Business and Common Core

Everyone feel free to join in and respond to my blog. No matter what your skill rate is when it comes to your knowledge of Common Core, I have noticed that it can be related to the business world in the same manner. So please join in and leave comments about what you have read.

The future economic prosperity of our state and our country relies on producing highly skilled graduates who can be the entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors of tomorrow. To prepare high school graduates to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex global marketplace Oregon increased graduation requirements and adopted the Common Core State Standards.

The Common Core offers:
Global competitiveness. The Common Core Standards are aligned to international standards from the highest achieving countries. This means our students will be well prepared to compete both nationally and internationally.

Consistency across the country. Common standards mean that Oregon students are learning the same content and skills as students from around the U.S. in the subject areas of English Language Arts and Math. This places everyone on an even playing field and eases transitions between states.

Homegrown talent. Rigorous, national standards will help each state produce local, homegrown talent to meet the needs of our rapidly changing workplace.

21st century skills for 21st century jobs. The Common Core Standards are designed to prepare students to compete in and contribute to the 21st century, global economy. These standards will help produce graduates ready for todays—and tomorrow’s—jobs.

College and career ready standards for all. Because students need high level literacy and math skills whether they plan to go to college or directly into a job or workforce training, these standards are designed to prepare students for success in whatever they choose to do after graduation.

Focus on real world skills. What students learn in school should be directly related to what they’ll be required to do once they leave school. The Common Core Standards emphasize reading informational and technical texts to prepare students for the demands of college and the workplace.

During much of the 20th century, Americans entering the workforce were considered the best educated in the world. Within the past 30 years, foreign countries have claimed a higher percentage of their entering workforce with the equivalent of a high school diploma. The standards will ensure students graduate from high school ready to enter college and the workforce.

Benefits of Common Core

The teachers found much to be hopeful about, including:  

• Opportunities for Collaboration: Nearly all the teachers mentioned the potential for national collaboration that the standards could bring about. Teachers should "accept this challenge and see what great things can come from sharing our classroom expertise."

• Focus on 21st-Century Skills: Common Core emphasizes skills, such as writing, that will help students thrive in the 21st century. The standards' focus on critical thinking and depth of skills, rather than breadth.
• Student-Generated Learning: The standards will mean shifting traditional classroom organization: the teacher will serve less as a lecturer and more as a facilitator and coach while students complete task-oriented work.

The success of the common standards will hinge on how they are implemented. The teachers recommend:

• Discussions, Not Scripts: Successful implementation comes from discussions among teachers, administrators, policymakers, and community members, rather than scripts handed down to teachers. Common Core is an opportunity for teachers to lead, grow, and reflect on the profession.
• Meaningful Professional Development: To teach the standards well, teachers want effective professional development that relates to classroom practice. Teachers should lead PD sessions for their peers.
• Appropriate Assessments: The need for assessments that match the standards. Multiple-choice standardized tests can't accurately measure the skills Common Core emphasizes.

More thoughts and suggestions? Add them to the comments section below, and make sure to come back for next month's discussion on parent involvement.


Listed is a link that will help parents understand some of the aspects of common core in NC http://www.pta.org/1stGradeFeb4.pdf