Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: Getting to the Core of the Curriculum
Moving Forward--Together
A Brief Orientation to The Common Core Companion: The Standards Decoded, Grades 6-8
How to Use This Book
Accepting the Invitation
Quick Reference: Common Core State Standards, 6-12 English Language Arts
Quick Reference: Common Core State Standards, 6-12 English Language Arts in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
The Complete Common Core State Standards: Decoded
Part 1. Reading
Key Ideas and Details
Craft and Structure
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
Part 2. Writing
Text Types and Purposes
Production and Distribution of Writing
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
Range of Writing
Part 3. Speaking and Listening
Comprehension and Collaboration
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
Part 4. Language
Conventions of Standard English
Knowledge of Language
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Resources
Resource A. Common Core Recommended Reading Lists
Resource B. Text Complexity Tool
Resource C. Planning Calendar Templates
Teacher Notes
About the Author

About the Author

A longtime English teacher, Jim Burke is the author of more than 20 books and senior consultant for the Holt McDougal Literature program. Jim has received several awards, including the 2000 NCTE Exemplary English Leadership Award. In 2009, he created the English Companion Ning—the largest online community of English teachers in the world. More recently, Jim has served on the AP English Course and Exam Review Commission and the PARCC Consortium.

Reviews

"I love what Jim Burke has done to make the Standards less threatening and more useful for teachers. In particular, the indicators for what students and teachers should be doing, given the Standard, are extremely helpful; as are such a clear glossary and illuminating examples. All in all, The Common Core Companion is bound to be enormously useful and thus dog-eared!"
*Grant Wiggins, President*

"Fundamentally different from other Common Core books, The Common Core Companion is s a user’s guide designed by a teacher who actually uses the standards in his daily work with students. Jim Burke gently demystifies the Common Core State Standards and offers a practical tool for curricular alignment. I think you will find The Common Core Companion helps schools help themselves."
*Carol Jago, Member*

"I have never read a book for teachers so well laid out and highly useful.  I predict administrators across the country will purchase this book for their secondary teachers to use in their staff meetings, individual department meetings, their PLCs, and for individual teachers to use as Burke puts it as ‘a personal compass to navigate the complexities of the Common Core Curriculum.’" 
*Debbie Silver, Ed.D., Author of Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers and Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8*

"I must say, I am duly impressed.  This book gives the kind of ‘hands-on’ support classroom teachers and curriculum committees really need in doing the work of ‘unpacking’ the standards and interpreting those standards into curriculum documents.  The very detailed, complete discussions of the standards and the breakdowns that the Burke does are, in my opinion, exemplary . . . Well done!"
*Joe Crawford, Author of Aligning Your Curriculum to the Common Core State Standards*

"This very practical guide makes a complex topic easier to understand and less formidable. Schools will want to purchase copies for all teachers and personnel working with the Common Core."
*Library Media Connection, August/September 2014*