Spanish.
Materials provide comprehensive guidance that will assist teachers in presenting the student and ancillary materials. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Frontmatter Overview of Program document provides an overview of the program and highlights implementation, scaffolding, grouping students, distribution of writing, implementing the program without 1:1 device access, and time routines.
Each Unit At-a-Glance includes the essential question, unit snapshot, rationale, list of student skills and standards addressed, timing for modules/sessions, lists of anchor texts and suggested longer works and independent reading opportunities, unit planning tools, writing prompts, and assessment blueprints.
Unit Planning Tools document includes a comprehensive scope and sequence, vocabulary instruction guidance, key vocabulary terms, resources for volume reading, resources for students, family letters in English and Spanish, and state standard crosswalks.
Each Teacher Guide includes lesson summaries, learning objectives, suggested timing for each part of the lesson, module planning tool, direct instruction guidance with teacher tips and “teacher will”/”student will” statements, scripting for some direction instruction, think-alouds, support for students with exceptional needs and multilingual and EL learners, links to toolkits, answer keys for Student Guide worksheets, and feedback focus.
Materials include sufficient and useful annotations and suggestions that are presented within the context of the specific learning objectives. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 2, Module 1, Share your Reflections activity, the teacher presents five comprehension questions about the text “You Can Track Almost Everything Your Kids Do Online. Here’s Why That May Not be a Good Idea” by Linda Damour. These questions are labeled with DOK. In the Teacher Guide, guidance is presented in a “Speaking and Listening Toolkit - Using Evidence to Build on Others’ Ideas. As students engage in the ‘Pause and Reflect’ activity, explain that recording questions from the text before sharing their reflections with their audience helps them explore the text they are reading together. Emphasize that the point of the experience is to build knowledge together and respectfully speak and listen when they engage in a discussion. Consider demonstrating how students will share their reflections. For additional rigor, students may pose the question,’ Why might others disagree with your point of view?’”
Further guidance is listed as “Teacher will:
Assist students in switching between the Pause and Reflect questions online and recording their responses in the Student Guide
Facilitate pairs or small groups for students to discuss their responses
Remind them to record their discussion reflections in the Student Guide.”
In Unit 2, Module 7, Edit the Draft Together - Peer Edit: Give and Get Feedback lesson, students use a rubric to suggest final edits and proofreading. In the Teacher Guide, notes direct the to give information on subjects and predicates, “Use the Subjects and Predicates slide linked in the Toolkit to teach this skill. Explain that a complete sentence includes a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject is doing or being). For example, My sister (subject) wakes up for school at 7 am (predicate). Model sentences on the board, using different colors for subjects and predicates, and have students identify them. Explain fragments (incomplete sentences) with an example such as Breakfast tasted, and run-ons (sentences with too many subjects and predicates, with the example Breakfast was good and it was amazing and it was so tasty and lunch was too.” In addition, guidance for subject-verb agreement is presented: “Use the Subject-Verb Agreement slide to explain that verbs must agree in number with nouns. Singular nouns go with singular verbs, and plural nouns go with plural verbs. Highlight examples like: The cat runs swiftly (singular), and The cats run swiftly (plural). Brainstorm more examples with students, and remind them to also use the revision checklist skills learned in Unit 1.”
Indicator 3B
Materials contain adult-level explanations and examples of the more complex grade-level/course-level concepts and concepts beyond the current course so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3b.
The materials include a Resources section that consists of Curriculum Resources, a Help Center, an On-Demand Video Library, and the ThinkCERCA Blog. The Curriculum Resources Tab directs to best practices documents on a variety of topics in writing, reading comprehension, close reading, vocabulary, background knowledge and culture, community, and collaboration. Each of the documents includes suggested time for the activity/strategy, rationale/research base, before, during, and after instructions, and suggested scaffolds and supports. These pages include some grade-level specific Toolkits in writing, speaking and listening, language and grammar, and vocabulary that the teacher or students can use. Materials also include suggested independent reading titles. The Help Center includes product support, an Admin Toolkit, and a Teacher Toolkit. The Teacher Toolkit includes guidance documents for Getting Started, Implementing ThinkCERCA, and Providing Feedback. Each Unit Teacher Guide includes a section titled “Core Unit Progression,” which provides teachers with how the unit fits in the progression of previous and future units within and across grade levels.
Materials contain adult-level explanations and examples of more complex grade/course-level concepts so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Front Matter Focus: Reading document outlines the rationale for the unit components, including anchor texts, close reading and writing tasks, and scaffolding. It also provides information about text complexity in the program.
The Best Practices Document: Establishing Vocabulary Notebooks and Routines is found in the Curriculum Resources Tab for 9th grade. It includes a rationale, a list of student tasks, instructions for before, during, and after the lesson, and scaffolds and supports.
The Best Practices Document: The Teacher Research Toolkit includes guidelines for informal and formal research. It includes a rationale/research base, optimal application notes for before, during, and after lessons, and suggested scope and sequence. The toolkit also includes graphic organizers that can be used by both teachers and students.
The Curriculum Resources tab includes a document titled “Implementing Independent Reading,” which provides suggested routines, a rationale, and instructions for integrating volume reading and independent reading pacing.
In the Help Center, Teacher Toolkit, Implementing ThinkCERCA, there is a document titled “Implementing a Writing Lesson with Engagement Strategies.” It outlines the steps of the writing lesson and links to detailed instructions for strategies at each step.
The Teacher Guide for each unit includes summaries of what students learn throughout the unit in the different literacy strands (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Grammar, and Research). Teachers can use these notes to deepen their knowledge of what students are learning in the course.
While the materials include toolkits that teachers and students can use across different parts of literacy, they are the same for each grade level. The following toolkits are available and are the same across grades 6-12: Research, Speaking and Listening, Revision Strategies, and Language and Style Toolkits.
Materials contain adult-level explanations and examples of concepts beyond the current course so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Unit Teacher Guide includes a section titled “Core Unit Progression.” This section provides teachers with explanations of how the unit fits in the progression of previous and future units within and across grade levels. These explanations are tailored to Reading and Writing skills, separately.
Indicator 3C
Materials include standards correlation information that explains the role of the standards in the context of the overall series.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3c.
The materials provide standard correlation resources at the grade level, Unit, Module, and lesson level. The Unit At-a-Glance and Module-at-a-Glance materials provide teachers with the standards correlated to classroom instruction. There is additional information about the alignment of the CCSS for the writing and assessments of each Unit and Module. Additionally, there is a Grade 9 Planning Tool, Pacing Calculator and Assessment Blueprint Document, and a Scope and Sequence by Strand document that provides a comprehensive view of the CCSS alignment. The Teacher Guide does not include the CCSS, but the teacher has access to the Unit At-a Glance, the Unit Planning Tools, and the Scope and Sequence documents.
Correlation information is present for the ELA standards addressed throughout the grade level/series. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Unit Planning Tools, there is a Grade 9 Planning Tool, Pacing Calculator and Assessment Blueprint Document that outlines the CCSS by Unit and Module. There is a comprehensive breakdown for the entire program and a more in-depth breakdown for each Unit. Additionally, there is a Scope and Sequence by Strand document that provides a comprehensive view of Curriculum and Instruction, Practice and Feedback, Assessments, and CCSS for vocabulary, writing, research, reading, speaking and Listening, and grammar.
In each Unit At-a-Glance document, the CCSS are listed in a grid formation at the top of the document. For Unit 6, the CCSS are listed for Reading and Multimedia Literacy Skills (RI.9-10.3; RI.9-10.6), Writing skills (W.9-10.3; W.9-10.2), Vocabulary/Language Skills (L.9-10.1; L.9-10.2; L.9-10.4; L.9-10.5), Speaking and Listening (SL.9-10.2), Executive Function skills (W.9-10.8; W.9-10.9), and Foundational Reading and Linguistic Skills (RF.2, RF.3). Underneath each category is a bulleted list of a description of the task-related to the standard such as for Reading and Multimedia Literacy skills:
“Evaluate the impact of an author’s choices: selecting and arranging details
Explore the impact of an author’s choices: words and images
Analyze connections within informational texts.”
In each Unit At-a-Glance document, the Unit Writing Prompts are listed with the corresponding CCSS.
The Unit Assessment Blueprint lists each assessment for the unit with the primary CCSS and the CCSS item standards in each Unit At-a-Glance document.
In each Module At-a-Glance, there is a breakdown of the module, which includes the corresponding CCSS for each part of the lesson.
Explanations of the role of the specific grade-level/course-level ELA standards are present in the context of the series. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Unit At-a-Glance documents, the CCSS are listed in a grid formation at the top of the document. Then, each document is coded for each module that matches the grid that connects each module task to the CCSS listed in the grid. For example, in Unit 6, Module 2, “How Colleges Weigh High School Extracurriculars” by Tiffany Sorensen, the online direct instruction, The Impact of an Author’s Choices: Selecting and Arranging Details, has a blue circle with the letter R next to it indicating that it connects to the standards listed in the section for Reading and Multimedia Literacy Skills (RI.9-10.3; RI.9-10.6).
The Teacher Guides contain multiple areas to guide teachers to the learning that is correlated to CCSS, including, but not limited to, Lesson Objectives, Purpose, Teacher Will, and Feedback Focus. The Teacher Guide does not list the CCSS, but the CCSS language is included. The CCSS can be located in each Unit At-a Glance, the Unit Planning Tools, and the Scope and Sequence documents.
Indicator 3D
Materials provide strategies for informing all stakeholders, including students, parents, or caregivers about the program and suggestions for how they can help support student progress and achievement.
The materials include a Family Letter for each unit located in the Unit Planning Tools. The letter includes the name, essential question, text titles, overview of the learning, and two suggestions for activities at home. The letter is available in English and Spanish. The family letter provides the rationale for the unit that connects the essential question to the broad ideas of the unit. This could provide families with areas of home discussion, but it is not explicitly framed as such. The two suggested activities are the same for every unit and every grade level and include how to gain access to the online platform and reading tools available there and a broad suggestion to connect the essential question to “...movies, television shows, and song lyrics.”
Materials contain strategies for informing students, parents, or caregivers about the ELA program. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Unit Planning Tool includes a Family Letter in both English and Spanish. Parents can use this letter to orient themselves to what students are learning in each unit.
The Unit 3 Planning Tools include a family letter that includes the unit name, How Do We Make Difficult Decisions?, as well as the essential questions for the unit, “How do our experiences shape our values and reveal the choices we have available to us?” The letter informs families how students will explore the ideas of “... how experiences help shape or determine values and perceptions.” The family letter also includes the reading selection for the unit, including, but not limited to, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “Hot Dogs and Wild Geese” by Firoozeh Dumas. This letter is available in English and Spanish. Additionally, the family letter provides an overview of the learning for the unit, including a Socratic discussion about how experiences shape values and perception, writing a short story, and figurative language.
Materials contain suggestions for how parents or caregivers can help support student progress and achievement. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Unit Planning Tool includes a section for Suggested Activities for Home that includes how to access ThinkCERCA from home, a list of available reading tools on their platform, and a prompt to “...encourage students to discuss the essential question as it applies to movies, television shows, and song lyrics.”
Indicator 3E
Materials provide explanations of the instructional approaches of the program and identification of the research-based strategies.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3e.
Materials provide explanations of the instructional approaches and identification of the research-based strategies. On the publisher’s website, a How it Works section outlines the components of the program. This page includes video demonstrations on topics such as using the program within your daily routine, giving students choice and voice, and using station-based rotations. An overview of the program document is included with the core curriculum at each grade level. In the resources section, core resources by grade are found that offer additional guidance for implementing various routines in the program, including writing, reading comprehension, close reading, vocabulary, culture and community, and background knowledge. In addition, there are Overview of Our Research Base documents for each component of the program (Reading, Writing, Grammar, Speaking & Listening, Research, Assessment & Reporting, MLLs, and Gifted & Talented) are included in the resource materials.
Materials explain the instructional approaches of the program.
The How it Works provides a high-level overview of the program, outlining six steps to the program:
“Step 1: Teacher assigns differentiated lessons to students
Step 2: Students read an engaging, authentic text
Step 3: Students leverage CERCA to develop their essays
Step 4: Peer-to-peer discussion and debate infused along the way
Step 5: Teacher provides actionable feedback for growth
Step 6: District and school leaders monitor progress”
The Overview of the Program document provides a more detailed look at the program’s instructional approach. It outlines topics such as implementation strategies, scaffolding for diverse learners, distribution of writing, time for speaking, listening, and writing, working the program without 1:1 device access, and maximizing student engagement with routines.
The Core Resources for grade 9 include best practices documents for a variety of literacy strategies, including (but not limited to)
Compare Writing
Choral Reading
Paired Reading and Review
Choral/Dramatic Reading
Partner Restatement
Frayer Model
Root Word Challenge
Socratic Discussion
Quick Journal
Materials include and reference research-based strategies.
For each strand, an Overview of Our Research Base document is provided, as well as documents for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Grammar, and Vocabulary.
Reading: This document includes a research base for unit components, anchor texts, scaffolded close reading, and writing-related tasks. It also discusses reading across genres, the purpose of anchor texts and reading across genres activities, integrated literacy, text complexity, and AI-enabled scaffolding access to grade-level texts.
Writing: This document includes the program’s approach to writing instruction, time for speaking, listening, and writing, and distribution of writing.
Speaking and Listening: This document includes an overview of research for the program components, formal speaking and listening, and routines,
Grammar: This section includes an overview of research on explicit and integrated grammar instruction, grammar instruction in context, and conventions routines.
Vocabulary: This document This section includes an overview of research on explicit and integrated vocabulary instruction, establishing routines, selecting vocabulary, best practices, repetition and integration, vocabulary instruction and in-context vocabulary routines, and vocabulary acquisition.
Indicator 3F
Materials provide a comprehensive list of supplies needed to support instructional activities.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3f.
Materials provide a comprehensive list of supplies needed to support instructional activities. Students mainly need access to the online program and a paper or electronic copy of the Student Guide to successfully access the program components. The Unit At-a-Glance Document and Teacher Guides outline which online direct instruction and additional offline resources are used in each module. These are clearly labeled to show when students need access to a computer and when they are working offline.
Materials provide a comprehensive list of supplies needed to support instructional activities. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Unit At-a-Glance document lists the online direct instruction lessons for each module as well as additional offline resources. These are all tagged with a color-coded circle to indicate the strand, reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking and listening or executive function, as well as a star for essential tasks.
The Teacher Guide includes a one-page graphic for each module that includes a map of the module with images of the Student Guide pages. Like in the Unit At-a-Glance document, these are all tagged with a color-coded circle to indicate the strand, reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking and listening, or executive function, as well as a star for essential tasks. Additional graphics to indicate whether the activity is teacher-led, individual, paired, small group, online or offline.
Indicator 3G
This is not an assessed indicator in ELA.
Indicator 3H
This is not an assessed indicator in ELA.
Criterion 3.2: Assessment
The program includes a system of assessments identifying how materials provide tools, guidance, and support for teachers to collect, interpret, and act on data about student progress towards the standards.
The materials include reading, writing, and vocabulary assessments at the end of each Module. The Unit At-a-Glance includes a Unit Assessment Blueprint that provides the primary and item standards. The materials provide multiple opportunities to assess students’ learning through varied methods of formal and informal assessments and include suggestions for teachers on following up with students. The materials include accommodations that ensure all students can access assessments as well as general teacher guidance on implementing those accommodations.
Indicator 3I
Assessment information is included in the materials to indicate which standards are assessed.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3i.
The materials include reading, writing, and vocabulary assessments at the end of each Module. The Unit At-a-Glance includes a Unit Assessment Blueprint that provides the primary and item standards. Additionally, each unit consists of a Unit Reading Assessment and Reflection that serves as a summative and formative assessment. The Module At-a-Glance document for each Reading Assessment module provides the primary and item standards for this assessment.
Materials consistently identify the standards and practices assessed for formal assessments. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Unit At-a-Glance document includes a Unit Assessment Blueprint that provides primary standards for each assessment for each Module in that Unit. The Selection Reading Assessment also lists item standards.
In Unit 4, Module 1, “Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better for the Planet? Here’s the Science,” the Selection Reading Assessment lists CCSS.RI.9-10.4 as the primary standard and CCSS.RI.9-10.1, CCSS.RI.9-10.2, and CCSS.RI.9-10.4 as item standards. The Selection Vocabulary Quiz lists CCSS.L.9-10.4 as the primary standard. The Formative Writing Assessment: Evidence-Based Writing—Informative lists CCSS.W.9-10.2 as the primary standard.
At the end of each Unit, there is a Unit Reading Assessment and Reflection that serves as a formative and summative assessment opportunity. The primary and item standards are listed in the Unit At-a-Glance and Module At-a-Glance documents for this assessment.
In Unit 4, Module 9, Unit Reading Assessment and Reflection, the primary standards are CCSS.RI.9-10.5, CCSS.RI.9.10, and CCSS.W.9-10.10. In The Unit At-a- Glance, the primary standards are listed as CCSS.RI.9-10.5, CCSS.RI.9-10.6, and CCSS.RI.9-10.4. The item standards are CCSS.RI.9-10.2, CCSS.RI.9-10.3, CCSS.RI.9-10.4, CCSS.RI.9-10.5, and CCSS.RI.9-10.6.
Indicator 3J
Assessment system provides multiple opportunities throughout the grade, course, and/or series to determine students' learning and sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow-up.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3j.
The materials provide multiple opportunities to assess students’ learning through varied methods of formal and informal assessments. There is a system that provides data reporting for teachers, administration, and districts to review student achievement and growth. In the daily lessons, teachers are provided with a Feedback Focus section that provides some language and/or look-fors for the lesson’s specific tasks. Throughout teacher guides, there is some guidance for teachers to use when students do not show mastery. Writing Portfolio pieces are accompanied by rubrics, and teachers may use the Feedback Guidance located in the program’s Resources to provide students with individualized feedback based on the genre of the assignment. The program includes a direct instruction and skills lesson library that teachers can use to supplement student writing instruction based on this feedback.
Assessment system provides multiple opportunities to determine students' learning and sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The ThinkCERCA Front Matter resources provide an overview document on the assessment focus for the program. The Overview presents how the assessments are a blend of self-assessment and automated assessments that assess students’ reading, writing, vocabulary, and language skills. Formative assessments are available to “...inform instruction, unit assessments, culminating tasks, quarterly college placement practice opportunities, and benchmark assessments create summative assessments to gauge student progress toward outcomes and overall achievement.” Unit assessments provide teachers with data for skill transfer of reading and a culminating writing assessment. Additionally, benchmark and college placement practices provide opportunities to assess state assessments.
Assessments are available in multiple formats and teachers have multiple options to assess students’ progress, including pre- and post-assessments for foundational skills, lesson assessments, benchmark writing assessments, informal writing and speaking assessments, unit reading assessments, culminating tasks, and personal reflection.
ThinkCERCA provides a data dashboard that teachers, administration, and district staff can use to “...understand how students are performing across a grade level or across a department…”
Each unit includes an assessment at the end of each module that includes a Selection Reading Assessment, a Selection Vocabulary Quiz, and a Formative Writing Assessment. At the end of every unit is a Unit Reading Assessment and Reflection that serves as a unit assessment aligned with standards. This assessment serves as a formative and summative assessment. There is a beginning, middle, and end-of-year Benchmark assessment scheduled in Units 1, 4, and 7, respectively.
Throughout each module, teachers have opportunities to check for student understanding that is embedded in the lessons that are a combination of anecdotal, written, or speaking assessments.
Writing Portfolio pieces are accompanied by rubrics, and teachers may use the Feedback Guidance located in the program’s Resources to provide students with individualized feedback based on the genre of the assignment and the writing skill.
Assessment system provides multiple opportunities to determine students’ learning and suggestions to teachers for following-up with students. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Reports Portfolio slide deck, ThinkCERCA provides examples of data reports available including Operational Reports, Instructional Reports, and Benchmark Reports. While all reports provide a level of student performance data and student growth data, none of the reports provide any direct paths to reteaching or supporting students. Rather, general advice is given, such as “Use the class summary to review course-specific data” and “Use this data to see students’ performance categories and future growth focus.” Teachers can, however, use student data to group students by reteaching, if desired.
Throughout the Teacher Guides are Feedback Focus sections that guide the teacher on what to look for in each task. For example, in Unit 6, Module 3, students are reading a text and answering comprehension questions. The teacher Feedback Focus section states, “Circulate and spot-check students’ comprehension of the text.” There is no further guidance provided.
The program includes a direct instruction and skills lesson library that teachers can use to supplement student writing instruction based on feedback to their Portfolio Writing pieces. Teacher Guides provide the following guidance: “Search by standard in the Skills Library for personalized lessons to reteach as needed.”
Throughout the teacher guides, some assignments include “Respond and Reteach” guidance. This guidance prompts the teacher with scaffolds for students who are still struggling with certain tasks or concepts.
Indicator 3K
Assessments include opportunities for students to demonstrate the full intent of grade-level/course-level standards and shifts across the series.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3k.
The materials provide multiple opportunities for student assessments through multiple-choice questions and/or written responses. Throughout the program, the materials provide formative and summative assessments that align with the standards for each grade level.
Assessments include opportunities for students to demonstrate the full intent of grade-level/course-level standards and shifts across the series. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The materials provide Unit assessments aligned to the standards, including, but not limited to, Selection Reading Assessments, Selection Vocabulary Quizzes, Formative Writing Practice, Formative Reading Assessments, Unit Speaking and Listening Assessments, Research Assessments, Culminating Task: Writing Portfolio Assessments, and Unit Reading Assessments. The specific assessments and correlating standards are provided in the Unit-at-a-Glance documentation. These assessments build over the unit from practice to the culminating writing task and the unit reading assessment at the end of each unit.
Baseline Writing Assessments/Benchmark Assessments are provided. Students are assigned a grade-level reading passage. After reading, they answer eight multiple-choice questions. Then, they write an essay that includes text evidence from the reading passage. This assessment is given at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to personalize and track student progress throughout the year. ThinkCERCA reporting tools provide a Benchmark Summary, Benchmark Rubric Category, and Benchmark Item Analysis report.
A Reading Leveling Assessment is provided to measure student reading levels. Students are automatically assigned a short reading passage at, below, and above grade level. Each passage has eight multiple-choice questions to complete. Teachers may adjust the reading passage level as needed. The Leveling Assessment report provides teachers with a Student Report by Lessons report. This report posts Background Knowledge and Applied Knowledge scores. The time suggested for this assessment is 40-60 minutes.
Indicator 3L
Assessments offer accommodations that allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills without changing the content of the assessment.
The materials include assessments that provide tools that increase accessibility for reading texts, prompts, questions, and answers, such as Immersive Reader and AI-Enabled Reading Support. This includes the ability for students, including, read-aloud, increased font, and line focus. These universal tools are available for all assessments except the Baseline Writing assessment. Writing assessments do not have a speech-to-text feature built in, but it is mentioned as an accommodation that could be used. The materials also provide some scaffolded materials in the Diverse Learning Guide to support self-assessments and reflections. The materials provide teachers with general guidance on the use of accommodations.
Materials offer accommodations that ensure all students can access the assessment (e.g., text to speech, increased font size) without changing the content of the assessment. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
ThinkCERCA accessibility tools include an Immersive Reader and an AI-enabled reading Support tool, which provides a read-aloud option, increased text size, increased spacing, font choice, and background colors. Students can choose to break apart words into syllables and color code parts of speech. Another tab provides line focus, a picture dictionary, and a translation function. These tools are available on all the assessments except the Baseline Writing assessments.
Materials include guidance for teachers on the use of provided accommodations. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Unit At-a-Glance document includes a section titled “Support for Students with Diverse Learning Needs” that provides brief and general suggestions, such as using the embedded tools or reading the Diverse Learners Guide.
Within each module is a Diverse Learners Guide that provides students with a more scaffolded version of the Student Guide. For example, the guide may have sentence starters for the Assessment Reflection.
Criterion 3.3: Student Supports
The program includes materials designed for each student’s regular and active participation in grade-level/grade-band/series content.
The materials regularly provide strategies and support for students in special populations to work with grade-level content and to meet or exceed grade-level standards that will support their regular and active participation in learning English Language Arts and literacy. Materials provide multiple opportunities for advanced students to investigate the grade-level content at a higher level of complexity. Materials provide teachers scaffolds and tools to support students in participating in the regular lesson despite language barriers. Scaffolds and supports for students to use their home language to leverage their learning are generic.
The program provides varied approaches to learning tasks over time, variety in how students are expected to demonstrate their learning, and opportunities for students to monitor their learning. Teachers can use a variety of grouping strategies.
The materials provide a balance of images and information about people representing various demographic and physical characteristics. In each unit, texts are balanced with a variety of author voices from across cultures. Both fictional and nonfictional depictions of people are balanced across ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. The program provides some guidance for teachers to leverage students’ cultural and social backgrounds, particularly in units with texts that are diverse.
Indicator 3M
Materials provide strategies and supports for students in special populations to work with grade-level content and to meet or exceed grade-level standards that will support their regular and active participation in learning English language arts and literacy.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3m.
The materials regularly provide strategies and support for students in special populations to work with grade-level content and to meet or exceed grade-level standards that will support their regular and active participation in learning English Language Arts and literacy. Teachers can consult guidance in lesson support resources such as the Unit At-a-Glance, Unit Scaffolds Plan for Striving Readers, and Teacher Guide. For each unit, a Diverse Learner Guide is provided, which mirrors the Student Guide but includes additional prompts, graphic organizers, sentence frames, and models for diverse learners.
Materials regularly provide strategies, supports, and resources for students in special populations to support their regular and active participation in grade-level literacy work. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Unit Scaffolds Plan for Striving Readers document outlines lesson supports for struggling readers. It includes the research base and curriculum design for the program, platform, unit, and lesson scaffolds. Lesson scaffolds are described and include background knowledge, key academic vocabulary, pre-reading, during-reading, after-reading, decoding, and fluency strategies.
The Unit At-a-Glance documents reference online differentiated supports on several of the pages. The documents state, “Online differentiated supports enable access to grade-level texts for English Language Learners, Diverse Learners, and students who may benefit from additional support.” In the Unit Overview section, there is a paragraph titled “Support for Students with Diverse Learning Needs” that says, “As needed, students with diverse learning needs may benefit from pre-teaching lessons that are paired with anchor texts. Additional support for students with Diverse Learning Needs can be found in the Guide for Students with Diverse Learning Needs. These modifications can also be used with multilingual learners as they continue the acquisition of English.”
Each Unit At-a-Glance document also includes an “Excellence and Opportunity for All" section that references engaging culturally diverse learners. It includes guidance on making personal connections to the materials through Quick Journals, Explore Key Concepts, Connect Steps, and Share your Personal Connection part of each lesson.
The Teacher Guides include guidance for the teacher in the margin with suggested strategies for supporting students with exceptional needs, struggling readers, and/or gifted and talented enrichment opportunities.
Indicator 3N
Materials regularly provide extensions to engage with literacy content and concepts at greater depth for students who read, write, speak, and/or listen above grade level.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3n.
The materials provide extensions to engage with literacy content and concepts at greater depth for students who read, write, speak, and/or listen above grade level. A Unit Scaffolds Plan for Gifted and Talented document provides general suggestions and guidelines for challenging gifted students. In the Teacher Guide, modules include at least one instance per lesson with guidance for teachers labeled “Gifted and Talented Enrichment Opportunity.”
Materials provide multiple opportunities for advanced students to investigate the grade-level content at a higher level of complexity. Materials are free of instances of advanced students doing more assignments than their classmates. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Unit Scaffolds Plan for Gifted and Talented document is a one-page guide that includes the approach and “why” for scaffolding lessons for this group of students. It states this about the core program, “Throughout each unit, students will experience problem-solving challenges, independent research studies, collaboration opportunities, and critical thinking exercises.” Then, it lists five ways to increase rigor:
“Encourage metacognition - Prompt students to showcase their cognitive thought processes by annotating using metacognitive markers, engaging in a post-reading metacognitive reflection, or participating in partner think-aloud activities.
Productive struggle—By challenging students with advanced tasks, although still in their Zone of Proximal Development, teachers can inspire perseverance and stamina while also allowing students to think more flexibly rather than correctly.
Convergent and divergent thinking includes using open-ended questions and responses, giving students an opportunity to explore new thinking,
Depth of understanding - rather than memorization or rote learning
Leverage the heavy lifting– Remember that sometimes less is more. Instead of adding more support, consider removing scaffolds to promote independence.”
In the Teacher Guides, modules provide guidance for teachers labeled “Gifted and Talented Enrichment Opportunity.” For example, in Unit 4, Module 4, the guide states, “Complex Problem Solving: Unit Global Task: Have students research datasets related to protein consumption (lab-grown or natural), its environmental impact, health outcomes, and/or food production, and complete three, ‘I notice, I wonder,’ statements. Then, disaggregate the data and create a matrix or table showing the relationship between protein consumption and the other factor of their choice.”
Indicator 3O
Materials provide varied approaches to learning tasks over time and variety in how students are expected to demonstrate their learning with opportunities for students to monitor their learning.
The materials provide varied approaches to learning tasks over time, variety in how students are expected to demonstrate their learning, and opportunities for students to monitor their learning. Units begin with goal-setting and end with reflections and celebration. Speaking and listening tasks and discussions allow students to share their thinking in various ways. Quick Journal activities allow students to connect to themes and build background knowledge. Peer review is built into writing tasks.
Materials provide multi-modal opportunities for students to question, investigate, sense-make, and problem-solve using a variety of formats and methods. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each unit includes multi-modal opportunities through whole class, small group, partner, and individual activities. Units consist of modules that follow a pattern of 1-2 sessions of personal goal setting and exploring the theme, 3-5 sessions of close reading and academic writing, 3-4 sessions of reading across genres, 2-3 sessions of “Spark Courageous Thinking” which is a formal, evidence-based discussion, 4-5 sessions of Portfolio writing, and 1-2 sessions of reading assessment and reflection.
Students use interactive online resources for guided close reading and argument writing. AI-assisted real-time Feedback is provided to students. Direct instruction video slide lessons on English Language Arts skills are provided. A Student Guide with unit resources and graphic organizers is provided that can be used for digital or paper/pencil work.
Students have opportunities to share their thinking, to demonstrate changes in their thinking over time, and to apply their understanding in new contexts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
At the beginning of each unit, when students preview the theme, they take a poll of their peers to answer a question about the theme. They answer the question themselves, poll some of their peers, pair, and share, and then volunteer to share their rationales with the whole class. At the end of the unit, they return to the question and see if their thoughts have changed.
As students explore the theme and essential question for each unit, they apply their understanding in various contexts. These include responding to literature through close reading and comprehension questions, writing arguments using text evidence to answer prompts related to the theme, reading across genres, including multimedia, poetry, and informational texts, a variety of speaking and listening activities, and portfolio writing.
Materials leverage the use of a variety of formats and methods over time to deepen student understanding and ability to explain and apply literacy ideas. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Students explore themes through close reading, comparing literature, writing evidence-based claims, process writing, discussion, and reflection.
Across units, a variety of speaking/discussion tasks, including Debate, Socratic Discussion, Panel Discussion, Performance, and Pitch Decks, allow students to deepen their understanding and apply literacy ideas. After these activities, students conduct polls and reflect on the discussion using graphic organizers from the Student Guide and further class discussion.
Materials provide for ongoing review, practice, self-reflection, and feedback. Materials provide multiple strategies, such as oral and/or written feedback, peer or teacher feedback, and self-reflection. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Peer and self-review are present in Module 7 or 8 writing activities. Graphic organizers are provided to guide the peer and self-review process including Share your Personal Narrative, Edit the Draft Together, and Reflect on your Writing. Writing rubrics help guide the peer review process.
At the end of each unit, students complete Reflect on Your Success and Celebrate with Others lessons. In Reflect on Your Success, students write a description of what they are most proud of, whether they feel like a more effective learner than when they began the unit, what their best learning conditions are, obstacles presented and strategies tried, and what they want adults to understand about them as a learner. They are asked to share one successful strategy they used during the unit to overcome a challenge. In Celebrate With Others, students use a 3-2-1 strategy and record 3 parts of the unit they enjoyed, 2 ways they improved their skills, and 1 area of growth they still have. They are asked to share one larger theme about their learning that emerges.
Materials provide a clear path for students to monitor and move their own learning. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
At the beginning of each unit, one to two sessions are dedicated to personal goal setting and exploring the theme. Students set a personal SMART goal for the unit.
At the end of each unit, students reflect on their SMART goal in a Quick Journal activity. They are asked to answer these questions:
“What can you celebrate?
Were you able to do the action you planned?
Was it specific, measurable, and realistic? If not, how would you change it?
Was it achievable in the given time frame? If not, how would you change it?
How might you revise your planning process for the next set of goals?”
Indicator 3P
Materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies.
The materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies. In the Overview of Program Document, the program philosophy of grouping students is outlined under the heading, “Grouping Guidance: Grouping Students Based on Growth Focus and Learning Objectives.” Grouping Guidance is also provided in the Unit At-a-Glance document, which outlines the philosophy of grouping in heterogeneous learning groups. It is recommended that teachers group students based on learning focus rather than readiness levels. Inclusivity is stressed in the guidance, recommending that students in special populations actively participate in class.
Materials provide grouping strategies for students. Materials provide for varied types of interaction among students. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Unit At-a-Glance document, there is a section titled “Grouping Guidance.” This document includes some general guidance about grouping students and suggestions for grouping within the program.
The materials suggest grouping in pairs, small groups, or larger groups depending on the activity and learning focus.
Materials provide guidance for the teacher on grouping students in a variety of grouping formats. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The guidance states, “We highly recommend that teachers group students based on the learning focus and avoid grouping students by readiness level. The ThinkCERCA reports provide ample data points to drive instructional groupings. When engaging in reteaching or pre-teaching moments, regardless of student ‘level,’ teachers can group all students who have the same personalized growth focus area together for an immediate teaching opportunity. For example, a teacher may choose to focus on students with the personalized growth focus area of ‘evidence.’ This may mean that a student with 6th-grade readiness may be in the same group as a student with 8th-grade readiness.”
Guidance is provided for grouping in pairs, small groups, or larger groups: “Large group learning is best when all students need the instruction or information and students at all ranges of abilities are able to engage. Small groups foster discussion and collaboration and provide teachers with the opportunity to instruct students based on personalized data, while partner and individual work allow for deepened engagement and focused thinking about a topic.”
In the Teacher Guide, icons indicate whether a lesson is intended for individual, paired, or small-group learning.
Indicator 3Q
Materials provide strategies and supports for students who read, write, and/or speak in a language other than English to meet or exceed grade-level standards to regularly participate in learning English language arts and literacy.
The materials reviewed for Grade 9 meet the criteria for Indicator 3q.
The materials provide teachers and students with scaffolds and tools to support students’ participation in the regular lesson despite language barriers. Teachers are provided with general tips for the specific vocabulary that may need translations, as well as reminders to use the online tools and the Diverse Learning Guide for scaffolds. There is an additional English Language Learners Guide that teachers can use to provide multilingual learners with scaffolds depending on their English language proficiency level. The online platform has a wide variety of language choices for written translation and read-aloud features.
Materials consistently provide strategies and supports for students who read, write, and/or speak in a language other than English to meet or exceed grade-level standards through regular and active participation in grade-level literacy work. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each Teacher Guide provides guidance in the margin notes for Support for English Language Learners, which provides teachers with specific words to consider for translation. The margins also indicate additional suggestions, including, but not limited to, when to provide tools such as a bilingual dictionary, translation, or digital tools. These tips can be found for most of the specific sections of the module or unit.
The ThinkCERCA materials include a document on their “Approach to Supporting Multilingual English Language Learners” that provides an overview of possible scaffolds aligned to WIDA supports, including, but not limited to, graphic organizers, distinct task chunking, and modified rubrics. There is also a Unit Scaffold Plan for Striving Readers that lists platform, unit, and lesson scaffolds.
Student materials can be translated into many different languages in writing or read aloud. Languages include, but are not limited to, three forms of Spanish, Thai, Urdu, and Zulu. The online platform has a wide variety of language choices for written translation and read-aloud features.
The Teacher Guide provides general tips for translating specific vocabulary and reminders to use the online tools and the Diverse Learning Guide as scaffolds.
There is an English Language Learner Guide provided for each unit, which links to different guides for each module. This guide differentiates activities for students depending on their English Language proficiency level. Activities are differentiated for beginning proficiency, intermediate proficiency, and advanced proficiency.
Indicator 3R
Materials provide a balance of images or information about people, representing various demographic and physical characteristics.
Materials provide a balance of images and information about people representing various demographic and physical characteristics. In each unit, texts are balanced with a variety of author voices from across cultures. Both fictional and nonfictional depictions of people are balanced across ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. In addition to the core readings, suggested longer works include a balance of voices and present all identities in a positive light. Photos and images are minimal across the units, are mostly found at module headings, and may consist of people, places, or objects. There are a variety of races, genders, and ethnicities represented in those images.
Materials and assessments depict different individuals of different genders, races, ethnicities, and other physical characteristics. Depictions of demographics or physical characteristics are portrayed positively across the series. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, students explore the theme “Where are you From?” with the essential question, “How can certain memories, places, and experiences shape who we become?”. Texts in this unit depict speakers from various genders, races, and ethnicities. Texts include:
“Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White is a personal essay where a father recounts a trip from his childhood and takes his own son to create new memories.
Excerpt from An American Childhood by Annie Dillard is a memoir where the author recounts her youth and enthusiasm for science and nature, which her parents supported, although they didn’t share the same passions.
“Mango No.61” by Richard Blanco explores themes of cultural identity through the speaker’s Cuban-American grandmother.
“My Favorite Photograph” by Veera Hiranandani is an Indian-American child who describes life in a small Learning Community from first through fourth grade. She explores how the Learning Community shaped her development and increased her capacity for resilience.
“Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear” by Mosab Abu Toha is a poem that reflects memories of a war-torn childhood and cultural references to the author’s Arabic lineage.
In Unit 3, Module 3, Ken Liu’s “The Paper Menagerie” describes the relationship between a biracial Chinese American boy, Jack, and his Chinese immigrant mother.
Materials and assessments balance positive portrayals of demographics or physical characteristics. Materials avoid stereotypes or language that might be offensive to a particular group. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 3, Module 5, students read “Hot Dogs and Wild Geese” by Firoozeh Dumas, a first-hand account of immigration to America. The author humorously describes her family’s adjustment to the customs and English language of her new country.
In Unit 6, Module 1, students read “Shonda Rhimes Commencement Address.” Shonda Rhimes, a well-known producer and screenwriter, delivers the commencement address to Dartmouth College. She relays inspirational messages about her life and success to the new graduates.
Materials provide representations that show students that they can succeed in the subject, going beyond just showing photos of diverse students not engaged in work related to the context of the learning. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Photos across the units are of objects, places, or people and are mostly limited to module headings. Most texts do not include images unless they are a multimedia study in a Read Across Genres module. For example, in Unit 2, Module 5, students read a multimedia article titled “Removed: Photographs Created in the United States from 2014-Present” by Eric Pickersgill. This photo essay includes black and white photos of people engaged in their personal devices (cellphones, tablets, etc). The photos include a variety of ages, genders, and ethnicities.
Indicator 3S
Materials provide guidance to encourage teachers to draw upon student home language to facilitate learning.
The materials provide general and mostly generic scaffolds and supports for students to use their home language to leverage their learning. The guidance for teachers primarily falls into the category of words to translate or how to leverage online tools. The online version of the program comes embedded with a wide range of translated languages. However, there is no specific guidance about where or when to leverage these tools. Likewise, scaffolds are provided and encouraged, but only general guidance on how or when to incorporate these scaffolds. ThinkCERCA materials show a positive philosophy about the value of multilingual students in the class and a structured system for all students to achieve in the classroom; however, the suggestions in the materials are broad.
Materials provide some broad suggestions and strategies to use the home language to support students in learning ELA. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 6, Module 6, Support for English Language Learners states to “Allow students to discuss their ideas in their native language and to share their answers verbally.” The Unit Assessment teacher guidance states, “...Allow students to discuss their ideas in their native language and to share their answers verbally..”
Each Teacher Guide provides prompts to enable access to online differentiation supports such as “translation, voice-to-text, and other technology-enabled supports” and to use the Diverse Learners Guide for more scaffolded tasks.
In the Unit Overview for each unit is a statement about Multilingual English Learners that states that in addition to pre-teaching and other modifications, the expectation is that all students, regardless of native language, should be working alongside their peers. This document states, “These resources are designed for noisy, happy classrooms where students are practicing language and are leveled for beginning, intermediate, and advanced learners.”
Materials present multilingualism as an asset in reading, and students are explicitly encouraged to develop home language literacy and to use their home language strategically for learning how to negotiate texts in the target language. Teacher materials include guidance on how to garner information that will aid in learning, including the family’s preferred language of communication, schooling experiences in other languages, literacy abilities in other languages, and previous exposure to academic or everyday English. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the program, Front Matter materials include a section titled “Excellence and Opportunity for All” that presents the need for scaffolds in a way that presents different learning needs in a positive tone. For example, the materials state that teachers should use scaffolds “...to model the research-based mindsets that allow learners to understand their needs and enable themselves independently and, when appropriate. Use available resources or jettison the scaffolds to challenge themselves.” This section also acknowledges that multilingual students may have differing needs but that the need for vocabulary development intersects with all students and thus is a focus within the program. The materials state, “Students who are multilingual English learners may appear to have the same needs, they are often very different, though one common need exists across the board for all learners of a language--vocabulary. For this reason, ThinkCERCA provides vocabulary support in every lesson along with other robust, leveled English Learner Supports for beginning, intermediate, and advanced learners.”
The ThinkCERCA materials include a document on their “Approach to Supporting Multilingual English Language Learners” that provides an overview of the supports embedded in the program. The materials state that “ThinkCERCA is a tool for empowerment and growth in English language proficiency.” The document lists their Guiding Principles as:
“English Language Learners are emerging multilingual learners whose Home Languages and diverse forms and registers of English are cherished and considered assets.
Meaning-making and comprehension of authentic and relevant materials are paramount.
Content serves as the anchor for foundational literacy skills development in service of mastery of spoken and written academic language.
Mastery of English expands an ML/ELL student’s power and agency to exchange, create, and express ideas and participate in their community authentically.”
Indicator 3T
Materials provide guidance to encourage teachers to draw upon student cultural and social backgrounds to facilitate learning.
The materials provide some guidance for teachers to leverage students’ cultural and social backgrounds, particularly in units with texts that are diverse. In units where that is not a focus, there is no focus on using or supporting students of diverse backgrounds. For example, Unit 1 has many opportunities throughout the unit, but Unit 5 has little support beyond vocabulary support for multilingual students. In every unit, there are opportunities to make personal connections through writing and/or speaking, but there is no specific focus for teachers regarding cultural diversity. Translation opportunities are vast on the online platform. However, parent letters are only available in English and Spanish. Overall, student opportunities and teacher guidance are inconsistent and varied throughout the school year.
Materials make connections to the linguistic, cultural, and conventions used in learning ELA. Materials make connections to the linguistic and cultural diversity to facilitate learning. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 1, Module 3, after reading several short stories with cultural themes, students have an optional writing prompt, “What can readers infer about the ways in which culture and community shaped the person that the author would become?”
Materials include teacher guidance on how to engage culturally diverse students in the learning of ELA. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In each Teacher Guide, a section on Culturally Diverse Learners states, “ThinkCERCA’s curriculum is also designed to be relevant and engaging and provides multiple entry points for students to make meaningful connections to the texts and to each other. Students are encouraged to make personal connections through Quick Journals, Explore Key Concepts, Connect steps, and Share Your Personal Connections, and to draw on their backgrounds and experiences through writing and discussion. In the Teacher Guide, teachers are encouraged to use a range of formative feedback to support culturally diverse learners; this feedback enables teachers to gather data to individualize their instruction.” While this statement is provided, few lessons reference the cultural diversity of students.
Materials include equity guidance and opportunities. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
No evidence found.
Materials include opportunities for students to feel “acknowledged,” such as tasks based on customs of other cultures; sections provided in multiple languages such as the glossary, digital materials, family letters; etc. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
An embedded translation tool allows users to translate online student materials. The languages available are robust and include Albanian, German, Samoan, and Turkish.
In the Unit Planning Tools, each unit has a parent letter in English and Spanish. The parent letter provides families with a unit overview, a list of the text, and suggestions for home activities, including a suggestion to use the reading tools in the program, such as translations and the picture dictionary.
Materials include prompts where students are encouraged to share how they (or their parents) do things at home or use information to create personal problems, etc. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Materials include a Quick Journal lesson that asks students to make personal connections to the guiding question. This allows students to share their personal stories. The Quick Journal prompts for Unit 5, Module 1, is “What causes rivalries between individuals and groups of people?”
Materials include opportunities to discuss personal experience. In Unit 2, Module 2, students participate in a Think-Pair-Share to discuss “...your personal experiences related to the topic.” Directions for the teacher state to have students “...share the parts of your response that you feel comfortable sharing. “
Indicator 3U
This is not an assessed indicator in ELA.
Indicator 3V
This is not an assessed indicator in ELA.
Criterion 3.4: Intentional Design
The program includes a visual design that is engaging and references or integrates digital technology, when applicable, with guidance for teachers.
The materials allow teachers to use lessons and digital tools in presentation mode by displaying the Spark Teacher View. The student materials mostly provide students with a robust array of digital tools, including but not limited to immersive reading tools, generative writing tools, and digital highlighting. However, tools are not universal, as the direct teaching lessons do not have any tools available, and the highlighting tools are only available in some of the lessons. Some units provide a way to collaborate digitally, such as creating a class presentation for questions, predictions, and images or having students create videos and then have the class view and provide feedback. However, the platform does not provide any of these, and they would need to be created and shared by the teacher.
The visual design of the materials supports learning. The design of the Student Guide and Teacher Guide is consistent throughout the program and across all grade levels. The materials provide teacher guidance for using embedded technology to support and enhance student learning. Embedded technology is a central part of the program; however, implementation models are provided for 1:1 and low-tech access.
Indicator 3W
Materials integrate technology such as interactive tools, virtual manipulatives/objects, and/or dynamic software in ways that engage students in the grade-level/series standards, when applicable.
The materials allow teachers to use lessons and digital tools in presentation mode by displaying the Spark Teacher View. The student materials mostly provide students with a robust array of digital tools, including but not limited to immersive reading tools, generative writing tools, and digital highlighting. However, tools are not universal, as the direct teaching lessons do not have any tools available, and the highlighting tools are only available in some of the lessons. Teachers can customize the materials using the Digital Unit Planner and assign lessons at the class and student levels.
Digital technology and interactive tools, such as data collection tools, simulations, and/or modeling tools are available to students. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Teachers can leave feedback through the online rubrics. They can score, grade, and provide feedback that is then available for students to view.
As students complete the writing task for each unit, ThinkCERCA’s generative feedback tool will provide feedback on grammar, usage, mechanics, punctuation, and spelling.
All the materials can be presented to the whole class, allowing teachers to use any part of the lesson as a model.
Digital tools support student engagement in ELA. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In the Spark View mode, students can access an immersive reader function for most Modules. Once this tool is selected, students can listen to a read-aloud, change font size, increase spacing, change font, change the background color, have big words broken into syllables, color code parts of speech, insert a line focus, use a picture dictionary, and translate the text. Direct Instruction videos do not have these features available. However, they are available for the reading check questions. Students also have highlighting tools available when they are asked to analyze the texts.
Digital materials can be customized for local use (i.e., student and/or community interests). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each unit has a Digital Unit Planning tool that allows teachers to customize the unit based on teacher input, such as student data, standards, and schedules.
Teachers can assign modules to each class and at the student level, allowing for differentiation of the digital materials.
Indicator 3X
Materials include or reference digital technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other, when applicable.
The materials provide some guidance on how to leverage digital tools for collaboration. Some units provide a way to collaborate digitally, such as creating a class presentation for questions, predictions, and images or having students create videos and then have the class view and provide feedback. However, the platform does not provide any of these, and they would need to be created and shared by the teacher. Additionally, teachers can provide feedback as students are in the drafting stage of writing, but there does not seem to be a way for students to respond to the feedback during this process.
Materials include or reference digital technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other, when applicable. However, guidance for this collaboration is limited. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
In Unit 7, Module 5, Teacher Flex Activity, the materials suggest having students record their poems digitally and then “...listen to other student poems, and give warm feedback to peers.”
Teachers can leave feedback on the online rubrics for student writing tasks, including feedback as they draft and then upon completion.
Indicator 3Y
The visual design (whether in print or digital) supports students in engaging thoughtfully with the subject, and is neither distracting nor chaotic.
The visual design of the materials supports learning. The design of the Student Guide and Teacher Guide is consistent throughout the program and across all grade levels. Images and graphics support engagement without being distracting. Organizational features in the Teacher Guide include tables, flowcharts, and some color coding to help teachers easily identify skills presented in lessons.
Images, graphics, and models support student learning and engagement without being visually distracting. Images, graphics, and models clearly communicate information or support student understanding of topics, texts, or concepts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Each of the seven units is divided into modules, and each module is clearly outlined in the Teacher Guide using a flowchart with graphic images of the Student Guide pages and color-coded notations to indicate skills. The flowchart also includes graphics that depict whether the lesson is accessed on the computer, paper/pencil in the Student Guide, or as an individual, small group, or whole group lesson.
The Student Guide’s graphics are minimal and not distracting when present. In most modules, an image appears at the beginning and represents the theme of the reading.
In the digital materials, icons help students navigate through lessons. For example, a green hand icon allows students to click for help. When students are writing arguments, icons for claims, reasoning, and evidence are consistent across the program.
Teacher and student materials are consistent in layout and structure across lessons/modules/units. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Teacher Guide and Student Guide can be accessed at the unit level, which includes all of the modules, or at the module level, which only includes the information for that module.
The materials are consistent between teacher and student materials. The Student Guide pages appear in the Teacher Guide; many serve as answer keys.
The layout and structure of the digital materials are consistent across all units, modules, and grade levels. Teachers assign lessons from the teacher platform by clicking an “assign lesson” or “assign unit” button. On the teacher interface, at each unit or module level, there is consistent access to the Unit-at-a-Glance, Teacher Guide, Student Guide, Diverse Learner Guide, Answer Key, and Unit Planning Tools across the top of the page.
Organizational features (Table of Contents, glossary, index, internal references, table headers, captions, etc.) in the materials are clear, accurate, and error-free. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Student Guide includes a Preview Key Concepts and Skills page for each module. This page includes a checklist of assignments under the Before You Read, Read, Analyze, and Write categories, as well as links to the assignments in the Student Guide.
The Student Guide’s instructions are clearly labeled and often provide an example for students to follow.
Students can easily navigate the student-facing digital materials using a sidebar with links to each lesson step. This includes a link to a glossary.
Indicator 3Z
Materials provide teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning, when applicable.
The materials provide teacher guidance for using embedded technology to support and enhance student learning. Embedded technology is a central part of the program, providing real-time feedback to students. Implementation models are provided for 1:1 and low-tech access.
Materials provide teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning, when applicable. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
The On-Demand Video Library in the Resources section provides videos for teachers on onboarding and using the program. These include creating classes and student accounts, assigning reading levels, using the student view, and using reports.
In the Help Center, Teacher Toolkit, teachers can access Teacher Training Courses with more short videos demonstrating aspects of the digital materials, such as assigning and scoring writing benchmarks, direct instruction and skill practice lessons, how to create custom lessons, and close reading and writing lessons.
In the Help Center, Product Support provides additional help and guidance for accounts and passwords, lessons and assessments, classes, grading, data and reports, rostering, and troubleshooting.
In the Unit-at-a-Glance documents for each module, there is clear guidance for which parts of lessons are online direct instruction to be assigned and which are additional offline resources. In addition, in the Teacher Guide, a computer icon next to an assignment indicates that it is an online resource.