Basal Alignment Project (BAP)
AFB
Text-dependent
Questions
English Language Arts
in the 2013-2014 School Year
• Grades K-2: The 3 Shifts plus
Common Core ELA standards using
McGraw Hill Treasures , Sci, HSS
• Grades 3 – 6: The 3 Shifts, and RUSD
Transition Plan Entry Points plus 1997
standards using Houghton Mifflin and
Basal Alignment Project, Sci, HSS
AFB
What is the Basal Alignment Project?
• A library of 300+ revised lessons
• Based on common Basal reading series (3rd6th grades)
• New practices aligned to the 3 shifts
• Carefully aligned to the CCSS
• Includes text-dependent questions, improved
tasks, and a focus on academic vocabulary.
AFB
Who Creates Basal Alignment materials?
• Hundreds of teachers worked collaboratively
• Following deep training on the Common Core by
Student Achievement Partners.
• Each lesson has been authored by teachers
• Each lesson is then edited, and reviewed by a
team of teachers before posting
AFB
Current Basals are NOT aligned to
Common Core State Standards
• Many questions are not text-dependent
• Do not focus as strongly on academic (Tier
two) vocabulary
• Most texts not at grade level complexity
• Many focus on comprehension strategies first
AFB
Key Features of the Standards
Text complexity
and the
growth of
comprehension.
Text types,
responding to
reading, and
research.
Flexible
communication
and
collaboration.
Academic
language,
vocabulary, and
effective use.
AFB
All must be present for literacy learning.
6th Grade Example
CA 1997 ELA STANDARDS
COMMON CORE STATE
STANDARDS
RC 2.7
RL 6.4
Do you think the author did a
good job of describing the
events that led to the
downfall of the Aztecs?
Read the textbox on page
376. List two of the reasons
that led to the fall of the
Aztec empire.
AFB
What to do
• Use Basal Alignment Units with other readings on
the same topic.
• Use text-dependent questions during close reading
activities.
• Use BAP big ideas which are critical for creating an
appropriate culminating assignment.
• Integrate vocabulary (Tier 2 )into classroom talk,
questions, daily lessons.
AFB
What NOT to do:
• Do not use Basal Alignment as the end-all.
• Do not treat BAP as a worksheet.
• Do not settle for students’ personal opinions as
an answer.
• Do not alter sections on phonics, spelling,
grammar, word study, science and social studies
connections
AFB
Text-dependent Questions
• Answered through close
reading
• Evidence comes from
text, not information
from outside sources
• Understanding beyond
basic facts
• Not recall!
https://vimeo.com/54007714
AFB
Student’s
annotation of
connotative
meanings in
Charlotte’s Web
AFB
It’s not enough to have complex
text in the room. They need to
read and discuss complex text.
AFB
AFB
QUESTIONS
AFB