The Getting Ready for the Common Core Handbook Series is a set of four handbooks that takes readers through a systemic approach to implement and sustain the Common Core State Standards. The series effectively turns the reader’s attention from the “what” to the “how”—it addresses how the CCSS should influence leadership, teaching, and learning. Each handbook in the Getting Ready for the Common Core series focuses on a unifying theme to provide leaders and educators with the rationale and tools for navigating the terrain of implementing the Common Core. The first handbook anchors the reader with an understanding of the issues presented from a historical perspective, offers advice to consider in moving forward, and provides explicit step-by-step strategies to follow to successfully ramp up the best of standards-based instructional practices at all levels of the organization. The second handbook provides guidance and specific strategies for navigating the English language arts CCSS, while the third handbook provides explicit suggestions for navigating the mathematics CCSS. The fourth handbook in the series focuses on using formative assessment processes and the Common Core, as well as strategies for aligning Professional Learning Communities and Data Teams practices as continuous improvement structures ensuring sustainability.

This handbook is the second in the Getting Ready for the Common Core Handbook Series. This book is a rich resource that succinctly summarizes the extensive key components in the English language arts Common Core State Standards. It uncovers the deep connections between the four literacy strands, explains the base of research, and provides immediately transferable resources for implementing the standards in any school or classroom. This resource also includes the learning progressions for all of the ELA standards.