You asked for it–it’s almost here. In conjunction with the Johnson County Public Library, I have just finished compiling lists of titles that support the Common Core Standards. They have not been posted yet, but I will let you know where to find them as soon as they are available.
As I worked through this process, a couple of things came to mind:
- You are going to LOVE these lists and,
- You don’t really need them.
Yes, I know you think you need them but the reality is, THIS is exactly what librarians do (and have always done) on a daily basis. Common Core just requires a different frame of reference. Don’t believe me? Let me share the process of creating these lists.
Not being someone who likes to reinvent the wheel, my initial searches focused on finding out if others had already done this. Sadly, most of what I found were different versions of the infamous “Appendix B,” the list of text samples provided to demonstrate the level of complexity and quality that the Standards. As you are well aware, this list contains many classics and older titles, some of which are out of print. The library wanted to create a list of newer and more readily available titles that could be used to supplement the curriculum.
Fortunately for me (and you), I found one organization that had also recognized this need, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center. Not only does this site provide an outstanding bibliography of titles that target the text complexity component of the English Language Arts Standards for grades 6-12 (beyond Appendix B), but it is a treasure trove of book lists and resources for ALL librarians. This site should be on every librarian’s toolbar!
The second resource I found was TeachingBooks.net. This is a subscription services, but you can get a free 14 day trial. In addition to providing grade level lists for each of the four core areas (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science), its primary purpose is to provide supplemental lesson plans and multimedia resources to be used with each title. This appears to be a phenomenal resource that is very reasonably priced when purchased at the district level. It would be well worth looking into funding options for this one.
The final gold mine that fell into my lap was the September issue of BookLinks, which focused on informational text with social studies themes. Not only does this issue provide an extensive list of supporting titles but it also provides suggestions on how to use the book to teach specific standards. Watch for future issues that will address different core areas.
Not only did the discovery of each of these resources help lay the foundation for the lists, but also made me aware of even more sources of information to “facilitate knowledge creation in the community.” Always a good thing!
The second step was the daunting task of “digging into” the Common Core. Once again, step back, breathe, don’t make it harder than it is. I didn’t have to go much further than the introduction for each grade level within the core area. This gave me the topics, concepts, and textual elements that are emphasized at each level. From here, it was easy to construct searches based on these terms and patterns began to emerge. Many series and authors have already produced a wealth of material on these Common Core themes. Finding one excellent title would quickly lead to an entire collection.
Yes, it took a little time but not nearly as much as I had anticipated. The reality is, this is what we do as librarians–it’s in our DNA. Our communities come to us seeking information and we provide it. If you have a solid collection plan in place, you probably already have substantial resources available to support the Common Core Standards. All that is needed is to view that collection through a Common Core lens. Think about the titles you have been most excited by and consider why you were drawn to them; interesting writing style, different uses of text structure, use of illustrations, creative means of expression, different approach to a topic,…chances are there is a Common Core connection there.
Librarians are always (and have always been) ahead of the curve–sometimes we just need to be reminded.