An Explanation on Adapting to Common Core Standards

The following explanation on Common Core State Standards was included in the Bethel Public Schools Newsletter by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Smith.

Over the last couple of weeks I have received several requests for some simplified explanations about the curriculum and instructional changes inherent in the adoption of the Common Core State Standards.

Below please find an attempt to explain simply what the shifts entail and some links to resources designed for parents seeking to grow their knowledge about Common Core State Standards.   

Please know that Connecticut adopted these standards in July 2010 and Bethel Public Schools has been working since that time to adjust our curriculum, instruction and assessment to meet the standards.  
 
A Brief History

To date, Common Core Standards have been adopted by 46 states. They were developed in response to the inconsistency of standards across states.

Some states like Massachusetts and Connecticut have had high standards for a very long time. Other states have had relatively low standards.

These inconsistencies appear when analyzing results of the NAEP (National Assessment for Educational Progress), which is administered to a sample of school districts nation-wide every other year.

The second reason Common Core Standards were drafted was in response to a concern that U.S. students were not performing as strongly as students in some other nations and were not as prepared as they should be to respond to the rapidly changing world.

Authors of the Common Core Standards desired to provide U.S. students educational experiences that prepare them to read, write, compute and think at very high levels and enable them to compete with students from any other high performing country.

[See a 3-minute video on the rationale behind CCSS above.]
                                                
What are the differences in English Language Arts?  

The Common Core State Standards are fewer but higher and clearer standards progressively aligned with what children need to know to be ready for college and career.

In English Language Arts and Literacy there are three major changes.

Students will continue to read fiction stories and literature, but will read more non-fiction texts that provide facts and background knowledge. Many of these texts will cross disciplines and focus more on making connections to science and social studies.

Students will read progressively more challenging texts and be asked more questions that will require them to refer back to what they have read and students will experience an increased emphasis on building a strong vocabulary so that they can read and understand challenging material.

What are the differences in Mathematics?  

There are also three major changes in mathematics.

Teachers will concentrate on teaching fewer and more focused sets of major math concepts and skills.

Instruction will focus on mastering skills and concepts in a more organized and coherent manner on a grade level as well as across grade levels.

Teachers will use richer and more challenging math content and engage students in solving more authentic, real-world problems in order to inspire greater interest in mathematics and make deeper connections to the world in which we live.

Links to Resources for More Information about the CCSS
 
Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core
 
A 14 Minute Video demonstrating an example of classroom shifts

I hope you find the information and resources informative. Please continue to send your questions and reach out to district staff as you grow in your own understanding of what the shift to Common Core Standards means for our students.