We should teach students the skills inherent in all of the standards however, identifying power standards can help us decide which units or lessons deserve more of our instructional time. While it can be tempting to say that every standard carries equal weight, it’s hard to do justice to all standards equally. What standards will be most important throughout a student’s lifetime? Perhaps, “Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.” Which ones focus on ideas that cross disciplines? Maybe… “Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text” (RI.9-10.1). Which skills are the most important for students to learn in order to succeed in the next grade level? For example, Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence (W.9-10.1). You may call them something different, but the first step in balancing ELA curriculum is figuring out essential standards - the ones that drive the most power.
In the same way, I hope you walk away from this post feeling very much like you just had a great teaching conversation with a friend over a hot cup of coffee. Last year, I took a position as an instructional coach, and doing so has allowed me to work alongside many English teachers on a daily basis, which I love! Often, we reflect on ELA class structure. This approach is what worked for me while I taught middle and high school. There are so many standards to address, but often, there is not much time to do them justice. One common topic for discussion among secondary English teachers is ELA class structure. Who doesn’t like taking a peak into another person’s closet? Teaching is much the same. With others, we can get fresh insights, swap wardrobe secrets, and highlight one another’s strengths. Yet, shopping with friends is always more fun. We all have our personal preferences, our go-to pieces, and our timeless shirts, skirts, or pants. Structuring an ELA curriculum is similar to wardrobe shopping.
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