Kurzweil Education

Common Core Aligned � NOT!

Written by the Kurzweil Blog Team

Everyone is claiming to be aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Kurzweil 3000 is NOT aligned to the Common Core—HOWEVER . . .

Here at Kurzweil Educational Systems we are taking a bit of a different position on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Kurzweil 3000 is not, in-and-of-itself, aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The product is about accessibility. In the case of CCSS, it is about making content accessible and providing the tools that learners need to actively pursue the standards in a meaningful way.

Kurzweil 3000 is simply a powerful tool available to help students achieve the level of reading and writing comprehension required by the Common Core State Standards.

Here is an example of a grade seven writing standard and how Kurzweil 3000 may be used to address the standard:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

CCSS Standard	Description	Kurzweil 3000 Supports:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2a	Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.	Brainstorm tool or writing templates
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2b	Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.	Highlight and extract relevant information from texts
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2c	Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.	Word lists
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2d	Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.	Word prediction with word lists
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2e	Establish and maintain a formal style.	Audio review of text content
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2f	Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.	Writing path review tool

It is important to remember, Kurzweil 3000 is like a toolbox. It allows students to access the written material and information they need to learn. And, but just as importantly it provides the tools necessary to take that information to the next level by helping students identify key concepts, develop ideas, and build the writing skills they�ll need to express a deeper understanding of the material.

All the tools are there, the teacher just needs to show students how to use them in a constructive way. This is why we don�t claim that Kurzweil 3000 is aligned to the CCSS, but that through the use of Kurzweil 3000�s powerful tools and technology, all students can pursue and achieve the goals for learning set forth in the Common Core State Standards.

See how Kurzweil 3000 supports the Reading, Writing, and Language Standards.

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