Common Core Speaking and Listening Standard 2

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard for Speaking and Listening 2 (CCRA.SL.2) involves more than speaking and listening. It requires students to "integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally."

To wrap my mind around what this standard means, I did some searching. After initially coming up empty-handed, I found this article, entitled "ELA.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2" on schmoop.com. The site provides a list of media that students should be able to interpret, as well as some good examples.

Next I read the related Common Core State Standards for third, fourth, and fifth grades:

• SL.3.2 - Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
• SL.4.2 - Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
• SL.5.2 - Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Virtually all language-based input that doesn't involve the student reading words himself are included: pictures and photos; visual organizers of all kinds; graphs, tables, charts, calendars, and maps; digital presentations; audio and video recordings; posters; and more. The Common Core is telling us that students' comprehension must extend beyond reading text on a page or screen; they must also comprehend all other media that require them to look or listen.

What must students do in response to looking and listening? Third graders need to identify main ideas and supporting details. In fourth grade, they need to retell the information in their own words. By fifth grade, they're retelling the main points to summarize.

In my mind, YouTube fits perfectly here. The possibilities are endless. Here are just a few ideas off the top of my head:

1. Watch the "I'm Just a Bill" video from Schoolhouse Rocks. Make a flowchart showing the steps a bill takes to become a law.
2. Watch "Billy Blue Hair - What Is Erosion?" List main ideas and supporting details.
3. Watch "Reading, Writing, and Comparing Whole Numbers - Lesson 1" from LearnZillion. Explain how to write a whole number using a place value chart.

And what about Brainpop? Add these short videos to your lessons and you're golden! Even if you don't have a budget that allows you to purchase a subscription, check out their free videos and teacher resources.

Any oral or visual presentation by the teacher can apply to this standard. After presenting, just ask the kids to find main ideas a supporting details, paraphrase, and/or summarize! To spice it up, use ready-made Power Point presentations. I found a huge selection at Pete's Power Point Station.

I also encourage teachers of students from Grade 4 up to check out News Currents from Knowledge Unlimited. This weekly current events program fits this standard to a "T!" An online slideshow presents national and international news and issues, as well as "This Day in History," "Country of the Week," and a political cartoon. A script is provided to help the teacher guide discussion. In my class, students take notes, which they are allowed to use on the ten-question quiz at the end of the presentation. News Currents contains all kinds of visuals, including maps, tables, and graphs. It requires students to look and listen . . . even the quiz is presented orally!

CCRA.SL.2 gives the students (and teacher) a break from the written word. Welcome more media into your classroom this year! I know I will.