Overview
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been adopted by a vast majority of states for their K-12 public schools. They are designed to promote higher standards in reading and math in order to help American students perform better on international assessments of learning and become more competitive in the global economy. Common Core reading standards emphasize close readings of primary source texts, including non-fiction, in ways that might suggest greater opportunities to teach political writers such as Abraham Lincoln across the curriculum. In particular, CCSS has offered specific literacy standards for History / Social Studies at three levels across grades 6-12 that would obviously benefit from close readings of Lincoln’s greatest speeches, letters, and documents. Lincoln’s Writings: The Multi-Media Edition aims to support educators who are trying to implement these challenging new expectations. On this page, we have provided a discussion forum featuring short personal narratives from various K-12 educators from across the country who have described their experiences (and challenges) using new technologies and the resources of Lincoln’s Writings to help meet Common Core objectives. Below that forum, we have also featured direct links to the grade level standards, recommended documents sets from within this website, and model projects.
Discussion Forum
Jennifer Baniewicz, Technology in the Classroom: Lincoln Would Approve, Storify, August 2014
Alexandra Economou, Debunking the Lincoln Myth, Storify, August 2014
Jordan Kasler, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln & Engaging the Common Core at the Middle School Level, Storify, August 2014
Patricia Keenan-Byrne, Understanding Lincoln in My Classroom, Storify, August 2014
Brian Kellett, Learning About Lincoln Through Documents, Storify, August 2014
Katie Kilker, Common Core and Lincoln, Storify, August 2014
Wind Ralston, Teaching Lincoln and the Media, Storify, August 2014
Tammie Senders, Lincoln and Civil Liberties, Storify, August 2014
Megan VanGorder, Annotate the World: Using “Genius” in the History Classroom, Storify, August 2014
Thomas Warf, Abraham Lincoln Comes Alive, Storify, August 2014
Grades 6-8
See CCSS English Language Arts Standards / History & Social Studies, 6-8
Review our recommended grades 6-8 Lincoln documents
Grades 9-10
See CCSS English Language Arts Standards / History & Social Studies, 9-10
Review our recommended grades 9-10 Lincoln documents (see top 25)
Grades 11-12
See CCSS English Language Arts Standards / History & Social Studies, 11-12
Review our recommended grades 11-12 Lincoln documents (top 150)