To the Core.....

Time for a teacher post.........Common Core. What is it? Do you know? What does this mean for children? What does this mean for parents? What does this mean for teachers? Administrators? All faculty? Family members of those involved? lol...Common Core does affect many people in many ways throughout their daily life. My opinion.....it can definitely affect you in a good way.

I've heard LOTS of people who have AND have not been trained in CCSS(Common Core State Standards) that have much to say about these standards. Saying...so many assessments! It's too hard! It's so much work for the teachers! The government is trying to control us! My child hates school now! They are making teachers teach things that aren't necessary! There isn't always a correct answer; how do I help my child? These are just a few of the things I've heard be asked or stated. Do I know all of the answers? Nope. But---here is what I do know.

I taught for 3 years (plus college work) under the old SPIs(TN State Performance Indicators) They were good standards. The children learned. It told us what to teach that would later be on the TCAP(TN Comprehensive Assessment Program) It gave us a way to make sure to cover those SPIs so that they were ready to test. There was also a load of GLEs that I won't go into because of time... Grade Level Expectations.... It was a LOT of information/standards to look at when you got ready to teach. But--let's be honest. Everyone knew the SPIs were the tested area...so what do you focus on teaching? The SPIs. The SPIs go with TCAP--a multiple choice test, so it's important to teach that skill. Then, here comes the BIG BANG----Common Core Standards. AHHH Panic! :-)

No one likes change....and that has been a HUGE change. But for me---it's been a positive change in my teaching environment. I've taught 2 years now using CCSS in my classroom. These standards are a smaller list(no---the children are not learning less..trust me.) It's a list that builds throughout the grade levels. And---EVERY teacher has to become familiar with all grade level standards..especially the grade below and above you, so that you can prepare your students. CCSS also came along with some catchy things such as accountable talk.  (scroll about half way down for info after clicking) Just google it if this link isn't enough for you. Lots of fun friendly student images. This gives students a way to talk about their ideas, explain them, and prove why they believe something. Which---isn't it important in the real world that we can back up our ideas? I think so. I could ramble for hours..moving on.

Assessment....We are still taking TCAP in TN--which covers those old SPIs mentioned above. BUT--we are teaching CCSS. The standards should crosswalk over to each other to prepare your students for testing. So--what can we do as teachers to make sure this works out? Continue teaching the CCSS that we got to know last year! :) Go back and look at SPIs and make sure you have covered those standards when TCAP rolls around. Continue teaching your class to answer open ended questions. Let them show how more than one answer is correct. Teach them how to use manipulatives (hands on items) in math. This will teach them to become problem solvers. Then, teach them the multiple choice answer way of solving the equation. 

This has been a very hard change for me...and I can say probably most teachers.  Not to mention the new evaluation system that began a few years ago, so I believe CCSS was the icing on the cake for a lot of great educators. I believe in CCSS. I believe in evaluations to an extent. We have to be held liable at some point for our children. I believe in assessment. Should those things control our jobs alone? Absolutely not. There is so much more to school, teaching, and children than only the score they make on one individual assessment.

I would love to hear your feedback. Your ideas...Your opinion. I think teachers need to speak their voices during this time of change. Can we handle it? ABSOLUTELY. We are teachers. We adapt to last minute changes every minute of every school day. Can our kiddos handle it? Yes they can. AS LONG AS---they have a teacher who loves them, puts them first, teaches them to their ability while still teaching grade level, and keeps them safe. We are all educators and we can be successful on this current road of education.

Parents--What can you do? Talk to your child every day about school. Ask them to actually show you what they have learned. When practicing those math facts, ask them how they know 2 x 7 =14. When asking about the characters in a book, ask them to explain how they know the character was a kind person. It takes a little bit more work, but I believe it will be worth it. 

Okay---No more teacher blogging for a day or two. Rant over. :) 

Minnie is glad. ;-)