Common Core is Good for Michigan

-
The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) created a safeguard for state control and a move away from federal control over education. Education leaders in Common Core states are now refocusing their attention on helping teachers and students succeed using the standards. The Harvard Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) recently released a study on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) implementation. The study is meant to help leaders effectively implement CCSS using evidence about what is working and what is not working.
Despite the additional work that comes with implementing new standards, teachers and principals have largely embraced the Common Core. According to the study, 73 percent of teachers reported that they have embraced the new standards “quite a bit” or “fully.” More than two-thirds of principals believe that the new standards will lead to improved student learning.
Michigan needs consistent standards that will provide appropriate benchmarks for all students. The CCSS is focused on ensuring that students graduate career and college ready.
The critical thinking skills students develop in our classrooms are essential for a successful career. In language arts, students investigate the different techniques used in persuasive writing because of CCSS. They use critical thinking skills such as interpretation and evaluation to analyze reading material.
Interpretation is the ability for students to understand the information. In addition to understanding, students must be able to communicate the information effectively to others. Evaluation is the ability to measure the validity, credibility, and reliability of the information provided. Students learn how to evaluate a website by searching for the author’s and organization’s credentials. The Common Core State Standards support both of these important skills.
Students learn how to search for information by identifying relevant sources and gathering current data. The CCSS pushes students to use logical reasoning to draw conclusions supported by evidence more frequently.
Michigan needs to continue providing professional development and support for instruction. Our school district has aligned CCSS with our curriculum. We have spent a significant amount of resources in developing and implementing these measures.
In advanced math, students learn to use multiple problem-solving strategies that involve critical thinking. This shows that there is more than one way to do math in real life. After students solve a problem, they write sentences explaining what happened and the strategy they decided to use. The CCSS supports them in this skill.
The steps to problem-solving include understanding the problem, developing a plan, and implementing a solution. First, students read the problem for understanding, paraphrase in their own words, and visualize by drawing a picture.
Next, students develop a plan by estimating quantities and sharing strategies with partners. Lastly, students implement a solution by experimenting with different strategies and showing all of their solutions. Students will take time to reflect on the multiple strategies used to solve one problem because of CCSS.
Our ability to innovate depends on our critical thinking and communication skills. We are in a transition from a focus on knowledge itself to a focus on putting that knowledge to use. The recent adoption of the CCSS in Michigan is commendable; implementing them in our schools will only benefit us as a society.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Proud Michigan Educator

-
Image
Why do I teach, you ask?  I teach, because it is a highly rewarding and fulfilling profession. Teachers have one of the most important, meaningful, and purpose-driven jobs of anyone today. We share valuable information and important skills to encourage a love of learning that will serve students the rest of their lives. I do this work because I am committed to having a positive impact on the future of each student that I serve. I wake up each morning and serve students at Iroquois Middle School. Being a role model and teaching students the skills and knowledge they need beyond the classroom is extremely inspiring and rewarding. No two days in teaching are ever the same.  For me, now a teacher myself, my motivation has always come from students in my classroom. I know that it is essential to make lesson plans interesting in order to get all students motivated about learning. I emphasize the collaborative and cooperative nature of scientific work. I do my best to creatively facilit
Read more

Dispatch: New Zealand

-
Image
Through an Oaklan d University study abroad program, I tau ght 4th and 5th grade at Sunnyvale Primary School in New Zealand. The se are reflections and memories from my experiences. My experience was professionally and personally rewarding: I learned new teaching strategies, developed my listening skills and adapted my lifestyle to live and work in a new environment. As a result, I have become a more confident, well-rounded and self-reflective educator.  I was challenged to teach all subjects, including swimming, fitness, art, sport and music. I had to listen carefully to different accents. Many words we use in the United States have different meanings or do not exist in New Zealand’s vocabulary. For example, if I asked a student to place a “period” at the end of a sentence, they had no idea what I was talking about. In New Zealand, a period is called a “full stop.” If I asked a student to pull out an eraser, they would call it a “rubber.” Soccer is a word unique to Ne
Read more

Strategies for Blending and Flipping the Classroom

-
Image
Technology can help teachers “Ignite Learning” in the classroom by promoting literacy development and critical thinking. The ability to communicate and create is what sparks learning. “Kids these days” are just wired to operate in a digital environment, which enables them to take control of their education. This technology captivates students and makes them desire to learn more about the content.  Elite and innovative educators are “Blending and Flipping the Classroom” in order to meet the diverse needs of students. The numerous FREE online resources available can create a classroom that extends beyond normal school hours and walls.   This provides students with more flexible opportunities for peer interaction, learning the content, and developing technology skills. “Blending and Flipping the Classroom” and in-person environments are really the best of both worlds because students receive the benefit of face-to-face interaction with more opportunities to learn outside of the
Read more