Identify and Align Essential Standards Workshops
FOUNDATION OF THE INTEGRATED TEACHING AND LEARNING SYSTEM©
About the Essential Standards Workshops:
Essential to developing high-quality units of study is understanding the vital role that Essential Standards (also known as Power Standards or Priority Standards) play in that development. Participants will learn the “why” and “how” of Essential Standards and how teams of educators use established criteria for selecting and aligning Essential Standards across the grades, PK-12, to lay a strong foundation for the subsequent creation of standards-aligned units of study.
Prioritizing the standards is an interactive series of our Clarity Pathway virtual and in-person workshops that are highly relevant for school systems with educators and leaders new to their district who may not be familiar with the rationale and process of prioritizing. Individuals, schools, or districts should consider the relevancy of this "timeless essential" process if they have any of the following:
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Recently revised state standards
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Entirely new state standards
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Existing standards not prioritized or reprioritized in several years
What you will Experience and Create:
During the 5 workshops described below, participants will first learn and engage in Steps 1-4 of the six-step Essential Standards process and then how to effectively implement Steps 5 and 6. This will enable participants to replicate the same six steps in their own schools and districts.
The Why and How of Essential Standards - Workshop 1
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Learn the Rationale and Process Steps for Prioritizing State Standards in All Grades and All Content Areas
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See the Relationship Between Essential Standards and Supporting Standards
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Learn How to Use Established Criteria to Select and Align Essential Standards, PK-12
Select the Essential Standards Using Established Criteria - Workshop 2
- Apply the Essential Standards Selection Criteria
- Step 1 Activity: Select Essential Standards for Each Grade, PK-12
- Step 2 Activity: Reach Initial Group Consensus and BOLD Selections on Spreadsheets
Align the Essential Standards, PK-12 (Part 1) - Workshop 3
- How to Identify “Gaps, Overlaps, and Omissions”
- Step 3 Activity, Part 1: Align Selected Priority Standards Within PK-5 and 6-12 Grade Bands
- Step 3 Activity, Part 2: Align Selected Priority Standards Between PK-5 and 6-12 Grade Bands
Align the Essential Standards, PK-12, (Part 2) - Workshop 4
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Step 4 Activity: Look for Connections to External Assessments (i.e., State Tests).
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Learn How to Prioritize Standards in Different Content Areas
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Discuss Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Standards
Essential Standards—Foundation of the Integrated Teaching & Learning System© - Workshop 5
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Steps 5 & 6: Learn How to Involve All School and District Educators in the Process
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Learn Effective Implementation Strategies
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Essential Standards—Foundation of the Integrated Teaching & Learning System©
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Additional Essential Standards Resources
Additional Resources About Essential Standards
Online Professional Learning Courses!
We are so pleased to announce our first online course, taught by Larry, ESSENTIAL STANDARDS: PATHWAY TO SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS and his just-released second online course, CLARITY FOR ALL: STUDENT LEARNING TARGETS & ALIGNING SUCCESS CRITERIA
Offering maximum flexibility and affordability, we hope you will explore below for more information.
Explore CoursesBlog
Explore Larry's blogs over the last year including how Essential Standards fit into his Integrating Teaching & Learning System (ITLS), along with related topics such as Essential Standards for Multilingual Learners and Essential Standards for Students with Disabilities.
Explore Blog
Books
We invite you to take a look at Larry's newest books, Integrating Teaching & Learning, Volumes 1-3.
Volume 1 outlines the "what and why" of the foundational role and importance of Essential Standards and how to utilize this highly practical information within your school or district.
Explore Books
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Endorsements for ITLS system and workshops
Toni Stevenson, Ph.D.
Chief Academic Officer, Indianapolis, IN
“I am delighted to offer my wholehearted endorsement for Larry Ainsworth’s invaluable contribution to our educational community. As an instructional leader deeply engaged in implementing Common Formative Assessments (CFAs) within our district, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Larry Ainsworth for years as he expertly trained six cohorts of teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators on his Common Formative Assessment 2.0 process.
Larry’s guidance has been transformative, illuminating the path toward enhanced teaching practices and student learning outcomes."
Jack Faughn
District Math Coordinator, Danville, VA
“Time spent with Larry Ainsworth has been a great benefit in my professional role. As District Math Coordinator, I am responsible for the timely creation and revision of our district’s mathematics curriculum, which requires a great deal of decision making and management of resources. During this effort, Mr. Ainsworth has been pivotal in helping me work through the mental processes, allowing me to think through what would be the most beneficial among many viable options. This has allowed me to balance necessity with practicality. His approach to mentoring is built on listening to what is needed, and this tailors his work to the specific needs of the curriculum leader."
Jason S. Perrins
Superintendent, Chewelah, WA
“In our district, Ainsworth's training has been transformative, particularly in our focus on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). By equipping us with the skills and tools needed for productive PLCs, Ainsworth ensures that student learning remains at the core of our purpose. He emphasizes that while instructional materials and essential standards are valuable resources, they are ineffective without proper utilization. The ITLS process provides educators with the necessary guidance on using available resources to facilitate student learning effectively...once teachers are trained in the ITLS process, they can transform their resources into effective teaching strategies, ultimately enhancing student learning outcomes.”