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Common Core State Standards. What Parents Need to Know Oswego CUSD 308. ~Music Credit: Vince Guaraldi Trio “Linus & Lucy”, 1964. Traits of the common core. Engagement. Achievement . Brain Sweat. Growth. Rich Discussions . Independent. Learner. Challenge. Reach. Increased Rigor.
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Common Core State Standards What Parents Need to Know Oswego CUSD 308 ~Music Credit: Vince Guaraldi Trio “Linus & Lucy”, 1964
Independent Learner
What is Common Core? • National Gov. Assoc. and Council of Chief State School Officers (state-led and driven initiative) • An effort designed to improve educational outcomes for all students • A set of consistent, voluntary, rigorous, internationally-benchmarked standards in Math, English Language Arts, and Science • Emphasis that Standards “are not intended to be new names for old ways of doing business” • 46 States have adopted these Standards
Why Common Core Standards? • Clear, consistent standards equip parents/educators to understand and support what children should learn and know • Common Core Standards are aligned to International Standards from the highest achieving countries (Students globally competitive) • These standards are designed to prepare students for success in whatever they choose to do after graduation (College and Career Readiness / Citizenship) • These standards will prepare our students for career success in the rapidly changing world of work (21st Century skills for 21st Century jobs!) • Common Core Standards ensure that all students regardless of income or geography, have the opportunity to engage in equally challenging work
Local/National Standards are No Longer the Yardstick… • In a global economy we compare our schools, our districts and our country to the best performers in the world. • Can our students apply knowledge the way that other students from high performing countries (Finland, etc) can?
Application of knowledge a key! • Our students learn concepts….but in what way? • The concern was --- are we teaching students to extrapolate from what they have learned and apply their knowledge in varied situations? • 242 students need to be transported to the park for a field trip. How many busses are needed if the busses hold 65 students each? • A) 3.72 • B) 4 • C) 2
Implications for Students“Brain Sweat” • Rigorous content and application of knowledge through high order skills (Perseverance, Independence) • Clear, understandable, and consistent standards • Alignment with college and work expectations for all students • Increased rigor will impact student performance and grades (report cards, MAP and ISAT) – i.e. you may see an initial dip!!
Math Common Core Standards • Eight Math Practices which will reflect what educators will seek to develop in their students • Students will be required to demonstrate increased levels of: Focus Coherence (Conceptual Connections) Fluency Deep Understanding Real Life Applications Dual Intensity
English Language Arts • Balance of informational and literary text (more nonfiction and digital literacy) • Integrated approach to instruction • Students will need to independently read and comprehend more complex texts earlier than current expectations demand (Staircase of Complexity) • From Kindergarten, students will be expected to explain their thinking in writing and speaking based on evidence (text-based support) • Writing will be integrated in all content areas at all grades! • Academic Vocabulary (ex. “discourse,” “theory,” “principled”) in addition to content specific vocabulary (“mitosis”)
District 308 Plan Our Common Core Executive Committee has established a Five-Year Plan for Common Core Implementation. This is an abbreviated version of the plan: Year 1: Awareness (11-12) Focus on Practices and Anchor Standards Year 2: Begin Lesson Design (authentic (12-13) performance tasks) Year 3: Continue Lesson Design (13-14) Begin Unit Design Year 4: Continue Unit Design (14-15) Assessments aligned with CCSS Year 5: Full Immersion in CC– all grade (15-16) levels
“SUSTAINED LEARNING” • To “Sustain” (according to Webster’s II) • …to keep up; maintain • …to supply with nourishment • …to support the spirits, courage or resolution of • …to withstand or endure • …to uphold as valid, true or legal • …to corroborate; confirm
Help Your Child at Home:SUSTAINED LEARNING • Learning does not end in the classroom-talk to your child about school • Build a partnership with your child’s teacher • Create a dedicated place for your child to study • Encourage real-world relevance of what is learned at school • Model love of reading, research and math and build a “Culture of Inquiry” • Allow your child to persevere!
“Learning should not be for 40 minutes or 40 days, rather for 40 years.”--Grant Wiggins