Understanding the Common Core State Standards: A Guide for Parents

1. An Introduction to the Common Core State Standards What they mean for you and your children EngageNY.org

2. What are the Common Core Standards? http://vimeo.com/51933492

3. “These Standards are not intended to be new names for old ways of doing business. They are a call to take the next step… It is time to recognize that standards are not just promises to our children, but promises we intend to keep.” -- The Common Core State Standards in Math, page 5 EngageNY.org

4. Tonight’s Objectives • Participants will understand what college readiness is and why it matters. • Participants will be introduced to the new standards and how to help their children at home. • Participants will be made aware of NYS Assessment changes. • Participants will understand what SHCS administrators and teachers have done and are doing to make the curriculum/assessment adjustments.

5. Activity: What is college readiness? • Think about/discuss these questions… • What does college-readiness look like? • When is a student is ready for college? • What do children need to learn to be ready for college? • How can parents help?

6. So? What does it mean? EngageNY.org

7. College and Career Readiness …but what does that mean? The new standards will get students ready for success in college and the workforce. EngageNY.org

8. College Readiness • “College” doesn’t just mean a four-year degree. It can mean any program that leads to a degree or certificate. • Being “ready” means that students graduate from high schools with key skills in English and mathematics. College readiness means that graduates have the skills they need to do well in college. EngageNY.org

9. Career Readiness • “Career” doesn’t just mean a job. It means a profession that lets graduates succeed at a job they enjoy and earn a competitive wage. Career readiness means that high school graduates are qualified for and able to do well in long-term careers. EngageNY.org

10. Why does this matter? Because it’s what our students need For every 100 ninth graders… 65 graduate from high school 37 enter college 24 are still enrolled in sophomore year 12 graduate with a degree in six years

11. … and only 6 get a good job after graduation EngageNY.org

12. The new standards will… • Preparestudents to succeed in college and the workforce • Ensure that every child—regardless of race, ethnicity or zip code—is held to the same high standards and learns the same material • Provideeducators with a clear, focused roadmap for what to teach and when EngageNY.org

13. What are the Common Core Standards? • Asingle set of clear standards for English language arts and mathematics • A tool to help students and parents set clear and realistic goals for success • A first step in providing young people with the high-quality education that will prepare them for success in college and careers EngageNY.org

14. States that adopted the Common Core

15. What’s different in the new standards? • English Language Arts/Literacy: • Focus on non-fiction, careful reading • Discuss reading and write using evidence • Increase academic vocabulary • Mathematics • Learn more about fewer concepts • Focus on skill building, speed and accuracy • Use of real world examples to better understand concepts EngageNY.org

16. A Closer Look: ELA/Literacy Shifts • Read as much non-fiction as fiction • Learn about the world by reading • Read more challenging material closely • Discuss reading using evidence • Write non-fiction using evidence • Increase academic vocabulary EngageNY.org

17. A Closer Look: Mathematics Shifts • Focus: learn more about less • Build skills across grades • Develop speed and accuracy • Really know it, Really do it • Use it in the real world • Think fast AND solve problems EngageNY.org

18. So, what can parents really do to help? EngageNY.org

19. Parent support can help students succeed • By staying involved, informed and engaged, parents can help students be successful • There are many ways to help: • Read with your children • Reviewand discuss their homework • Communicate with their teachers • Attendpublic meetings to learn more • Learnabout the standards and how they affect your child’s education and school • Lookthrough your child’s backpack each afternoon EngageNY.org

20. Backpacks: What you should see Books that are both fiction and non-fiction Real-world examples that makes what they’re learning in English and math make more sense Writing assignments that require students to use evidence instead of opinion Math homework that asks students to write out how they got their answer Math homework that ask students to use different methods to solve the same problem

21. Some questions to ask your child How did you use evidence in school today? Where did you get it? Did you talk about anything you read in class today? Did you use evidence when you talked about what you read? How often did you use math today? How did you use it? Did you learn any new words in class today? What do they mean? How do you spell them?

22. Activity: Talking to your kids about school What strategies do you use to get your kids talking about their days after school? What questions do you ask? Do you discuss what they tell you? How do you get them excited to talk? What do you do when they refuse to talk? EngageNY.org

23. What works best? EngageNY.org

24. Resources for parents EngageNY.org

25. EngageNY EngageNY.org

26. Additional resources • www.achievethecore.org • www.pta.org/4446.htm • http://www.cgcs.org/Domain/36 • http://parcconline.org/parcc-content-frameworks

27. New York State Common Core Assessments/PARCC • http://vimeo.com/63778446 • Increases in rigor – The Common Core State Standards are back-mapped, grade-by-grade, from college and career readiness. Many of the questions on the Common Core assessments are more advanced and complex than those found on prior assessments that measure prior grade-level standards. • Focus on Text – To answer ELA questions correctly, students will need to read and analyze each passage completely and closely, and be prepared to carefully consider responses to multiple-choice questions. For constructed response items, students will need to answer questions with evidence gathered from rigorous literature and informational texts. Some texts will express an author’s point of view, with which not all readers will agree. • Depth of Math – Students will be expected to understand math conceptually, use prerequisite skills with grade-level math facts, and solve math problems rooted in the real-world, deciding for themselves which formulas and tools (such as protractors or rulers) to use. Instructional Shifts Reflected in the Assessments EngageNY.org

28. Is SHCS on target? YES! • Administrators and teachers have attended numerous trainings over the last few years. • Mrs. Esposito, Mrs. Timerman, and I all attended training in Albany on the Common Core. • We are utilizing/experimenting with the recommended curriculum released by the State Education Department (modules). Take a look! • Teachers have adjusted curriculum maps and are using more/different resources to enhance teaching/learning. • We have monthly Common Core Meetings. • Administration is looking for Common Core during classroom observations • Teachers and students have used the sample questions during instruction. • Our Technology Plan is in line with potential new testing requirements. EngageNY.org

29. Let’s look at some sample questions! EngageNY.org

30. Thank you for attending! EngageNY.org What strategies did we discuss today that you think you might use with your children? What other information would be helpful to you? What other questions do you have?