Common Core's epic fail: Special Education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Which is an issue with teacher evaluation systems, not with the Common Core standards.

Yes, it is. Go count the number of standards for each grade level. Then, get back. Testing is tied to CC. Lots of standards to test.

I don't understand. If there were fewer Common Core standards, you wouldn't have any problems tying teacher evaluations to test scores, but since there are the number of Common Core standards that there are, you think that teacher evaluations should not be tied to test scores?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand. If there were fewer Common Core standards, you wouldn't have any problems tying teacher evaluations to test scores, but since there are the number of Common Core standards that there are, you think that teacher evaluations should not be tied to test scores?

You really don't get it do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't understand. If there were fewer Common Core standards, you wouldn't have any problems tying teacher evaluations to test scores, but since there are the number of Common Core standards that there are, you think that teacher evaluations should not be tied to test scores?

You really don't get it do you?

Evidently not. Please explain the connection between the number of Common Core standards and tying teacher evaluations to test scores.

[Anonymous]

You really don't understand that the more standards you have, the more testing you have to do? You can't understand that?

[Anonymous]

And, the more testing you have to do, the less time you have to teach. That is a huge problem.

[Anonymous]

Evidently not. Please explain the connection between the number of Common Core standards and tying teacher evaluations to test scores.

I suspect that you have never been a full time classroom teacher. Maybe a sub or a PTA President, or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You really don't understand that the more standards you have, the more testing you have to do? You can't understand that?

Well, that's an empirical question, isn't it? And we can answer it empirically. For example, Maryland had standards before they adopted the Common Core standards. Did they used to have fewer standards than they do now? And, if so, did the MSA tests take less time than the PARCC tests?

Of course, for K-2, there isn't any NCLB testing, so there could be a gazillion standards and the amount of testing would still be zero.

[Anonymous]

Of course, for K-2, there isn't any NCLB testing, so there could be a gazillion standards and the amount of testing would still be zero.

Not if evaluations are tied to testing. Many states are testing at every level. Again, I really don't think you understand just how much this puts on a teacher's plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Of course, for K-2, there isn't any NCLB testing, so there could be a gazillion standards and the amount of testing would still be zero.

Not if evaluations are tied to testing. Many states are testing at every level. Again, I really don't think you understand just how much this puts on a teacher's plate.

Which states are tying evaluations for teachers to test results for K-2 related to the Common Core standards?

I certainly understand that there is a limit to the amount of testing that is useful, and I'm perfectly willing to believe that in many cases, we have exceeded that limit. What I do not understand is the connection between the number of standards and the amount of testing. 16 standards, therefore 16 test questions; 32 standards, therefore 32 test questions? If so, that's bad test design.

[Anonymous]

I sent this Kindergarten standard to an experienced high school journalism teacher. I wanted her opinion on this standard.

"CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.8
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text."

This was her response. I did neglect to tell her that this standard was about an informational text.

"Good grief...for this "requirement" they would have to understand the concept of an author having a theme, and plot points to support it. I think that is WAY over the heads of K-kids."

Granted, she is not an early childhood expert. Just a very experienced journalism/English teacher who also taught fifth for a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent this Kindergarten standard to an experienced high school journalism teacher. I wanted her opinion on this standard.

"CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.8
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text."

This was her response. I did neglect to tell her that this standard was about an informational text.

"Good grief...for this "requirement" they would have to understand the concept of an author having a theme, and plot points to support it. I think that is WAY over the heads of K-kids."

Granted, she is not an early childhood expert. Just a very experienced journalism/English teacher who also taught fifth for a while.

OK, so obviously she understood the standard. Yay.

But yes, she's not an early childhood expert, she has never taught kindergarten, and she seems to have missed the "with prompting and support" part.

[Anonymous]

OK, so obviously she understood the standard. Yay.

But yes, she's not an early childhood expert, she has never taught kindergarten, and she seems to have missed the "with prompting and support" part.

You know, she may not be an expert, but I suspect you are not either. Have you ever taught primary grades?

[Anonymous]

Have you ever taught primary grades?

And, I mean full time for a full year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OK, so obviously she understood the standard. Yay.

But yes, she's not an early childhood expert, she has never taught kindergarten, and she seems to have missed the "with prompting and support" part.

You know, she may not be an expert, but I suspect you are not either. Have you ever taught primary grades?

Yes, I have taught kindergarten. But no, I'm not an expert. On the other hand, I'm not the one saying that the Common Core standards are developmentally inappropriate.

In any case, if only experts are allowed to comment on the Common Core standards, then a whole lot of people are going to have to start shutting up, and my guess is that most of them will be people who oppose the Common Core standards.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have taught kindergarten

Full time? All year in a public school? As a certified teacher?