Overcoming Challenges of Standards Alignment

The cognitive rigor of this standard is to plan and conduct .

Alignment strategy : A citation that provides a plan for students to follow as they conduct an investigation would not be aligned to this standard. In order to align to the cognitive rigor of this standard, a citation (or group of citations) must require or include the opportunity for students to plan and to conduct an investigation.

Cognitive Rigor Challenge #2 : The citation provides information instead of requiring students to do what the standard requires.

Standard: History. The student understands the effects of reform and third-party movements in the early 20 th century. The student is expected to: Expectation : (B) evaluate the impact of muckrakers and reform leaders such as Upton Sinclair, Susan B. Anthony, Jane Addams, Ida B. Wells, and W. E. B. DuBois on American society.

The cognitive rigor of this standard is to evaluate the impact .

Alignment strategy : If a citation provides information about the reform leaders listed in this standard, the citation would not be aligned to the standard. In order to align to the cognitive rigor of this standard, the citation must include questions, activities, projects, etc. that require students to evaluate the impact of those reform leaders.

Cognitive Rigor Challenge #3 : A mismatch exists between the task in the citation and the verb in the standard.

Domain: Language Standards Cluster: Conventions of Standard English

Standard : L.5.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Expectation : Explain the function of conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections in general and their function in particular sentences.