Colleagues,
Jacqui Murray is a prolific K-12 technology blogger. In a recent article, "11 Things I Love About Common Core," she identifies some compelling advantages of using the CCSS (for adult ed the CCCR) Below is her list. To read the whole blog entry go to http://askatechteacher.com/2014/01/23/11-things-i-love-about-common-core/#more-7367 . Do you agree with her list? What would you add to it?
- They teach speaking and listening. Of all the skills that make a difference in a child’s future, their ability to speak and listen to others tops that list. How have we not included this in the past? I have no idea and truly don’t care. I’m happy it’s part of the plan now.
- They differentiate between fact and fiction. Too often, Hollywood movies that fictionalize history is taken as fact by viewers. Teachers show the movies as though this is what really happened. The ability to compare two presentations of events and determine truth from Other is a mature concept which appear in the 8th grade Reading-Literature (#7) and Reading-Informational (#9) standards, but the requirement of educated minds to question the world, seek out authentic information, evaluate what they hear/read/see/taste is a common strand throughout the Standards.
- They make tech part of a learners life. Oh that makes me happy. Considering children enter kindergarten with a love for technology (iPads, parents’ smartphones), it only makes sense that we scaffold on that appeal to educate them
- They spiral. Learning builds year to year, each grade level scaffolding the next. If a student struggles on a subject, it is easy to spiral down a level, shore up that knowledge to bring the student up to grade level. Or, conversely, if a student excels in an area, teachers can spiral upward to the next level of learning. Differentiation has never been so clear.
- The anchor standards are highly flexible in how teachers achieve them. They encourage ‘flexible learning paths’. Teachers understand the broad strokes and are expected to fill in the picture. For example, I can use games (that’s right–visual) to achieve the goals of reading (literature and informational–not foundational or Language) to accomplish goals like Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3). Wonder how? I’ll be posting on that soon. The bigger point is: Common Core is not a curriculum. It spells out what should be accomplished, but not how. That’s up to the teacher. They can use any method that works for their student group.
- it isn’t a curriculum–it’s a guideline. That bears repeating: It isn’t more material to stuff into already over-packed teaching days. It’s a framework to organize thoughts, goals, ideas. A school adopts a curriculum and uses Common Core to implement, focus, and highlight.
- it gets teachers thinking ‘outside the-way-its-always-been-done box‘. There’s a lot to accomplish, none of it prescripted. It uses words like collaborate, publish and share, domain-specific language, lead high-level text-based discussions, focus on process not just content, respond to the varying demands of audience-task-purpose-discipline, comprehend as well as critique, value evidence, demonstrate independence, build strong content knowledge, leaving the who-what-when-where-why-how in the teacher’s competent hands.
- It concentrates less on hard skills than a way of thinking, asking students to create thought habits, be problem solvers, approach life as critical thinkers. It expects students to integrate and evaluate, interpret, make strategic use of [technology tools], understand other perspectives and cultures, value evidence, comprehend as well as critique. The teacher decides how best to accomplish these goals.
- It focuses on not just college, but career. Some students aren’t right for college and that’s OK. Bill Gates wasn’t right for college.
- It gives teachers permission (and a nudge) to teach more traditional literature. Yes there’s good new literature, but there’s so much great older literature. How do you pick? Common Core gives permission to students to value books like Wizard of Oz, , The Odyssey, Metamorphoses, Sandburg’s Fog. I get goose bumps just thinking of what’s contained in those tomes. This literature shaped our world, added similes like ‘it’s a tale of two cities (replace with the comparative noun of your choice)’, ‘me thinks he doth protest too much’, and more. I love all literature, but to understand my world, I have to understand what great have said about it.
- a return to non-fiction. For those of us who believe ‘history repeats itself’, this is a no-brainer. For those of us who believe students must understand the world around them to fix its problems, this is brilliant.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Comments
I agree with the list and think it's a good one that needs to be shared widely. Especially the emphasis that the CCR is NOT a curriculum and that there is lots of flexibilty. I think I would add that students will be able to meet the standards. It will take more effort from teachers and a shift in their instruction but our students will be prepared to do more than just pass a test.
David,
Thanks so much for sharing this blog article with us. Jacqui Murrary brings up great points to reflect on. I particulary like ‘outside the-way-its-always-been-done box‘. When i was in the classroom, I loved to think of a wide variety of diferent ways to present the materials. I would get bored if I did not do that. I would challenge myself to make that "stretch."
Meryl Becker-Prezocki
Your post reminds me of this piece I heard this on the radio today.
Political Rivals Find Common Ground Over Common Core
The GOP largely backs the standards that are rolling out in 45 states, but Tea Party conservatives have been critical — and liberals increasingly have the same complaints.
Thanks, Jeff, for this NPR Morning Edition story about Common Core State Standards (CCSS) concerns. Another concern, recently expressed by teachers unions in New York State, is that teachers have not had enough time to implement the standards, that students are being tested on what their teachers haven't yet been able to teach.
The adult College and Career Ready (CCR) standards for adult learners are based on the CCSS. I wonder what teachers and others here think about them? Are they brilliant? Enabling? Standards that address real neads? Written at the levels needed? Are they frustrating, oppressive, or off teachers' radar? Something else? Is your program using them? Have you, and others at your program, read them? Are you using them? If so, what do you think? Are they worthwhile?
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Its refreshing to see someone stick up for the common core. In my M.S. program everyone sulks all day about how the common core standards are terrible and hurt real learning for favor of a suit of red tape. I make it my business to make fun and interesting lesson plans that closely adhere to the common core's prescription, like strengthening recall and listening skills by calling Miley Cyrus a poet and putting on the radio.