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National Core Arts Standards


Class
Music ConstructED Online Learning
Free
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Learn how to simplify planning and assessment with National Core Arts Standards. Follow these teachers' advice!

Objectives and Assessment

Free | 60 minutes

 

Summary

This Music ConstructED Online Learning Course compiles articles from across our site on issues pertinent to general music teachers. Learn from expert music educators free of charge and at your own pace. Reading a block of articles in Music ConstructED equates to one hour of Professional Development Seat Time.

 

Articles include:

Super Star Standards - Pinpointing your Super-Star Standards and relying on them in your teaching will unearth the areas in your curriculum where you can be flexible and highlight your program goals where flexibility is not your best option.

by Calyanne Crouch

 

Making the NCAS work for you - The National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) were released in 2014 but may still feel “new” to many music educators. If you are in the process of aligning your music curriculum to the NCAS, it can seem like a daunting challenge. The NCAS can appear wordy, complex, and vague, but a change in perspective will reveal that they are actually intuitive and in step with activities you are already doing! 

by Steve Johnson Jr.

 

Listening Rhythms and Solfege - Listening, rhythms, and solfege… oh my! Use centers to practice and assess concepts in the general music room.

by Alexandra Robinson

Here is the class outline:

Understanding the NCAS Framework

In Module 1, you will explore the four artistic processes: Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting. You'll learn to interpret NCAS standard codes, recognize the structure of the standards, and navigate the official standards database. Translating these standards into student-friendly "I can" statements can enhance your teaching effectiveness, and you may already be incorporating many of these standards in your current practices.

Welcome & Course Overview
NCAS Overview
Four Artistic Processes
Understanding and Using the NCAS
Translating Standards to "I Can" Statements
Check for Understanding

Grade-Level Standards Breakdown (PreK-2)

In Module 2, you'll access four PDF guides for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st and 2nd grades, focusing on developmental progressions in early elementary education. The module includes strategies from Steve Johnson on integrated standards teaching, video examples from real classrooms, and assessment approaches for each grade level.

Introducing the Downloadable Resources
Pre-K Standards
Kindergarten Standards
First and Second Grade Standards
One Song, Multiple Standards
Check for Understanding

Grade-Level Standards Breakdown (3-6)

In Module 3, you will explore key music education standards for 3rd and 4th grades, emphasizing musical independence, and for 5th and 6th grades, preparing students for secondary music or lifelong engagement. The module includes strategies for authentic assessment in large classes, the Super Star Standards framework for prioritization, and "I Can" statements to make learning visible. It also highlights implementation principles focusing on integration and student ownership, offering a concise approach to teaching music effectively.

Third & Fourth Grade Standards
Centers for NCAS Assessment
Fifth & Sixth Grade Standards
Super Star Standards
Optional - Seventh & Eighth Grade Standards
Check for Understanding

Implementation, Resources & Next Steps

In Module 4, you will create a personal NCAS implementation action plan, identify specific priority areas for growth, connect with a comprehensive resource library, build an ongoing learning plan (immediate, short-term, long-term), and complete a final assessment demonstrating mastery.

Your NCAS Implementation Plan
Essential Resources & Professional Development
Check for Understanding
Course Wrap-Up
Course Feedback

Completion

The following certificates are awarded when the class is completed:

Music ConstructED 60-minute PD Certificate of Completion
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