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Monday, August 12, 2013

What is with this Common Core?


     I'm currently working on my Masters Degree in Education.  Basically for the past year, every single book that I have read has the words "The Common Core" in the title.  Does this make me an expert?  I don't know about that, but I know that I know more than the average parent.
     So what is "The Common Core"?  Basically is is a set of guidelines that teachers are supposed to follow.  What a lot of people don't realize is that the Common Core is very general.  Some examples of the standards are compare and contrast, determine cause and effect, cite textual evidence. I do think these are legitimate skills that any student should have.
      As a teacher, you can compare and contrast just about anything.  Skittles and M&Ms, mushrooms and ferns, Ford and GM, Classical and Romantic composers, Spanish and Portuguese, it really doesn't matter as long as your students acquire the skill.  Citing textual evidence can be citing fashion blogs.   There is a high degree of flexibility within the core.
     The test results though, they are problematic.  The NYS scores that were released show that only 31% of all students meet or exceed expectations.  The news gets worse if the child is a minority or does not speak English as their maternal language or is a minority or has a disability.  Only 3.2% of ELLs (English Language Learners) met expectations, only 5% of students with disabilities and if the student is Black or Hispanic, about 16%.  
     The 2nd grade questions that asked kids to differentiate between cuneiform and hieroglyphics are brought forth to point out the facetiousness of the testing ordeal.  While I do agree that question is ridiculous, I do not think that the Common Core is a bad thing.  The validity of the assessments are the issue, not the core itself.  To throw out the core entirely would be to throw out the baby with the bath water.
   
     More states are coming on line with the common core for the 2013-2014 school year, so stay tuned.  I do think New York may have been a good state to start with, as we do have a tradition for rigorous education and accountability via test score.  The Regents exams have been a long standing tradition within the state.    
   




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