Common Core in Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan really does have no clue. Common Core was developed by big business and the Gates Foundation with minimal input from educational leaders. I'm hoping that within a few years, with all the protests and opting-out of tests that seem to be spreading, we'll have a more educationally-sound system (or set of systems). Check out Diane Ravitch's site -- she used to be gung-ho for NCLB but is now firmly against it and Common Core.

You need to stop having an opinion on this since it's so grossly uninformed.

http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/publications/policypoints/PolicyPoints_Common_Core_State_Standards.pdf

As for Ravitch, she seems to be against many, many things. What's she for?

I'm always amused when people state that others are uninformed then link to propaganda pieces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia basically follows common core, even if it's not a formal approach:

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/11/virginias-way-common-core

More importantly, the state legislature just passed legislation that should deemphasize some of the SOL testing.

The state curriculum is weird. Your child will spend so much time studying moon phases in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grad[b]e, you'll think he's training to be a werewolf.

My kids didn't.

[Anonymous]

City of Alexandria - one of their best performing elementary schools uses Common Core. All other schools use your basic SOL curriculum. They don't do very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan really does have no clue. Common Core was developed by big business and the Gates Foundation with minimal input from educational leaders. I'm hoping that within a few years, with all the protests and opting-out of tests that seem to be spreading, we'll have a more educationally-sound system (or set of systems). Check out Diane Ravitch's site -- she used to be gung-ho for NCLB but is now firmly against it and Common Core.

You need to stop having an opinion on this since it's so grossly uninformed.

http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/publications/policypoints/PolicyPoints_Common_Core_State_Standards.pdf

As for Ravitch, she seems to be against many, many things. What's she for?

I'm always amused when people state that others are uninformed then link to propaganda pieces.

Arne Duncan and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development have far better credentials to opine on this matter than you do, OP. You're totally outclassed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:City of Alexandria - one of their best performing elementary schools uses Common Core. All other schools use your basic SOL curriculum. They don't do very well.

I'm curious if you understand the irony in your comment? The "best performing" City of Alexandria schools barely rate. It's kind of an oxymoron.

[Anonymous]

Arne Duncan and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development have far better credentials to opine on this matter than you do, OP. You're totally outclassed.

There is more than one poster objecting to CC in your pasted post. I am one of them--and my credentials reflect more experience with tests and kids than Arne Duncan's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan has no clue.

Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have adopted the Common Core State Standards. Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Alaska are the only states that have not adopted Core.

Where is Virginia ranked for education? Who are you calling clueless? Gotta love the naysayers.

Virginia is ranked 26 with an education policy grade oh C-. We are teetering on average to below average. This is reality. Do what you can to make things better. Parent involvement at home and in the classroom, especially in the elementary years is one way of getting things kicked off right. In any case, don't kid yourself into thinking everything is peachy and perfect. We aren't doing that great.

Problem is, they don't particularly *like* parent involvement. It always ends up giving them more headaches... Show of hands -- how many reading this thread have been trying to find out what their kids were really doing in the classroom, to no avail? Other than a few loose worksheets -- nada. Kids are studying Rome these days, for instance. Nary a word came home about it, and the online manual is not accessible. We can talk about the Romans at home until we're blue in the face -- if we diid not hit that minuscule detail the SOL wants them to know, he'll still have to only rely on the classroom work, sans parent contribution, to get her grade in school. I don't get it. How hard is it to have a textbook, so we can anchor our conversations?

This observation is true and should give all parents GREAT pause. There is something inherently wrong with a public school system that doesn't engage parents. My hinky meter goes off immediately.

If you are in the dark, then do something about it. You are the parent..not someone just sitting by the sidelines. I am very involved with both of my kids. I am not going to wait until a parent teacher conference to find out what Is going on. That is ridiculous. School is not daycare or babysitting where you just dropoff, smile, and come back hours later to pickup. I have yet to meet a teacher who pushes parents away. My experience is that they advocate and want help from the parents whether it be class readers, parties, prep for class projects, school supplies, field trip chaperones, speakers, art projects, room mom, etc. All I can say is that time is precious. Don't just sit there and complain. When all is said and done, what is the glory in having hours and hours of saved up vacation time at work that you could have used to even volunteer just once for an hour or two. If you don't want to use up your vacation time, there are things you can do after hours. Ultimately, it is about commitment, priorities, and making the time.

My experience is that teachers want very little parental involvement. They ask you to sign up at the beg of the year but really just want a class parent and one to stuff folders. Every year I offer a few times through the year and I have had few elem teachers actually take up my offers.

Re the syllabus, they do keep learning the same things - moon phases, ancient Greece, ancient Rome.... No wonder some kids in this country don't even know what the seven continents are. Once saw a portion of some popular morning talk show where they were showcasing talented kids. There was an 8y/o who sang very well, but could not identify which state she was from - she kept giving the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arne Duncan really does have no clue. Common Core was developed by big business and the Gates Foundation with minimal input from educational leaders. I'm hoping that within a few years, with all the protests and opting-out of tests that seem to be spreading, we'll have a more educationally-sound system (or set of systems). Check out Diane Ravitch's site -- she used to be gung-ho for NCLB but is now firmly against it and Common Core.

You need to stop having an opinion on this since it's so grossly uninformed.

http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/publications/policypoints/PolicyPoints_Common_Core_State_Standards.pdf

As for Ravitch, she seems to be against many, many things. What's she for?

I'm always amused when people state that others are uninformed then link to propaganda pieces.

Arne Duncan and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development have far better credentials to opine on this matter than you do, OP. You're totally outclassed.

And that's the issue. You trust government more than the individual when it comes to educating your child.

[Anonymous]

Arne Duncan and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development have far better credentials to opine on this matter than you do, OP. You're totally outclassed.

And that's the issue. You trust government more than the individual when it comes to educating your child.
[Report Post]

Great answer--especially when the poster does not know the qualifications of the people responding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Arne Duncan and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development have far better credentials to opine on this matter than you do, OP. You're totally outclassed.

And that's the issue. You trust government more than the individual when it comes to educating your child.
[Report Post]

Great answer--especially when the poster does not know the qualifications of the people responding.

Exactly my point.

NY is starting to get some Common Core feedback. Here's an article from the NYT. Given the NYT is a very liberal paper, I round this interesting:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/opinion/sunday/the-common-core-whos-minding-the-schools.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Anonymous]

Err I FOUND this interesting. LOL