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Next Generation Learning Standards

New York State Next Generation Learning Standards: Supporting All Students Conference

November 30th, 2017 Conference Materials

Keynote Presentation

The NYS Next Generation Learning Standards: Leading Advanced Literacies Instruction for the 21st Century

Dr. Nonie Lesaux 

Unlike in past decades, reading and writing have become prerequisites for participation in nearly every aspect of day-to-day, 21st century life. Developing the advanced literacy skills necessary to be academically and personally successful in today’s  literacy-and knowledge-based society and economy requires an instructional experience, from early childhood through adolescence that cultivates knowledge and builds language.  This session will focus on the Next Generation Learning Standards and how educators can provide all learners with more and deeper interactions with text and talk in order to foster academic language, ensure an understanding of academic writing and speaking, and deepen knowledge of abstract concepts and ideas.

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Also available, on the Office of Bilingual Education and English as a New Language website:

A Series of Topic Briefs Produced for the New York State Education Department by Nonie K. Lesaux, PhD & Emily Phillips Galloway, EdD 

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is pleased to present to you a series of eight topic briefs produced for NYSED by Nonie K. Lesaux, PhD from Harvard University & Emily Phillips Galloway, EdD from Vanderbilt University. These briefs are designed to aid New York State educators in implementing the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards. The topic briefs complement and support the Next Generation Learning Standards and related documents, offer an expansion and deeper explanation of concepts embedded in the Standards, Introduction, and Preface, and provide additional guidance to the field particularly in settings serving linguistically diverse learners.   

Morning Break-out Sessions and Materials

Let Me Introduce Myself: The Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards Introduction

Session 1: English Language Arts

Presenters: Dawn Shannon, Assistant Superintendent for The Center of Educational Support and Technology at Broome-Tioga BOCES and Michelle G. Bulla, English Department Chair at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Orange County

Let Me Introduce Myself: The Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards Introduction

Session 2: Mathematics

Presenter: Teri Calabrese-Gray, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and 21st Century Learning at Champlain Valley Educational Services

The Next Generation Mathematics and English Language Arts Learning Standards are a result of a two-year exercise in reflective practice that has demonstrated how a collaborative process of review can create a stronger, more focused, and cohesive set of learning outcomes, accessible for all types of learners. Why is there a need for change, and how do the Next Generation Learning Standards reflect this need? The morning session will allow participants to actively engage in a discussion of the introductory documents to seek answers to those questions. Participants will look at how standards are defined, how they relate to curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and how they impact student learning.  The session will also include discussion around how the introductory documents can be used as meaningful tools to guide local decisions about instructional practice, curriculum, and local assessment. 

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Best Practices for Using AIR Engage NY ELL Scaffolds and the ACCEL Model 

Presenter: Diane August, Managing Researcher at the American Institutes for Research (AIR)

During this presentation participants will learn about resources for teachers that will support English learners/multilingual learners in attaining the New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards. The presentation will focus specifically on methods for supporting ELs prior to and during close reading and writing to sources. Participants will have an opportunity to practice implementing elements of these methods.

Developing a Standards-Based IEP 

Presenter: MaryAnn White, OTR/L, MS.Ed., Regional Special Education Training Specialist at the Western Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center (RSE-TASC) and Kathleen Gomes, Administrative Coordinator, Capital District/North Country Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center

What is a standards-based IEP? How do we develop a standards-based IEP? Join us in a collegial conversation and review of various resources and tools to develop students’ IEPs that:

  • ensure “access, participation and progress” in the general education curriculum;
  • consider the standards students are expected to meet at their grade level;
  • provide students with the opportunity to receive specifically designed instruction to support achievement of grade-level expectations; and
  • provide information for teachers to effectively provide accommodations, supports, and instruction to students with disabilities to address the needs of the student that impact academic performance.

Family Engagement and the Next Generation Learning Standards

Presenters: Luarben (Lulu) Bencosme, M.S.Ed., Bilingual Information and Outreach Specialist at the Hudson Valley Special Education Parent Center and Lower Hudson Early Childhood Direction Center and Beverly Guity, Resource Specialist for the Hudson Valley Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (pdf)

Parent and family engagement in the educational process is critical to the success of all of our students. As NYSED shares the Next Generation Learning Standards, we invite you to consider how you may engage or strengthen engagement with families of students from diverse backgrounds in understanding the learning standards, where to look for resources, how to foster family support for students’  academic goals and effective techniques for school-family communication.   

Let’s Talk Crosswalk: How to Utilize the NYS Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards Crosswalk

Presenters: Kim Louttit, Math Coordinator, Staff & Curriculum Development, Differentiated Instruction & Data Analysis for Erie 1 BOCES and Tricia Husul, Math Coordinator, Staff and Curriculum Development for Erie 1 BOCES

In this session, participants will become familiar with the evolution of the New York State Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards.  The focus of the presentation will be on the similarities and differences between the NYS P-12 CCLS for Mathematics and the NYS Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards and how districts can use the support crosswalk documents to develop a needs assessment with respect to student learning, curriculum and instruction.

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Specially Designed Instruction and the Next Generation Learning Standards 

Presenters: Ann Narcisse, Lower Hudson RSE-TASC and Vince Leone, Long Island RSE-TASC Program Coordinator

Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) is the foundation upon which special education is built.  Educators who have the responsibility for developing and implementing individualized education programs often misunderstand it. During this workshop, participants will explore current New York State Education Department (NYSED) Part 200 regulations related to SDI, develop an operational understanding of the definition of SDI, and review the role of standards in SDI.  These essential understandings are indispensable to ensure access to the general curriculum through accommodations and modifications, so that students can meet the same academic standards as their non-disabled peers and to ensure progress toward meeting IEP goals and objectives.

Standards and the Instructional Cycle: A Tool for Prekindergarten-Grade 3

Presenters: Sarah Hughes, Senior Research Associate at RMC Research Corporation and the early learning lead for the federal Northeast Comprehensive Center (NCC);  Lynnette Pannucci, Associate in Instructional Services, NYSED Office of Early Learning; and Meg McNiff, Associate in Education Improvement Services, NYSED Office of Early Learning

Over the past several years, many educators and parents have raised questions about New York’s learning standards, state assessments and locally-determined curriculum, instruction, and assessment. For example, is a standards-based curriculum compatible with developmentally-appropriate instructional practices? how do we ensure progress towards ELA and Math goals in the early grades while supporting the other key domains of learning and development?  With a specialized focus on prekindergarten through 3rd grade, participants will be presented with a tool for understanding and communicating the relationships and distinctions between learning standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the early grades; engage in discussions about implementation; and, work through a process that can be used at the local level to support effective planning across all domains of learning in the earliest grades.

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Standards, not Standardization: The Early Learning Standards and Diverse Populations

Presenter: Zoila Morell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Mercy College

This workshop examines the differentiated approaches to meeting standards with diverse populations of children.  Activities and reflections allow participants to understand how planning from the standards does not mean standardizing instruction but rather designing and implementing personalized, culturally and linguistically relevant, context based instruction.

The Lifelong Practices for Readers and Writers: What Are the Practices and How Should They Be Implemented in the Classroom?

Presenter: Dawn Shannon, Assistant Superintendent for the Center of Educational Support and Technology at Broome-Tioga BOCES and Michelle G. Bulla, English Department Chair at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Orange County (pdf)

The Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards include the new Lifelong Practices for Readers and Writers, which articulate important lifelong literacy practices. Why were the Practices added to the Next Generation Standards? How can school district leaders use the Practices to inform curriculum and instruction?  How can teachers use these practices to improve student learning?   This workshop will be interactive and will include time for table discussion and questions.

The Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards: What Is New and What Do I Need to Know?

Presenters: Erik Sweet, Associate in Instructional Services (English Language Arts) in the NYSED Office of Curriculum and Instruction and John Harmon, New York State English Council (pdf)

The Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards were developed over a two year period with educators and parents from across New York State. What is new with the revised standards? During this presentation, Erik Sweet from the NYSED Office of Curriculum and Instruction, and John Harmon, from the New York State English Council, will present an overview about what is new, how the new standards connect to New York’s rich history of standards, and share an overview of the ELA crosswalks that are available for each grade. This interactive session will include a full presentation, as well as small group discussions. 

Utilizing the New Teacher-Support Features Built Into the New Math Standards Document

Presenter: Brian Cohen, K-12 STEM Coordinator for Skaneateles Central School District

In this session, participants will learn how the new Next Generation Mathematics Standards document can be used to inform a district’s/teacher’s curriculum and instruction. The focus of the presentation will be on understanding the numerous resources built into the Next Generation Mathematics Standards document and how they can be fully utilized. The new document will be showcased with the audience interacting with the presenter to become familiar with the way this resource can be utilized to support teaching and learning. 

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