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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The Common Core standards require testing, I think.  When a test is attempting to evaluate a child’s thinking process, some of the questions are just plain dumb—and, by the way, do not necessarily evaluate what it is trying to evaluate.  Some of these standards should be dropped.  They are teaching tools—not standards.  
[/quote]

Common Core is a set of standards that all students should be able to achieve by the end of each grade.

The Common Core standards do not require testing.  However, yes, there will be tests developed based on Common Core standards.  NCLB requires testing but it doesn't have to be based on COmmon Core standards.

Common Core state standards do not attempt to evaluate a child's thinking process, however, teachers may attempt to evaluate a child's thinking process.

Some teachers for example, insist a student do prewriting before they write an essay, even if the child thinks she doesn't need to write an outline or make a mind map.

Common Core does not state as one of its written lanague obectives that "All Student by the end of 5th grade must be able to write using a mind map" for instance.   Common Core Standards for the end of 5th grade DO however state that byt he end of 5th grade all students should be able to do the following:

[quote]
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

- Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

- Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.

- Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially)

- Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

- Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.[/quote]

Many 5th grade language arts teachers feel that children will be more successful in organizing an essay to demonstrate the above standards if they use some prewriting strategies, such as outlining or mind maps.   For this reason, they may require students to "plan their work" and demonstrate that they are using these prewriting strategies.  However, the specific prewriting strategy chosen by the teacher is not specified by Common Core Standards.

If a child is capable of meeting the above standards without using a particular pre writing strategy, specified by the teacher, I would encourage parents to contact the teacher and explain the situation:   "my child Larla would prefer to use a different prewriting strategy, or no prewriting strategy, in order to meet the Common Core State Standards in writing.  Can you explain why your prewriting strategy would be better for her, or if not, could she be allowed to use a different or no strategy?"

If the teacher refuses, I would think you could discuss this issue with the principal, because the end goal is that the child is writing an organized essay, not that the child can use a Mind Map.  [/quote]

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