Teaching and assessment focus on students' mastery of core concepts. In every subject, students are regularly expected to raise questions, to solve problems, to think and to reason. Students are doing challenging, high-level assignments in every subject. Assignments in each subject include extended projects in which original work and revision to standards are expected. Students are challenged to construct explanations and to justify arguments in each subject.
Instruction is organized to support reflection on learning processes and strategies.
Each subject includes assignments that require students to synthesize several sources of information. Students in each subject are challenged to construct explanations and to test their understanding of concepts by applying and discussing them. Instructional tasks and classroom discourse require students to interpret tests and construct solutions. Talk A substantial portion of instructional time involves students in talk related to the concepts delineated in the standards. Accountable Talk sharpens students' thinking by reinforcing their ability to build and use knowledge.