Top 8 Things Parents Need to Know about Common Core State Standards

If you are a parent of a child in PK - 12th grade you have probably heard the term, "Common Core State Standards" once, if not multiple times.  Yet, ultimately, as a parent you need to know what those words mean for your child, their education, their future.  At Sonora (and in Springdale) our teachers have been implementing Common Core Standards over the last 2 years.  Throughout this process there have been changes in how we approach instructional practices, what your child is expected to do, and what we expect of children.  In order for us to work together to best meet the needs of your children, our teachers came up with 8 things you (the parent) need to know. 

1.  Educate yourself on the Common Core State Standards.
Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the Common Core State Standards.  The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. Our children will be growing up and working in a world community where they have to compete globally.  Therefore, the CCSS provide coherent standards to fully prepareour children for college or career to compete successfully in the global economy.  Many of the jobs our children will be expected to do have not even been invented yet!
Parent tip:
Go to the Common Core webiste and review the English Language Arts and Mathematics Standards.  Also, work with your child's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to make sure that all parents in your school and community are knowledgeable about the changes and expectations.  Working together we can be advocates for all the children in our community.


2.  It's OK, even good, for students to struggle
As CCSS are implemented, students will be expected to read more difficult text sooner, and discuss- not retell - what they read at a more complex level. Instead of focusing on individual text elements (characters, plot, and setting) students will be reading or listening to various stories, comparing stories using their understanding of text elements.


photo courtesy of Jennifer Jones @ http://helloliteracy.blogspot.com/

Parent tip: While reading with your child each night, ask  why and how questions that encourage your child to analyze and synthesize texts. For example, read three different versions of the Cinderella and ask your child to compare and contrast them as you read. Also, as you build your child’s library, see use the list of  text exemplars  from the Appendix B of Common Core for book ideas.

3. We are asking our students to do more . . . own their learning
As parents we want to make sure that we protect and support our children.  Yet, when it comes to their academics, we need to make sure that work completed is your child's work.  That is the only way the teacher can know with certainty the skills your child struggles with in each content area.  Educators are striving to have students take pride and ownership of their learning. 
Parent tip:
When your child asks for help with homework, ask them to take some time and try again.  Many times children immediately shut down when work gets hard.  We need to teach them how to persevere.  If you continue to see your child struggling with the same subject (i.e. math, reading) be sure to contact the teacher. 

4.  Requiring students to read for homework is serious business.
When you are learning a skill, what do you do to get better?  You practice, right?  Well, that is why our students need to read, read, read!  During the school day we try to provide students time to read independently, but they need more time to read.  Therefore, having your student read each night is the best homework time you can provide, especially in the elementary years.  Look at the following chart shared with me by Mrs. Spurlock, 4th grade.  It really is the key to academic success, that impacts every other academic area:  math, science, social studies, etc. 

Parent tip: 
Ask you child's teacher for book suggestions that your child can read independently.  Then, work with your child's school librarian to make sure your child is selecting "just right books" to bring home.  Make sure they have books to read on the weekend and each night.  If you have books suggestions and your child's reading level, you can also work with the public library or local book store to ensure your child always has easy access to books he/she can read independently.  This includes summer reading!  Another key factor to increase your child's reading is interest level.  Work closely with your child's teacher.  What topic motivates and excites your child?  Make sure their teacher knows this information so they can guide them to books of high interest.   Finally, support your child's literacy growth by giving books as gifts for holidays and birthdays.

5.  It's not the math from your school career.
The math you will see your children doing is completely different from what you experienced in school.  Your children will be asked to solve problems that they might encounter in the real-world.  Many of these problems are multi-step problems.  The focus is not on following a formula, but in how the child encounters, understands, and then solves the problem.  By allowing children to solve problems in this manner, we have seen children as early as K use multiplication.  Students are not just solving to get a number or answer; instead we expect children to justify their answer.  That allows teachers to really see if a child understands the problem. 



photo courtesy of Jennifer Jones @ http://helloliteracy.blogspot.com/

Parent tip:
Attend our math family nights where you will get to work through problems with your child in a setting that the teacher, or your child, can explain the process.  Also, ask your child to explain or show how they’re solving problems. Then, have them think of multiple ways to solve a math problem.  You will be amazed by their thinking, as well as their growth over time.  Never hesitate to contact your child's teacher if you have questions.

6.  Focus on Information Text
To prepare students for college-level work and future careers, there will be more of a focus on informational and expository text.  Informational text includes: biographies; autobiographies; books about history, social studies, science, and the arts;  and how-to and procedural books; and literary nonfiction. Students will be reading informational text, including original documents, from the Declaration of Independence to presidential speeches.  The English Language Arts [ELA] Common Core State Standards recommend more reading of informational text with a ratio of literary to informational as follows:

Parent tip: Find a topic that your child is very interested in learning about.  Then, encourage your child to research that topic by using informational texts and original documents. 


7.  Thinking deeper to analyze, evaluate, and create
A main goal of educators today is to teach students the skills they need to be critical thinkers. Instead of simply memorizing facts and ideas, children need to engage in higher levels of thinking to reach their fullest potential.  Your child will experience activities that causes them to think at deeper levels.  At Sonora we have the following signs (see below) posted in every classroom.  This is a reminder to the teachers, as well as the students of ensuring we are thinking critically.  Instead of just expecting your child to just remember, we want them to experience lessons that will cause they to think deeper in order to analys, evaluate, and create - skills that 21st century learners must experience. 



Charts from Jennifer Jones @ http://helloliteracy.blogspot.com/
These will be in each classroom this fall at Sonora Elementary.
 

Parent tip:  Ask your child open-ended questions that don’t have one “right” answer.  This will give your child confidence to respond in creative ways without being afraid of being “wrong.” After reading a book together, ask your child questions such as: “If you were that character, how would you have persuaded others to come along?” rather than something like “What was the main character’s name in the book?”  After having these conversations, you can also ask your child to respond to these questions in writing. 

8.  Focus on Practical Skills
The CCSS were designed to prepare students for college or career.  Therefore, students will be working on taking the role of scientists, historians, researchers, and more.
Parent tip: While doing homework, ask your child how someone might use what he’s working on in “real life.” Help connect thinking in school to thinking at work by explaining how you solve problems, or use math every day.

As the common core state standards start to be implemented in schools, there will be some changes. The most important aspect, as always, is to stay in contact with your child’s teacher to find out how you can support your child.  You are your child's first teacher.  It really is a partnership between home and school to provide your child the most beneficial learning experience.

Thank you for partnering with us to impact your child's future!