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This is a 15-minute video which features a discussion between NYS Commissioner of Education John B. King Jr., David Coleman (contributing author to the Common Core) and Kate Gerson (a Sr. Fellow with the Regents Research Fund) addressing Shift 1 –Focus. By unpacking Shift 1, the discussion addresses the benefits of giving the areas of focus articulated in the Common Core the time it deserves in the elementary classroom. After watching this video, educators might ask themselves: What is Shift 1? What does it demand? What are the implications for our school/ department/ district as we implement Shift 1? What will this mean we have to change about our practice? What challenges will we face as we make this shift? What would I excise this semester in order to make room for these areas of focus? To what extent do I know students who can manage the current assessments but couldn’t yet handle the math that follows because they lack the deep conceptual understanding required for the next phase of learning? By approaching this work with creativity and a sense of fun, educators may discover new ways to dive deeply into focus areas which not only challenge students, but also invite them in. A worksheet to accompany this video is available in both Word and PDF below.

This is just one way of conducting professional development around this video. We encourage you to use this opportunity to share your ideas and experiences. Please contribute to the discussion by telling us how YOU have used these videos! Which discussion questions did you find sparked the most collaboration amongst educators? What professional learning experiences did you design around the viewing? We want to hear from you so that educators across the state can benefit from your experience!

Next Video: Common Core in Mathematics: Shifts 2-6