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