There are changes that also affect the progression of standards across all grade levels. Vertical alignment of content has never been more emphasized as a key component to a successful education. One of the reasons for Massachusetts’ adaptation of the national K-12 Common Core State Standards is to build an educational continuum from pre-kindergarten to high school that leads to college and career readiness. This continuity of curriculum helps the professionals in schools/districts to provide more consistency in children’s learning experiences as they make their way from pre-K to their high school graduation.
Is there evidence of vertical alignment taking place within your district? Examples might include vertical teams in which teachers of the same subject across different grade levels are able to meet. Are there opportunities to explore what students should already know at the beginning of the year and what they are expected to know in order to be prepared for the next grade level? As this module progresses, pay attention to examples across all subjects and grades so you can identify cross-curricular and vertical alignment connections that will help make student learning into a cumulative, interdependent, and ongoing experience.