Common Core question for proponents

[Anonymous]

First, let me put out there that I've generally been in favor of the common core standards, and I understand the difference between standards and curricula. I also understand the difference between a policy that may be a good idea and poor implementation. However, I am wondering if there is a place where people who are in favor of CC believe that it is being implemented properly. It seems to me that if you have a good idea, but it simply cannot be implemented properly (whether because of funding, or educational politics or whatever reason), then your good idea wasn't as great as it seemed and needs to be reworked. I'd like to research some places where the CC proponent can say: See? This is where it's working and this place can be a model for the others who are struggling with implementation.

[Anonymous]

Several states and districts which were farther along in standards implementation seem to be doing well, it seems like the ones that drug their feet and didn't really get their act together are the ones having the most problems. I do think one of the biggest problem areas is in that schools are still making a lot of lousy choices where it comes to selections of textbooks and curricula - they should really be doing a lot more critical evaluation of those materials.

[Anonymous]

I don't have personal experiences with MA schools, but I believe they have implemented CC back in 2012/2013, and their schools are still rated pretty high. Maybe look into how MA implemented it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have personal experiences with MA schools, but I believe they have implemented CC back in 2012/2013, and their schools are still rated pretty high. Maybe look into how MA implemented it.

This is true and teachers in those schools are being grabbed up to help implement the CC in schools in other states. My sister is one of them and, although she is well supported by her new principal, she is having a very hard time convincing the other teachers (that teach the same grade) to throw out their 20 year old lesson plans and start over, without text books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have personal experiences with MA schools, but I believe they have implemented CC back in 2012/2013, and their schools are still rated pretty high. Maybe look into how MA implemented it.

This is true and teachers in those schools are being grabbed up to help implement the CC in schools in other states. My sister is one of them and, although she is well supported by her new principal, she is having a very hard time convincing the other teachers (that teach the same grade) to throw out their 20 year old lesson plans and start over, without text books.

The same thing happened with many textbook companies, they didn't want to revise their decades-old content...

It really takes a thorough look at what's new, and discarding/genuinely updating what's old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have personal experiences with MA schools, but I believe they have implemented CC back in 2012/2013, and their schools are still rated pretty high. Maybe look into how MA implemented it.

This is true and teachers in those schools are being grabbed up to help implement the CC in schools in other states. My sister is one of them and, although she is well supported by her new principal, she is having a very hard time convincing the other teachers (that teach the same grade) to throw out their 20 year old lesson plans and start over, without text books.

I think this is why some parents and teachers hate CC. They have such a hard time of letting go of "this is how it used to be done, and we all turned out fine" perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have personal experiences with MA schools, but I believe they have implemented CC back in 2012/2013, and their schools are still rated pretty high. Maybe look into how MA implemented it.

This is true and teachers in those schools are being grabbed up to help implement the CC in schools in other states. My sister is one of them and, although she is well supported by her new principal, she is having a very hard time convincing the other teachers (that teach the same grade) to throw out their 20 year old lesson plans and start over, without text books.

I think this is why some parents and teachers hate CC. They have such a hard time of letting go of "this is how it used to be done, and we all turned out fine" perspective.

That's just it - when 3rd and 4th graders still haven't even been introduced to fractions "because this is how we've always done it" it's *NOT* just fine.

As for the parents - I don't think many of the parents of today realize or understand the problems and just assume everything was fine as is.

[Anonymous]

As for the parents - I don't think many of the parents of today realize or understand the problems and just assume everything was fine as is.

Probably right. However, there really isn't much to support that Common Core will be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As for the parents - I don't think many of the parents of today realize or understand the problems and just assume everything was fine as is.

Probably right. However, there really isn't much to support that Common Core will be better.

Actually I think that the K-6 math standards are much better than the math education I got in elementary school -- though of course it's possible to write a lousy curriculum no matter how good the standards are, if you try hard enough.

Also the elementary-school writing standards are much better than the previous Maryland standards.

[Anonymous]

Actually I think that the K-6 math standards are much better than the math education I got in elementary school -- though of course it's possible to write a lousy curriculum no matter how good the standards are, if you try hard enough.

Also the elementary-school writing standards are much better than the previous Maryland standards.

Good. Do others share your view? Any scores or supporting information?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As for the parents - I don't think many of the parents of today realize or understand the problems and just assume everything was fine as is.

Probably right. However, there really isn't much to support that Common Core will be better.

Actually I think that the K-6 math standards are much better than the math education I got in elementary school -- though of course it's possible to write a lousy curriculum no matter how good the standards are, if you try hard enough.

Also the elementary-school writing standards are much better than the previous Maryland standards.

This. My son is in private school, and the Common Core standards for math in public much more closely resemble what he's expected to do. I'm very impressed with what the standards require and how they help kids develop better numbers sense. However, I read years ago that these types of changes require a lot of ongoing support and training for teachers, and I think it's the success, or lack thereof. in supporting teachers that leads to whether the kids truly learn it. If teachers aren't sufficiently trained in the curriculum that meets CC, and if they aren't sufficiently supported when they have questions or face challenges, it's not going to work well, or at best unevenly.

[Anonymous]

I would also add that most, if not all the New England states have adopted CC, and a lot of those states have a reputation for good schools.

I think some website came out with a list of top 10 ranking of states with best schools, and most if not all had adopted CC. I'm sure there are people in those states that complain about their schools and CC, but in general, those states seem to be doing well enough with CC, better than those states that haven't adopted CC. It may or may not be due to CC, but it shows that adopting CC hasn't hurt them in the rankings or reputation.

[Anonymous]

I would also add that most, if not all the New England states have adopted CC, and a lot of those states have a reputation for good schools.

I think some website came out with a list of top 10 ranking of states with best schools, and most if not all had adopted CC. I'm sure there are people in those states that complain about their schools and CC, but in general, those states seem to be doing well enough with CC, better than those states that haven't adopted CC. It may or may not be due to CC, but it shows that adopting CC hasn't hurt them in the rankings or reputation.

How did they determine the standards? How did they decide to change the math? Who decided?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

How did they determine the standards? How did they decide to change the math? Who decided?

Start here: http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/development-process/

[Anonymous]

Start here: http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/development-process/

Just skimmed through the 2008 rationale. They compared us to other countries. Don't they know that all of those countries don't send their kids to high school?