Common Core's epic fail: Special Education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Who has said that the standards have nothing to do with the curriculum or testing? That would be absurd. If you want children to meet the standards, then you need a curriculum that is aligned to the standards. If you want to know whether children are meeting the standards, then you need a test that is aligned to the standards.

Well, then, either the writers of the curriculum and tests are really dumb, or there is a serious problem with the standards. Either that, or the standards were rolled out without testing or development.

No, the curricula may have been rolled out without testing or development. If so, ask your state or local school board why this happened.

As for the tests -- this is the first year that the two main tests aligned to the Common Core standards will be given as tests. (Last year, the tests were tested.) So it is far too early to say that there are problems with the tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So your argument: classroom teachers were not involved, therefore it is impossible for the guidelines to be clear and consistent - yes?

Yes, but more important, without teacher input, I question the developmental appropriateness of the standards. It's easy to write standards if you don't deal with kids.

Could you please give an example of a standard that you consider unclear or inconsistent?

Could you please give an example of a standard that you consider developmentally inappropriate?

If lack of teacher involvement = unclear, inconsistent, and developmentally inappropriate standards, and teachers were not involved, then it should be very easy for you to find one or two examples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You were already proven WRONG in your assertion that there were no teachers involved, that it was all done in isolation.

Actually, no. Why don't you post the list of committee members that wrote the standards?

"Teachers have been a critical voice in the development of the standards. The Common Core State Standards drafting process relied on teachers and standards experts from across the country. Teachers were involved in the development process in four ways:
They served on the Work Groups and Feedback Groups for the ELA and math standards.
The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards
Teachers were members of teams states convened to provide regular feedback on drafts of the standards.
Teachers provided input on the Common Core State Standards during the two public comment periods."

[Anonymous]

"Teachers have been a critical voice in the development of the standards. The Common Core State Standards drafting process relied on teachers and standards experts from across the country. Teachers were involved in the development process in four ways:
They served on the Work Groups and Feedback Groups for the ELA and math standards.
The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards
Teachers were members of teams states convened to provide regular feedback on drafts of the standards.
Teachers provided input on the Common Core State Standards during the two public comment periods."

Honey, you already posted that. Where's the list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"Teachers have been a critical voice in the development of the standards. The Common Core State Standards drafting process relied on teachers and standards experts from across the country. Teachers were involved in the development process in four ways:
They served on the Work Groups and Feedback Groups for the ELA and math standards.
The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards
Teachers were members of teams states convened to provide regular feedback on drafts of the standards.
Teachers provided input on the Common Core State Standards during the two public comment periods."

Honey, you already posted that. Where's the list?

Evidently you know the answer. So how about you post "the list"?

[Anonymous]

http://dianeravitch.net/2014/04/28/mercedes-schneider-who-are-the-24-people-who-wrote-the-common-core-standards/

You will find the link here. Please point out the classroom teachers who participated.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/teacherexpertise

Read resolution all the way to the bottom. CC site implies support from NCTE--sounds like they are not so sure........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://dianeravitch.net/2014/04/28/mercedes-schneider-who-are-the-24-people-who-wrote-the-common-core-standards/

You will find the link here. Please point out the classroom teachers who participated.

So wait, the Common Core site is a biased source, but Diane Ravitch is an unbiased source?

[Anonymous]

So wait, the Common Core site is a biased source, but Diane Ravitch is an unbiased source?

Do you think the list of the 'work group" is biased? think the link to the work groups used to be on the CC site--but somehow, they disappeared. Still waiting for that list of classroom teachers.

[Anonymous]

http://www.nga.org/cms/home/news-room/news-releases/page_2009/col2-content/main-content-list/title_common-core-state-standards-development-work-group-and-feedback-group-announced.html

The link is from the National Governors Association.

[Anonymous]

One classroom teacher was on the mathematics feedback group: Vern Williams. His support for the math standards is less than enthusiastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So wait, the Common Core site is a biased source, but Diane Ravitch is an unbiased source?

Do you think the list of the 'work group" is biased? think the link to the work groups used to be on the CC site--but somehow, they disappeared. Still waiting for that list of classroom teachers.

The critique is heavily biased. They threw out several people who had plenty of teaching experience, just because their experience was a few years old, they threw out several who teach college math, they threw out several who didn't necessarily teach math but who had impeccable credentials in testing, psychometrics and standards, they threw out several who had impeccable subject matter expertise in math...

It would be shortsighted to have nothing but math teachers. All in all, it is a well rounded and well balanced list of experts in my opinion.

And as pointed out, MANY others were involved, had input, reviewed, critiqued, vetted, et cetera.

"Teachers have been a critical voice in the development of the standards. The Common Core State Standards drafting process relied on teachers and standards experts from across the country. Teachers were involved in the development process in four ways:
They served on the Work Groups and Feedback Groups for the ELA and math standards.
The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards
Teachers were members of teams states convened to provide regular feedback on drafts of the standards.
Teachers provided input on the Common Core State Standards during the two public comment periods."

So, sorry but it's a lame-ass critique and you get no cigar.

[Anonymous]

Teachers have been a critical voice in the development of the standards. The Common Core State Standards drafting process relied on teachers and standards experts from across the country. Teachers were involved in the development process in four ways:
They served on the Work Groups and Feedback Groups for the ELA and math standards.
The National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards
Teachers were members of teams states convened to provide regular feedback on drafts of the standards.
Teachers provided input on the Common Core State Standards during the two public comment periods."

Please prove this. You can post it one thousand times, but it is not valid. The working groups included NO classroom teachers. The feedback group included ONE. That one is somewhat critical of CC,

[Anonymous]

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards

And, in a link posted earlier, the NCTE is critical of the standards. Go read the link.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), among other organizations were instrumental in bringing together teachers to provide specific, constructive feedback on the standards

And, in a link posted earlier, the NCTE is critical of the standards. Go read the link.

RESOLVED, that in recognition of teacher professionalism and the complexities of teaching and learning, the National Council of Teachers of English support teacher agency in implementing Common Core State Standards or other state standards for student learning;

In summary: NCTE resolves to SUPPORT Common Core

and that NCTE urge policymakers, school leaders, and legislators to acknowledge and respect the expertise of teachers as they make instructional decisions that positively impact student learning; design differentiated instruction that reflects the importance of students’ academic, social, and emotional needs; background knowledge; and cultures; choose materials that respond to students’ interests and that broaden and deepen students’ understanding; provide students with choices that increase motivation, promote engagement, and encourage personal response; engage students in experiences with multiple forms of literacy; and use multiple measures of student learning, including classroom-based assessments, to monitor student progress and guide instruction.

In summary: NCTE resolves to provide any appropriate POSITIVE recommendations to their districts and officials toward implementation

Be it further resolved that NCTE and its members publicly critique and oppose any Common Core State Standards or all state standards that conflict with NCTE policies;
engage in public dialogue and debate regarding implementation policies of Common Core State Standards and other state standards; and
critique and oppose implementation policies when they adversely affect social and educational equity.

In summary: NCTE resolves to appropriately critique any adverse issues as they may arise - basically, NCTE says they won't rubber stamp Common Core.

It's a very responsible position for them to take, but is hardly the smoking gun of scathing condemnation and rebuke that you've tried to make it out to be.