What the [Bleep] Is the Common Core?

Sounds like your everyday education-ese, right?

It’s actually an entire overhaul of our education system.

A brief history lesson: The precursor to CCSS is the No Child Left Behind Act from 2002.

(Get out your number 2 pencils, kids!)

But even with teachers teaching to the test,the results were mixed, if not a flop.

Here’s the intention:

Sounds good, right?

So a lot of people are confused.

As a parent, there are several things I like about the Common Core.

Overall, the Common Core encourages kids to demonstrate their thinking, which is great.

“Learning how to learn” is one ofthe top subjects we wish were taught more in schools.

In the rush to adopt these standards, someone forgot to help the parentsand many of the teacherscome along.

(That’s a real math problem.)

But in this example andcountless others, the exercises are convoluted.

Some say the new standards aretoo rigidand a “one size fits all” approach.

Write opinion pieces on topics or text, supporting a point of view with reasons.

Provide reasons that support the opinion.

Provide a concluding statement or section.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

These are all important skills to learn.

In the case of my home state of NJ we have the PARCC.

I was one of the few teachers that got to see the “pilot” test last year.

It was a nightmare, for 3 days my students tested for 5 hours or more.

Content aside the test fatigue alone is going to torpedo student success on that exam.

I’m really concerned about “over testing” students.

The plan is to have two tests a year on every grade level in both language arts and math.

Schools and teachers can implement the standards however they wish.

For better or worse, though, a particular curriculumhasarisen with the Common Core.

Politics and big money are behind the rapid adoption of the Common Core.

Integral to the Common Core was the expectation that they would be tested on computers using online standardized exams.

Zero teachers were in the work groups.

The feedback groups had 35 participants, almost all of whom were university professors.

Cody found one classroom teacher involved in the entire process.

Not a single one of them was a K3 classroom teacher or early childhood professional."

Parents were entirely missing.

Use your state’s resources.Checkthe standards in your stateand the resources offered by your department of education.

Mr. T says:

In terms of how parents can best help their kids that is a tough one.

Most parents are unfamiliar with the new methodologies and new standards.

If they see them start to slip, get interventions immediately.

Many teachers are sending home “cheat sheets” or explanations of new methods and goals.

Also, some school districts are offering workshops for parents so they can understand the Common Core strategies.

Ask your school if that’s offered.

“What they need to help their children do is figure out, What is the problem asking you?

So I tell her to look for the “obvious” answer, the one that the question wants.

Here are more ideas forparent advocacy in the public school system.