by:Emily Mason

The common core standards are built upon the idea of preparing kids and students for life after graduating high school. This standard is changing the way that we are educating students by changing the standards that we have in teaching. They are altering the standards to be focused on supplying students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in life after high school whether that be college or working or both. I think that this is similar to what was going on during the 20th century. The real connection being that we are asking what the point of education is and changing it based on what we think that purpose is, which for common core is to prepare students for life after high school.

            There are five guiding principles for common core.

·         College and Career Ready-after completing school (grades kindergarten through 12th grade) students will be ready for what comes after (college and a career)

·         Use the Best State Standards- creating standards based on work done at schools that are the most successful by looking at work and results and building standards from this information

·         Solid Evidence- knowing what students need to know and having proof that these standards are effective in preparing them for life after high school.

·         Focus- giving teacher’s ample time to teach what they need to, having realistic expectations for teachers and student learning

·         Local Flexibility, Teacher Judgment- common core is only made up of expectations and standards, not curriculum, leaving room for teachers and schools to use what curriculum they want to and expand on information in what ways they would like to

I think these standards could impact my classroom by challenging me to think of ways to expand on ideas and make sure that I touch on all of the standards. I think that it will also add challenges for situations in which students are low in certain areas. This could cause issues when trying to teach each standard if the student cannot reach a certain level. However, I think this will be interesting to come up with fun ways to expand on concepts and ideas and make it fun and relatable for students.

            I think that certain aspects of common core are an improvement. Having the aspect of flexibility for teachers and giving ample time for teachers to teach concepts are great things for the classroom. However, I also think that having a set of standards that is for all students could cause some issues if there are students that cannot reach those standards. I love that this is preparing students for the world after school. Working with special needs students in high school we focus on practicality and preparing them for jobs after graduation. Things as simple as folding clothes, sorting things, and putting silver ware away, setting tables, riding the bus, and the value of money. They need these skills to succeed and that is why we focus on them. I think that if these standards are attainable the common core standards can be very productive in the school system.  

References

TheHuntInstitute. “Common Core State Standards: A New Foundation For Success.” YouTube.   YouTube, 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.

TheHuntInstitute. “Common Core State Standards: Principles of Development.” YouTube.            YouTube, 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.

Krogh, S., Fielstein, L., Phelps, P. & Newman, R. (2015). Introduction to Education: Choosing     to Teach. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

What are the Common Core Standards and how are they meant to support the improvement of our U.S. educational system?

The Common Core Standards initiative is an educational initiative in the United States that details what K-12 students should know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of each grade. This common core standard is meant to support the improvement of our US educational system by giving the teacher and student a standard to aim for every closing year, making sure all students are at a certain level of knowledge.

 Examine and describe the five guiding principles behind the development of the Common Core Standards in your own words.  Explain how each of these five principles might impact you (or your effectiveness) as a classroom teacher.  

            College-and-career ready- As a teacher, my job is to make sure my students will be prepared to succeed in college and be ready for a career after.

            Use the best state standards- As a teacher using the best state standard is vital when it comes to development of your students and their accomplish of the standards.

            Solid Evidence- As a teacher, we need solid evidence that shows how to get our students to the standard levels they need to be at. Using that evidence, it will make it much easier to know how to get our students to a specific level of knowledge.

            Clear Focus- Teachers and students need a clear focus on how to obtain that specific standard level of knowledge. A step by step explanation focusing on what matters most will prepare the teacher and students for the upcoming task.

            Local Flexibility and Teacher judgment- This standard helps students achieve in different classrooms, different states, their own state, across states and through out this world. Being able to be flexible to learning is an important standard to develop, because you never know where you might end up in life and you might need to be flexible in a learning environment.

Do you feel that these Common Core Standards are an improvement to our educational system?  Why or why not?  Provide evidence to support your response. 

I feel that Common Core Standards are an improvement to our educational system because it supplies the teachers with the blueprint on how to orchestra a classroom. Common Core Standards will give the teacher and students a goal to aim for before that school year is complete.