Education Commissioner John King, David Coleman and Kate Gerson explain every key aspect of Common Core standards in depth. By viewing this 15-part series, New York educators and administrators will learn step-by-step how to implement the Common Core for ELA/Literacy and Math in their schools and classrooms. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of the rationale behind the Common Core and what it will mean for students across our state.

Produced in partnership with NYS PBS stations WCNY/Syracuse and WNET/New York City, the series illuminates the Common Core through conversations between Commissioner King, a former high school social studies teacher and middle school principal; Coleman, a contributing author of the Common Core State Standards; and Gerson, a Senior Fellow with the USNY Regents Research Fund and a former high school English teacher and principal.

Network Teams and other professional development leaders can use these videos as a tool in their work with schools and districts. Most importantly, these videos are designed to start a conversation between educators, districts and the State Education Department about implementing the Common Core. Only through our collaboration will the Common Core truly come to life. Join the conversation by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

Viewing the Videos

The Common Core videos can be viewed online or downloaded from the links below for offline viewing.

If you would like to download the videos from the Vimeo website, please follow the download instructions.

Common Core in ELA/Literacy

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: An Overview

This 14-minute video provides an overview of the Common Core State Standards in ELA/Literacy. NYS Commissioner of Education John King and contributing author David Coleman discuss the background of the Common Core State Standards, their value in the state, the principles of their development, and the changes required of schools during this transition.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Getting Started

Commissioner King frames the opportunities for educators to work with and apply The Common Core State Standards to help ensure students’ successful content mastery in mathematics and multiple areas of study. He encourages educators to begin this process by becoming fully informed on areas of focus and fluencies suggested by the Common Core, and then implementing these strategies in the coming 2011-12 school year.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Shift 1: PK-5: Balancing Informational Text and Literature

This is a 10 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 – PK-5: Balancing Informational Text and Literature.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Shift 2: 6-12 – Building Knowledge in the Disciplines

This is an 8 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 2 – 6-12: Building Knowledge in the Disciplines.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Shift 3 – Staircase of Complexity

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 3 –Staircase of Complexity.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Shift 4 – Text Based Answers

This is an 11 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 4 –Text Based Answers.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Shift 5 – Writing from Sources

This is a 12 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 5 –Writing from Sources.

Common Core in ELA/ Literacy: Shift 6 – Academic Vocabulary

This is a 6 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 6 –Academic Vocabulary.

The Gettysburg Address: An Exemplary Curricular Module in Literacy

This is an eight minute video in which David Coleman, a contributing author to the Common Core State Standards, describes an exemplary module that he and his fellow authors have designed.

Close Reading of Text: MLK “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

This is a 15 minute video in which David Coleman, a contributing author to the Common Core State Standards, models a close reading of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Preparing for Close Reading with Students

This is a 30 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) on the first 20 paragraphs of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Common Core in Mathematics

Common Core in Mathematics: Overview

This 14-minute video provides an overview of the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. NYS Commissioner of Education John B. King Jr. and contributing author David Coleman discuss the background of the Common Core State Standards, their value in the state, the principles of their development, and the changes required of schools during this transition.

Common Core in Mathematics: Getting Started

Commissioner King frames the opportunities for educators to work with and apply The Common Core State Standards to help ensure students’ successful content mastery in mathematics and multiple areas of study. He encourages educators to begin this process by becoming fully informed on areas of focus and fluencies suggested by the Common Core, and then implementing these strategies in the coming 2011-12 school year.

Common Core in Mathematics: Shift 1 – Focus

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.

Common Core in Mathematics: Shifts 2-6

This video provides a thorough discussion of the fundamental key concepts that bring about readiness and mastery in mathematics. An emphasis is placed on examining the specific interrelated approaches which ultimately translate into the flexibility and successful application of math skills across different subject areas.