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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/02/6-reasons-to-reject-common-core-k-3-standards-and-6-axioms-to-guide-policy/

From " Six Reasons to Reject Common Core"

"An example of a developmentally inappropriate Common Core standard for kindergarten is one that requires children to “read emergent reader texts with purpose and understanding.”  Many young children are not developmentally ready to read in kindergarten and there is no research to support teaching reading in kindergarten. [b]There is no research showing long-term advantages to reading at 5 compared to reading at 6 or 7.6[/b]"[/quote]

Many young children are not developmentally ready to "read" by the end of kindergarten which is why the standards say only that they will be able to read "Emergent Reader" texts.   Emergent Reader texts are intended for preK and K level readers.   They make heavy use of pattern sentences, pictures and other cues to help kids begin to read.   Think texts like:

This is a farm (picture of a farm)
This is a pig (picture of a pig)
This is a chicken (picture of a chicken)
etc.

Explanation here of the characteristics of "Emergent Reader" text
http://campus.kellerisd.net/schools/bpe-118/Parent%20Resources/Stages%20of%20Reading%20Development.pdf

[quote]"The CCSS do not comply with the internationally and nationally recognized protocol for writing professional standards.  They were written without due process, transparency, or participation by knowledgeable parties.  Two committees made up of 135 people wrote the standards – and [b]not one of them was a K-3 classroom teacher or early childhood education professiona[/b]l.  When the CCSS were first released, more than 500 early childhood professionals signed a Joint Statement opposing the standards on the grounds that they would lead to long hours of direct instruction; more standardized testing; and would crowd out highly important active, play-based learning.  "
[/quote]

Given the criticism teachers have been receiving here for being lazy and handing out error riddled worksheets, maybe its a good thing we weren't involved in the writing of the standards?

I dunno.   I teach early elementary reading and writing, and I think the standards are fine for early elementary kids.   The K foundational skills standards are fantastic.   Emphasis on non nonsense phonics that I feel are appropriate for most K students.   Basic skills.   If the biggest objection is the requirement for K students to read Emergent Reader books by the end of the year (again, basically patern sentences).... I think that's not too bad.

K Foundational Skills
[quote]
Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.
Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.
Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
Recognize and produce rhyming words.
Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.
Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words.
Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three-phoneme (consonant-vowel-consonant, or CVC) words.1 (This does not include CVCs ending with /l/, /r/, or /x/.)
Add or substitute individual sounds (phonemes) in simple, one-syllable words to make new words.
Phonics and Word Recognition:
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant.
Associate the long and short sounds with the common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.
Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does).
Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.
Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.[/quote]

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