Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District

Unit of Study Resources

Here are resources to assist in developing Units of Study in Common Core. They are organized into two categories: Background Resources and Planning/Implementation Resources. Unless noted, the links will download a pdf.

Background ResourcesTop of Page

21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills - 4Cs – Lists the four skills needed for being successful in the 21st Century:Critical Thinking/Problem Solving. Communication. Collaboration, Creativity and Innovation.
21st Century Framework - From the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, this explains the framework in terms of content knowledge, specific skills, expertise, and literacies.
21st Century Framework Definitions - Also from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the title of this pdf speaks for itself.
P21 Common Core ToolKit – This is a guide for aligning the Common Core State Standards with the Framework for 21st Century Skills.

Literacy Implementation Guidance for the ELA Common Core Standards
From the International Reading Association

Definition of Enduring Understanding - This one-page document gives a clear definition and example.

Essential Questions - This article addresses the question, "What makes a Question Essential?"

Depth of KnowledgeTop of Page

Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix - ELA – This matrix contains curricular examples of applying Webb's Depth of Knowledge Levels to Bloom's Cognitive Process Dimensions.
Depth of Knowledge by Subject Descriptors
Depth of Knowledge Resource Materials - 4th Gr. Unit of Study example – The compilation of various DOK resources along with an example of a 4th grade unit of study.
Depth of Knowledge Chart
Depth of Knowledge: An Effective Tool for Educating Students - From the Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program, this short article two page explains Nevada's Department of Education's modification of Webb's DOK and how it has been incorporated into their state testing program. It includes a chart that shows what DOK looks like in the classroom.

COJUSD CCSS Teacher Job Description – An expectation of what teachers should be doing as they implement the Common Core along with an article from the Oregon Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.

Planning / Implementation ResourcesTop of Page

COJUSD Steps for Developing A Unit of Study (A Word document)

Unit of Study Plan Template – A Word document for developing a Unit of Study.

Eclipse Sample Unit of Study – A template to assist teachers in filling out the Unit of Study in Eclipse, our Curriculum Mapping tool.

Grade K – 8 Standards Mapping by MonthTop of Page

Kindergarten                   5th Grade
1st Grade                      6th Grade
2nd Grade                      7th Grade
3rd Grade                   8th Grade
4th Grade

Glad Resource Book

Lesson Delivery Directions – This PowerPoint from TCOE explains the traditional direct instruction model as well as the inverted direct instruction model. Contact Scott Norvell for password information.

Close Reading – Text Dependent QuestionsTop of Page

Primer on Close Reading of Text - This PowerPoint, by Laura Gonzalez from TCOE, gives information on key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas. Contact Scott Norvell for password information.
Guide to Creating Questions for Close Analytic Reading (Word Document)
Short Guide to Creating Questions for Close Analytic Reading (Word Document)
Checklist for Evaluating Question Quality (Word Document)
Close Reading Anchor Chart (Word Document)
Rereading - Key questions to ask after students have read something. (Word Document)
Up-Close Reading: Tackling Complex Text – A brief article by a second grade teacher from Kansas that gives real-life examples of how she teaches Close reading in her class.
What is Close Reading? - A blog entry that describes the five levels of Close Reading.
The Challenge of Challenging Text – An article that begins "When teachers understand what makes texts complex, they can better support their students in reading them."
Close Reading with Struggling Adolescents – A question from a teacher dealing with older students that are 2-5 years below grade level and an answer from Dr. Tim Shanahan from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Step Up to WritingTop of Page

Informative I-Charts

Kindergarten                    5th Grade
1st Grade                       6th Grade
2nd Grade                       7th Grade
3rd Grade                       8th Grade
4th Grade

Opinion I-Charts

Kindergarten                  5th Grade
1st Grade                       6th Grade
2nd Grade                       7th Grade
3rd Grade                       8th Grade
4th Grade

Progress Monitoring Worksheet – A simple, 4 question sheet to monitor the unit.

Unit of Study Review Form – A form that asks for evidence of the CCSS elements in the unit that address the instructional shift.

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