Write the
spelling words 3-5 times each on Mondays, write them in a sentence on Tuesdays,
complete a spelling worksheet on Wednesdays, take a practice test on Thursdays,
and a final test on Fridays. Take a
practice on-demand writing assessment once a month in every class. Read the same book as everyone else in your
class, answer questions about the book and write an open response
question. Copy notes from the teacher’s
power point, memorize the facts, and respond to multiple choice tests about the
facts. Complete all the even numbered
problems in the pre-algebra textbook for homework.
This is not the
way to educate our children for what they need in our world now or what they
need in the world when they graduate from high school. The common core does not
suggest these approaches be utilized nor does it dictate these approaches
not be utilized.
So let the
naysayers complain about the common core and let the dreamers rejoice for the
common core. But understand this—the common core is not the solution nor is it the problem.
Students need dynamic and engaging learning experiences every day in their
schools. They need to be taught by teachers who are qualified and accomplished
and always looking for ways to fine-tune their practice. Students need to
engage with principals, assistants, counselors, and deans who honor teachers
and give teachers time and support in their quest to reflect upon and improve
their practice.
Education
news media and social network sites are bombarded by statements from people
either loathing or valuing the common core. As a parent of school-aged
children, an educator, a community member, and a citizen of the United States,
I am here to support teachers and administrators in the implementation of
standards which are more rigorous than standards we used previously in our
country. Spending my time and energy to
support better practices makes more sense than spending my time and energy
complaining about standards which in and of themselves will not improve the
educational experience for students, nor will they harm the educational
experience for students. One blogger
opposed to the common core states “The future needs passionate, creative,
collaborative innovators and entrepreneurs, not compliant, uniform test
takers.” I couldn’t agree more, and guess what? The common core does not
mandate that we create compliant, uniform test takers.
Misunderstandings
and misinformation sometimes lead people to believe the common core demands
such practice, but this is simply not the case. Everyone I have met on the
state and national level who has been involved with common core implementation
agrees that American students need to innovate, collaborate, and create. Our teachers need this too, which is why many
of the same common core advocates promoting common core implementation are also
supporting opportunities for teachers to innovate, collaborate, and create the
types of learning experiences our students need. Standards alone will not
improve the learning experiences for students. Instead of blaming one group or another, and
instead of complaining about what will or will not work, we must work together to
provide students the experiences they need.
