Common Core State Standards

Beyond Alignment and Compliance

How do we go beyond alignment and compliance with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Literacy to design authentic learning experiences that lead to lifelong literacy and success in college and careers?

DSC offers a combination of correlation tools and professional development services to bring the standards to life in your classroom.

Searchable Database

Developmental Studies Center has done in-depth correlations of DSC’s literacy programs to the CCSS. To help educators create lesson plans that prepare students for success, we’ve also developed the CCSS Correlation Tool, a searchable database that allows users to search by either DSC program or CCSS standard to:

• Identify all standards addressed in a selected DSC program within a unit, week, or lesson
• Find which lessons in any DSC program address a selected standard

Using this tool, DSC program users can plan more effectively by understanding how multiple standards are addressed across a week or a unit, as well as within a single lesson. Such insight helps teachers think beyond the typical standard-by-standard approach to instruction to more authentically engage students in sophisticated, collaborative literacy tasks and conversations—“single, rich tasks” that address more than one standard in integrated, purposeful ways.

This approach empowers teacher to focus on bigger more complex ideas that

• Increase meaningful student talk
• Integrate social and emotional learning within academic rigor
• Lead to powerful learning experiences for every child

Downloadable Documents

Correlation documents provide extensive detail about DSC’s approach to the CCSS in each of its literacy programs. Click here to see the list of available documents.

DSC Support for District Work Incorporating the Standards

DSC has the capacity to support districts in bringing the standards to life for students and teachers by going beyond alignment and compliance through our professional development sessions and materials.

DSC Professional Development Makes the Difference!

Our professional development services can help teachers move beyond traditional notions of alignment and compliance with a new set of standards to better understand what the Common Core State Standards are truly asking of teachers and students. We offer introductory sessions to help educators both address and go beyond the standards in their school or district. Topics include:

• Planning Lessons with Speaking and Listening Standards in Mind
• Decreasing Scaffolding and Increasing Student Independence
• Increasing the Use of Complex Texts Through Independent Reading
• Facilitating Student Thinking and Learning for Academic Success

Please contact your local DSC representative to discuss materials and services to support your work with the Common Core State Standards.

Correlation Documents for the Common Core State Standards to DSC’s Programs

DSC offers a thorough correlation of our Being a Writer, Guided Spelling, Making Meaning and Making Meaning Vocabulary, SIPPS, and Words in Action programs to the Common Core State Standards. The following documents help illustrate DSC’s approach and correlation to the CCSS:

All Programs

Being a Writer, Guided Spelling, Making Meaning, Making Meaning and Making Meaning Vocabulary, SIPPS, and Words in Action, Grades K–8

Being a Writer

Grades K–6

Guided Spelling

Grade 1–6

Making Meaning

Grades K–8

Making Meaning Vocabulary

Grades K–6