LearningExpress - Middle School Reading for the Common Core

Keep reading to learn the facts about the CCSS.
Getting to Know the Common Core State Standards The fear of change drives much of the misinformation out there, so lets take a closer look at the development, rationale, and goals of the Common Core State Standards.
Much of the backlash against the Common Core State Standards is fueled by misinformation regarding who developed the standards, why they were developed, how they are implemented in schools, and what they mean for your school districts teachers and children.
Who? The idea of having a body of common standards that would cross state lines was introduced by the National Governors Associate Center for Best Practices (NGA), along with the Council of Chief State School Officers. Contrary to what some people believe, the standards were not designed by the federal government, but were instead developed by a diverse group of educators and experts from all around the country. Along with teachers, scholars, assessment developers, and parents, the following well-respected professional organizations helped provide feedback on the standards: National Education Association (NEA) American Federation of Teachers (AFT) National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) The CCSS were developed by well-respected professional organizations along with the help of teachers, scholars, assessment developers, and parents.

Why? The United States educational system has not kept pace with the skills gained by students in many other industrialized countries. Although the U.S. used to rank first for high school graduation, it has slipped to 22nd among the top 27 industrialized countries while college retention rates are also plummeting. For students who successfully make it into the halls of higher education, university educators are noticing that the preparedness levels of incoming students are noticeably declining. The Common Core State Standards aim to raise the bar of the material presented to students in K-12. The CCSS are not only aligned across state lines, but they are also internationally benchmarked to help students gain the skills they need to compete on the global market.

The desired outcome of the CCSS is to give students the applied skills they need for college, work, and life. ________________ ________________
What? The Common Core State Standards are a collection of learning goals that outline the skills students should gain at each grade level. The standards give students and parents a clear understanding of the knowledge needed to be college- and career-ready upon graduating high school. The standards cover skills in mathematics and English language arts/literacy from kindergarten through 12th grade. One of the main aspects of the reading standards is a shift away from a body of skills that is a mile wide and an inch deep. Instead of rapidly moving from one concept to the next, the standards present a more focused set of skills that require students to engage in high level reasoning and problem solving.

The standards are: Based on thorough research and evidence Able to be clearly understood by educators, parents, and students alike In alignment with the expectations of colleges and employers Rigorous in content and require students to apply higher-level reasoning and problem-solving skills A dynamic byproduct of the state standards that have been most effective and a revision of shortfalls in previous state standards Preparing students to succeed in the global workforce through alignment with the educational standards used by top-performing countries The CCSS move away from a curriculum that is a mile wide and an inch deep. Instead of rapidly moving from one concept to the next, the focus is now on to the most essential skills that encourage students to engage in high-level thinking. How? The Common Core State Standards are not to be thought of as a narrow curriculum that cannot be deviated from; the standards are a broad collection of skills that do not include each and every skill students should learn. How school districts and teachers present the standards is determined by how they choose to design their curricula. There are no strict lesson plans to teach from and educators are encouraged to tailor their teaching lessons to best meet the individual needs of their student bodies. When? State education standards were popular by the early 1990s.