Introduces educators to the benefits and key points of the English Language Arts (ELA) standards and shows how they can use them to plan effective curriculum. This title provides the help that they need for the elementary ELA standards. Contents: List of Figures Foreword by Cindy A. Strickland Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. Standards and Knowledge 2. Essential Understandings and Guiding Questions 3. Unit Template With Examples 4. Assessments 5. Skills, Activities, Formative Assessments, and Resources 6. Differentiated Instruction 7. Lesson Design Resource: A Brief Primer on the ELA Common Core Standards References Index.