Using the Common Core State Standards to Establish Vertical Alignment

One of the greatest attributes of the Common Core State Standards is its articulation of grade level benchmarks.  The standards outline a step by step progression from one grade level to the next, defining learning outcomes that build upon one another, ultimately leading to mastery of the anchor standard.

One way to help teachers better understand the Common Core, is to develop a “standards ladder” in which the differences between grade level benchmarks or learning outcomes are bold or highlighted. 

By noting the differences between each grade level standard, teachers can easily identify the skills students should have mastered in the previous grade levels, the skills to be instructed, and those skills that are beyond grade level instruction, that could potentially be used to challenge gifted or high level students.  Moreover, the boldor highlighted skills provide teachers with a curricular focus, helping them to pinpoint instructional goals. 

See some examples below: