An introduction to the common core state standards -- Overview of the reading standards: What do they say and what does this mean for us? -- Literal understanding and text complexity: Standards 1 and 10 -- Reading literature: Standards 2-9 -- Reading informational texts: Standards 2-9 -- Overview of the writing standards: What do they say and what does this mean for us? -- The CCSS and composing narrative texts -- The CCSS and composing argument texts -- The CCSS and composing informational texts -- Overview of the speaking and listening and the language standards: What do they say and what does this mean for us? -- CCSS-Aligned assessments fuel whole-school reform.