Instructional Shifts

The instructional shifts identify the major shifts in curriculum and instruction to align with the Common Core. The six instructional shifts in Mathematics and the six instructional shifts in ELA/Literacy articulated by the New York State Department of Education and the three instructional shifts in Mathematics and the three instructional shifts in ELA/Literacy outlined by Student Achievement Partners help educators understand the changes in classroom instruction and curricular materials required to effectively implement the Common Core standards.

To see a crosswalk between these two sets of shifts, click on the buttons.

For the 2012-13 school year, teachers should explore ways to focus on these shifts:

  • In math require fluency, application and conceptual understanding; and
  • In ELA, social studies, and science require students to ground reading, writing, and discussion in evidence from text.

Watch this video of an NYC school as they focus on using evidence from text and discuss the impact on their student’s work.

Watch this video to explore the interplay between the three key components of rigor in mathematics: conceptual understanding, fluency and application.

PD Resources: Understanding How the Instructional Shifts and Selected Standards Impact Our Work
Making Connections in Math:
Selected Common Core Standards
and Instructional Shifts 
Making Connections in Literacy:
Selected Common Core Standards 
and Instructional Shifts