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Epiphany Education Consultancy

Empowering Educators for Success

Empowering Educators for SuccessEmpowering Educators for SuccessEmpowering Educators for Success
THE Vertical alignment Success System

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  • Home
  • Epiphany EC Resources
    • In-Fer Equation
    • TSIA2
    • U-RACE Writing Process
    • Constructed Responses
    • Instructional QUAD (IQ)
    • Standards-Based Questions
  • PLC Prework Grades 3-10

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The Purpose Behind VASS

In this video, I share the story behind the VASS framework—why the system exists, the rationale guiding its intentional design, and the urgency of unpacking standards and aligning curriculum with purpose. Inspired by TEA’s Vertical Alignment Matrix but not just showing entry points of skills or the increase in rigor, VASS shows the breadth and depth—the instructional weight—of all standards in every strand. 

The Vertical Alignment Success System (VASS) "Analyze It"

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 "Analyze It" documents unpack standards and provide teachers with what they will need for PLC. The 3-6-9 grade levels are provided as a sampling of what the platform contains. We "Analyze It" and teachers bring the text(s) to "Align It."

Click on Image

Click on Image

Click on Image

 "Analyze It" documents unpack standards and provide teachers with what they will need for PLC. The 3-6-9 grade levels are provided as a sampling of what the platform contains. We "Analyze It" and teachers bring the text(s) to "Align It."

Click on Image

Click on Image

Click on Image

 "Analyze It" documents unpack standards and provide teachers with what they will need for PLC. The 3-6-9 grade levels are provided as a sampling of what the platform contains. We "Analyze It" and teachers bring the text(s) to "Align It."

Anchor Charts, Graphic Organizers, and More

This TSIA sample essay, score 8, contains a concession, refutation/rebuttal, and a counterargument.

The STAAR rubric explicitly states what the essay must contain; however, the TSIA essay--not the rubric--shows what the essay should contain.

From input standard, to process standards, to the product. There is always an input in the output.

From input standard, to process standards, to the product. There is always an input standard in the prompt. When you unpack and a prompt, it should be done at the top of a unit and referenced anytime a student enters into a new text, so they can see the throughline--continually attaching their comprehension of text (input) to the output task. It's not that our children cannot write, we cannot keep inundating them with acronyms when comprehension and analysis is the issue. 

Commentary is one of the most difficult skills to teach. Show students how commentary is different.
Diction and syntax or language and structure carries a lot of instructional weight. Keep it + and -

Keep it negative, neutral, and positive first and from there delve deeper into the context attaching voice, tone, and mood vocabulary, using text evidence. 

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