Grade 12 Curriculum Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction / 1
Platform Overview / 2
Research / 4
Teaching Key Skills & Concepts / 5
ELA Curriculum Guide / 6
Science, Social Studies, and Math / 15
Supports for Developing Bilinguals / 16
Results / 18
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Introduction
About ThinkCERCA
What is ThinkCERCA?
ThinkCERCA’s personalized literacy platform helps educators teach critical thinking skills through
argumentative writing. Through standards-aligned close reading and academic writing lessons for
English language arts, science, social studies, and math, our schoolwide approach to literacy
instruction prepares students in grades 4-12 for post-secondary life by building up their analytical skills
in every subject.
Practical Approach, Expert Pedagogy
The designers of ThinkCERCA have authored more than 30 publications on cross-curricular critical
literacy.
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1
Platform Overview
The ThinkCERCA Platform
Schoolwide Literacy Instruction
The CERCA Framework gives teams a common literacy language to collaborate more effectively across
content areas and improve student outcomes.
Close Reading
Our platform includes a lesson library of relevant, leveled texts and tasks that build students’ disciplinespecific knowledge while making close reading engaging and fun.
• Standards-aligned, discipline-specific highlighting and summarizing practice
• In-text vocabulary and audio support
• Automated assessments for comprehension
Writing Across Content Areas
Scaffolded lessons walk students through the process of using evidence and details to support their
argumentative, informational, and narrative writings across disciplines. • Interactive Argument Builder; prewriting tools for narrative and informational writing
• Rigorous writing prompts focused on debatable issues and great literary models
• Standards-aligned sentence frames and supports for English language development
Differentiation
We make personalization simple with theme-based text sets that are differentiated for 10 levels of
readiness and built-in tools that keep teachers at the center of instruction.
• Embedded differentiation tools to auto-assign by readiness level
• Leveling pre-assessments for reading and writing
• Real-time data to monitor student progress [email protected] / (708) 79-CERCA
2
Platform Overview
Standards-Aligned Instruction
Our instructional designs were developed based on the research and practice of master teachers and
nationally recognized literacy experts and meet the demands of new career and college readiness
standards.
• Introductions to standards-aligned key skills and concepts
• Standards-aligned formative assessments and rubrics
Assessment Preparation
Research shows that frequent practice of CERCA increases test scores while building critical thinking
skills. ThinkCERCA’s formative and summative assessments allow teachers to infuse practice with
items found in new state assessments, including PARCC, Smarter Balanced, and ACT, as well as the
new SAT and growth assessments such as NWEA.
• Development of analytical and synthesizing skills
• Practice of providing supporting evidence with discipline-specific language instruction
• Creation of constructed responses to text-based questions
Why Argumentation?
ThinkCERCA prepares students for new standards and state assessments by providing a scaffolded
process that supports the development of argumentation skills.
“The Standards put particular emphasis on the students’ ability to write sound
arguments on substantive topics and issues, as the ability is critical to career and
college readiness.” — CCSS Appendix A
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3
Research
Our Research-Based Approach
Summary
ThinkCERCA was built upon an ever-growing body of research as well as years of practice and
continuous learning. The research behind our approach has been drawn from a number of sources.
Here, we highlight an influential University of Chicago study that clearly illustrates the importance of
writing and discussion in improving student achievement. While traditional models have positioned
technology as the teacher, we position technology as a support for great teaching and collaboration
with peers. The relationship with teachers and peers is what helps to create a context for true
personalized learning and motivate students to persist through challenges.
From High School to the Future: ACT Preparation—Too Much, Too Late (2008)
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4
Teaching Key Skills and Concepts
Direct Instruction to Introduce Key Skills and Concepts
Example ThinkCERCA Direct Instruction Lessons
Direct Instruction Lesson: Making Arguments About Theme
In this lesson students will learn how to identify
themes in literature and poetry and how authors
express themes through the choices they make.
Direct Instruction Lesson: Making Arguments About Multiple Perspectives
In this lesson students will learn about the
differences between primary and secondary
sources, and the different questions to ask
themselves when reading a primary source
document.
Direct Instruction Lesson: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
In this lesson students will be introduced to the
science and engineering practice of analyzing and
interpreting data. They will learn how to organize
and display data, how to look for and make
meaning from patterns and relationships in data,
and how to understand the limits of their data.
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5
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
CERCA SET
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
1
School Policy
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
“What You (Really) Need to Know” — How does Summers
characterize the problems with 21st century higher education, and what
solutions does he propose?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Race and College Admissions”
SKILLS FOCUS
Summary
CERCA SET
Video Games
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Jane McGonigal’s Reality Is Broken and How Videogames Are
Changing the World” — Could game mechanics improve our schools
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“TED Talk: Massively Multiplayer Thumb Wrestling”
SKILLS FOCUS
Developing Effective Paragraphs
CERCA SET
Government’s Role in Health
2
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
3
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.8, W1
and workplaces?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.8, W1
“What Role Should Government Play in Combating Obesity?” —
Are government regulations such as New York’s soda ban the best way
to combat obesity in the United States?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Video Lesson: We The Economy: Lemonade War”
SKILLS FOCUS
Claims
CERCA SET
Social Media
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Dating with Science” — Do online dating services improve people's
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Civilian ‘Hacktivists’ Fighting Terrorists Online”
SKILLS FOCUS
Evidence
CERCA SET
Sports & Society
4
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
5
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
chances at finding strong relationships?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
“The Greening of Professional Sports” — Does Allen Hershkowitz
make a convincing case that the sports industry can lead a cultural shift
toward adopting cleaner, more sustainable practices?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“The 1936 Berlin Olympics Boycott Debate”
SKILLS FOCUS
Reasoning
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RI.1, W1
6
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
The Role of Machines
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
"Moral Machines” — Should machines that have a conscience be
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Tracking Improves Teens’ Driving, but Raises Questions of Trust”
SKILLS FOCUS
Counterargument
CERCA SET
Distracted Driving
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“A Safety Plan With Swedish Logic and City Smarts” — Whose
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Feds to Require Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication to Prevent
Crashes”
SKILLS FOCUS
Audience
CERCA SET
Personal Identity
6
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
RI.2, W1
created?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
7
responsibility is it to ensure roads are safe?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
“The Anti-Social Network” — What is the author's point of view
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
regarding Facebook, and do the choices she makes effectively persuade
readers to agree with her? Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of her
argument.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Sandy Hook Tattoos, More Than Skin Deep”
SKILLS FOCUS
Organizing Your Argument
CERCA SET
Genetics
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Inheriting Stress” — Is the way in which the author develops her
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Who Should Own DNA? All of Us”
SKILLS FOCUS
Connections Within a Text
CERCA SET
Family and Influence
8
9
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.3, W1
argument effective in supporting the claim that stress can be inherited?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W1
Multiday Short Fiction: “The Yellow Wallpaper” — Why does the
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
10
narrator attack the yellow wallpaper rather than her husband? Consider
how the author develops the themes of madness or illness in relation to
the roles that nineteenth century women were expected to play.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Amezaga Has Come Long Way Since Parents Sent Him from
Mexico to Miami”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme
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7
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
CERCA SET
Group Decision-making
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.5, W1
“When Deviants Do Good” — Is the positive deviant approach to
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
problem solving one that should be adopted by more communities, or are
there too many potential problems and unknowns involved in such an
approach?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“How a Choice Offered Can Affect What We Choose”
SKILLS FOCUS
Connections Within a Text
CERCA SET
Bullying
11
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.6, W1
“When a Bullied Kid Grows Up” — Describe the effect of the author’s
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
use of both research and the personal narrative of a victim to convey the
terrible impact of bullying. How does this unusual perspective shape a
reader’s response to the issue?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“As a Leader, Nelson Mandela Was Willing to Use Violence”
SKILLS FOCUS
Author’s Purpose
CERCA SET
Conflict and Dominance
12
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.3, W1
Multiday Short Fiction: “Roman Fever” — Analyze the author’s choices
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
13
as they relate to revealing the conflict between these two women. Consider
the setting, the dialogue, and the ways in which the story progresses to
determine which character, Alida Slade or Grace Ansley, is revealed to be the
most malicious.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Ranking Global Atrocities"
SKILLS FOCUS
Point of View
CERCA SET
Nonverbal Communication
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
14
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.3, W1
“U.S. Looks to Improve Remote Killing, Er, Identification Ability” —
Should military technology be developed to identify and respond to hostile
threats based on nonverbal cues alone?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Live Wires”
SKILLS FOCUS
Informational and Explanatory Writing
CERCA SET
Communities
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
Poetry: “I Dwell in Possibility” (657) and “Tell All the Truth but Tell It
Slant” (1129) — According to the speaker, what can poetry do that prose
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.4, W1
and other forms of communication cannot do?
15
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
"Using Poetry to Raise Awareness About Malaria”
SKILLS FOCUS
Elements of Language
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8
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
21st Century Learning
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Two Cheers for Web U” — Does the author believe that MOOCs the
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“School Dress Codes: Miniskirt Madness”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas
CERCA SET
Image & Impact
16
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
17
RI.1, W1
future of higher education?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.7, W1
“The Story Behind Banksy” — After reading the article and viewing
the accompanying images, do you think that graffiti can be used
effectively to promote social change?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
"Study of Recent Popular Movies Finds Minorities Are UnderRepresented”
SKILLS FOCUS
Text Features
CERCA SET
Risk-Taking
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
“Everest: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Climb It” — Is achieving a
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
18
difficult goal like reaching the summit of Mount Everest worth the risk it
involves? Determine what the author has to say about both the reasons
people climb Mount Everest and why the culture of climbing is changing.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Honduran Entrepreneur Helps Central American Immigrants
Gain Legal Status in Mexico”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas
CERCA SET
Character and Risk
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
19
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.9, W1
“Self-Reliance" and “Where I Lived and What I Lived for” — How
do Emerson and Thoreau treat the idea of self-reliance differently in their
reflective essays?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Mira Slovak, Cold War Defector Who Flew to Fame, Dies at 84”
SKILLS FOCUS
Ideas Across Texts
CERCA SET
Perseverance
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
20
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
“American Woman Who Shattered Space Ceiling” — How did
Sally Ride's ambitions to become an astronaut develop and ultimately
affect her life and legacy?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“The World’s Leaders Mourn a Moral Giant”
SKILLS FOCUS
Connections Within a Text
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RI.3, W1
9
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
CERCA SET
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
21
22
Optional Narrative Writing Prompt >>
Social Responsibility
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.9, W1
“Excerpt from "Civil Disobedience"” — Does Thoreau make a strong
argument that when people follow their conscience and seek to make
change happen, before following the law, it is healthier for a democracy?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Leaders for the State”
SKILLS FOCUS
Author’s Purpose
CERCA SET
Conflict and Character
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
Multiday Short Fiction: “The Fly” — How does Mansfield use the
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“No Longer the Greatest Generation’s VA”
SKILLS FOCUS
Characters
CERCA SET
Overcoming Obstacles
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.6, W1
boss and the fly to comment on the nature of human grief?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.3, W3
Multiday Writing: “The Fly” — Write a personal narrative about a time
when a strong emotion prompted you to act in an unusual way.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“World War I Let Artists Show How It Changed Our Lives”
SKILLS FOCUS
Characters
CERCA SET
Civil War Poetry
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
23
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W1
Poetry: “The Dying Words of Stonewall Jackson” — What two
themes about serving one's country does Sidney Lanier develop in the
poem "The Dying Words of Stonewall Jackson"?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Massive Nonviolence”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme
CERCA SET
Humor
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“We Need To Do More When It Comes To Having Brief, Panicked
Thoughts About Climate Change” — Is humor an effective way to
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Caustic Egyptian Comic Gets Thrown Off the Air”
SKILLS FOCUS
Words and Details
24
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READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.4, W1
communicate about important issues?
10
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
CERCA SET
Technology & Impact
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
“The Internet Diet” — Michael Agger explores the way in which various
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
25
commentators have characterized the impact of technology on our intellect.
Select several of the arguments he explores and trace their development
throughout the text before deciding whether or not you believe that the
impact of online reading is a threat to our minds.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Think It, and A Computer Will Make It Happen”
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas
CERCA SET
Technology and Art
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
26
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.7, W1
Poetry: two versions of “The Chimney Sweeper” — How does
William Blake manipulate the persona of a child's voice to develop a social
commentary on the plight of chimney sweepers?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Seattle Bus Ads Featuring Photos of Wanted Terrorists Will Be
Removed”
SKILLS FOCUS
Format
CERCA SET
Endangered Animals
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
Multiday Informational Text: “SeaWorld Responds to Questions
About Captive Orcas, 'Blackfish' Film” — Do the benefits of keeping
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Beetle Attack!”
SKILLS FOCUS
Words and Details
CERCA SET
Nature Poetry
27
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
28
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.1, W1
orcas in captivity outweigh the dangers it poses to animals and humans?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W1
Poetry: “The Thrush's Nest” — After reading "The Thrush's Nest,"
describe at least two central observations the poet makes about nature and
the human experience using the image of the birth of baby birds.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“California Drought: Past Dry Periods Have Lasted More Than
200 Years, Scientists Say"
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme
CERCA SET
Cultural Perception
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
29
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
“A Superhero Who Looks Like My Son” — According to the author,
how do figures from mainstream media help shape a child's personal
identity?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Are Humans Hard-Wired for Racial Prejudice?”
SKILLS FOCUS
Words and Details
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RI.4, W1
11
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
Intellectual Property
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Jonas Salk: Good at Virology, Bad at Economics”— Should the
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Who Should Own DNA? All of Us”
SKILLS FOCUS
Reasoning
CERCA SET
Family History
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
“Multiday Informational Text: excerpt from Notes of A Native Son”
— How did James Baldwin's firsthand experience with racism and the
30
31
RI.1, W1
inventors of vaccines profit from them or give them away?
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.2, W1
death of his father shape his identity?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Honduran Entrepreneur Helps Central American Immigrants
Gain Legal Status in Mexico"
SKILLS FOCUS
Central Ideas
CERCA SET
Cultural Memoirs
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
32
Optional Narrative Writing Prompt >>
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.7, W1
Multiday Short Memoir: “The Party” — Why did Ava’s experiences at
the party have a particularly devastating impact on her during her already
traumatizing experiences as a hidden child?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“After Expelling Jews in 1492, Spain Considers Inviting Them
Back”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme
CERCA SET
Growing Up
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
"Multiday Writing: The Party” — Use allusions and juxtapositions to
write a personal narrative about a time when you felt out of place or even
like an outcast.
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“The Fairy Tale Called Workplace Meritocracy”
SKILLS FOCUS
Writing Narratives
CERCA SET
Entrepreneurship
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
33
RL.2, W3
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.3, W1
“A New Way to Do Nuclear” — Does the way the author explains
Transatomic's development and potential create a strong argument that
Transatomic could address the world's energy crisis in a new way?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“In the Mojave, a Scientist-Entrepreneur Works to “Re-create
Martians””
SKILLS FOCUS
Organizing Your Argument
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12
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
CERCA SET
Money and Decisions
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.2, W3
Multiday Short Fiction: “The Rocking-Horse Winner” — How does
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
D.H. Lawrence develop the themes of love of family, as exemplified by Paul's
devotion to earning money for his mother, and love of money, as exemplified
by his mother's greed, over the course of this story?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Video Lesson: We The Economy: Debt and Deficit”
SKILLS FOCUS
Theme
CERCA SET
The Best Laid Plans
34
Optional Narrative Writing Prompt >>
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.3, W3
Multiday Short Fiction: “The Rocking-Horse Winner" — Write a
personal narrative about a time when you badly wanted to earn someone’s
approval. INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“U.S. Support for Satirizing Religion Breaks along Racial Lines,
Pew Survey Finds"
SKILLS FOCUS
Plot
CERCA SET
Kid Inventors
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
35
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RI.5, W1
“The Boy with the LEGO Hand” — How is this science article
structured, and is this structure effective in engaging readers in the piece and
communicating its ideas and information clearly?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Human Gene Patenting Is a Thing Most of Us Aren’t Ready For”
SKILLS FOCUS
Structure and Organization
CERCA SET
Sounds in Poetry
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
Poetry: “Let Evening Come” — How does the poet use the sound of
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Sandy Hook Tattoos, More Than Skin Deep”
SKILLS FOCUS
Elements of Language
CERCA SET
Student Free Speech
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
RL.5, W1
poetry to convey her emotions about death?
36
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
37
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
“Toning Down the Tweets Just in Case Colleges Pry” — Should
students' social-media presence play a role in the college admissions
process?
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Missouri Players Show the Power of Unity”
SKILLS FOCUS
Reasoning
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RI.1, W1
13
English Language Arts Curriculum Guide
Suggested Scope & Sequence: Grade 12
38
READING & WRITING
STANDARDS
CERCA SET
Comparing Traditional Tales
RL.9, W1
APPLIED WRITING
PRACTICE
Multiday Short Fiction: “Rip Van Winkle” and “Young Goodman
Brown” — What do cautionary tales “Rip Van Winkle” and “Young
INDEPENDENT
READING PRACTICE
“Talking Turkey About the Real First Thanksgiving"
SKILLS FOCUS
Ideas Across Texts
Goodman Brown” reveal about the Puritans’ cultural values?
Integration of Longer Works with Recommended CERCA Sets
• Hamlet - Connections to Social Responsibility, The Best Laid Plans, and Sounds in Poetry
• Crime and Punishment - Connections to Group Decision-making, Personal Identity, and Conflict and
Dominance
• Farewell to Arms - Connections to Conflict and Character, Risk-taking, and Civil War Poetry
• The Bluest Eye - Connections to Cultural Perception, Cultural Memoir, and Family History
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14
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Cross-Curricular Literacy Lessons
The above scope and sequence are lessons from our ELA library only. We have lessons in science,
social studies, and math, as well. Below are examples.
Science: NGSS
Contributors to the Next Generation Science Standards,
master teachers, and administrators worked with our
team to develop our approach to differentiated science
literacy content. This debate-centric approach to science
mirrors items on new assessments that ask students to
evaluate peer-to-peer and scientist-to-scientist debates.
Social Studies: C3 Frameworks
We collaborated with key thought leaders, including the
designers of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State
Standards, as we developed our social studies content.
These leveled lessons—aligned to key topics across
geographical locations and time periods—allow teachers
to build discipline-specific background knowledge in a
vertical plan while engaging students who may be ahead
of or behind peers.
Math: Content & Practice
We collaborated with Professor Doug O’Roark, founder
of the Graduate Math and Science Teacher Certification
Program at University of Chicago and current head of
Math Circles Chicago, to design a unique, standardsaligned approach to differentiated math literacy content
that supports the expansion of mathematical knowledge
through its application in writing.
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15
English Language Development Supports
Supporting Developing Bilinguals
ThinkCERCA provides teachers with everything they need to support developing bilinguals in their
academic English fluency. In addition to research-based approaches embedded in the pedagogy of our
software, we provide direct instruction in standards-aligned practices that help developing bilinguals
succeed.
•
•
•
•
Supports for English language development in any classroom setting
Resources for students at a WIDA Level 3 and above
Research-based best practices for developing bilinguals
Online and offline tools and instructional practices, including speaking and listening activities
Full Supports List for Developing Bilinguals
Conventions of
Standard English
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
Personal
Connections
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
ThinkCERCA’s Minilessons help students with conventions of standard
English usage, mechanics and grammar, and parts of speech. They also
provide instruction in discipline-specific, academic vocabulary across
subjects.
Each Applied Lesson provides an opportunity for students to connect
personally with the topics in the text. By encouraging collaboration and
peer-to-peer discussion, in a group, or even whole class, students engage
in meaningful discussions and high-interest topics that expose them to the
language they need to successfully navigate the world.
Tier 2 Vocabulary
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
Audio Support
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Tier 2 vocabulary words with definitions are provided for pre-reading
support. Explicit instruction in academic vocabulary helps students access
content in disciplines.
All ThinkCERCA texts have audio support so students can listen to the text
while reading along. Student have the option of listening multiple times or
even listening to small sections of the text. Real human voices model fluent
and expressive English and allow students to access texts beyond their
independent English reading levels.
Writing Lessons
Non-Print Features
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
ThinkCERCA provides non-print features to support students in connecting
to background knowledge and developing new meaning. The strong visuals
in our Minilessons and the images embedded in our texts, including
infographics, multimedia, and video presentations, support learning for
everyone, including English language learners.
Writing Lessons
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English Language Development Supports
Full Supports List for Developing Bilinguals
Sentence Frames
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
Blended Learning &
Small Groups
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Sentence stems help students crack the code of college- and career-ready
English. By understanding the most common frames and practicing them,
students build confidence in their critical literacy skills.
ThinkCERCA provides a framework for teachers to incorporate into small
group instruction, independent collaboration, and individual personalized
instruction in a blended learning environment. In this dynamic
environment, students are given a variety of opportunities to engage with
language through listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Writing Lessons
Structure &
Language of Genre
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
ThinkCERCA exposes students to the language of various genres and
disciplines. The consistency of the text structures in the overview, summary,
sentence frames, and counterargument gives students repeated exposure
and familiarity with both structure and language.
Writing Lessons
Oral & Written
Language
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Additional Reading
Practice
- Applied Reading and
Writing Lessons
Applied Reading &
Writing Lesson
Supports
- Applied Reading and
ThinkCERCA supports the critical relationship between oral and written
language by requiring students to discuss and negotiate complex issues
with multiple perspectives. Readings about debatable topics open up
opportunities for structured conversations in small groups, with partners
and as a whole class. Discussions require students to use accurate and
relevant text-based information to support claims and to explain their
reasons as well as reasoning. By toggling back and forth from text to
conversation, and finding evidence to support thinking, students increase
and deepen their understanding of the text at hand.
We have additional ELD lesson supports for our premium Applied Writing
Lessons. These supports provide extra scaffolding in order to help ELD
students access the same great content as their non-ELD peers
Writing Lessons
Culture
- Direct Instruction
Lessons
- Applied Reading and
Readings respect and honor the cultures of multiple groups and offer broad
representation of not only various cultures, but also discussions about
global issues.
Writing Lessons
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17
English
Results Language Development Supports
Proven to Help Student Achieve Two Years of Academic Growth
Third-party efficacy data shows that students gain an average of 1.5 to 2.5 years of reading growth when
ThinkCERCA is implemented with fidelity. More information at www.thinkcerca.com/results.
LEAP Innovations Controlled Study
On average, students using ThinkCERCA gained an extra year's worth of academic growth. This is equivalent to closing the
achievement gap by 264 percent for low-income students, 456 percent for black students, and 749 percent for Latino students.
Read the full study at go.thinkcerca.com/leapstudy
Atlantic Research Partners Third-Party Study
Students in grade levels with significant use of ThinkCERCA outperformed their peers nationally on NWEA growth at different
attainment levels in the 2014-2015 academic school year. Read the full study at go.thinkcerca.com/arpstudy
SRI Education Controlled Study
Gains in student writing scores in the elementary grades were positive across all writing aspects and statistically significant for
five of the six aspects. Read the full study at go.thinkcerca.com/sristudy
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