Common Core Learning Standards Common Misconceptions and Common Sense

Standards – Curriculum – Instruction : What’s the Difference? Standards The goal or target for student learning. State and now National guidelines that define what students should know and be able to do – based on collective knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of 21 st Century “global” citizens Think of Standards as destination points on a student’s 13 year (K-12) journey in public education

Curriculum The District defined content and skills that we use to help students reach the desired targetsInstruction The teaching methods we use to deliver the curriculum

Are Learning Standards a New Trend? Fact: ◦ New York began a plan for raising expectations for all students (sound familiar?) by creating learning standards in The three strategies for the plan were 1.Set higher learning standards and revise the assessment system 2.Build the capacity of schools to support student learning 3.Develop an institutional accountability system 1995

The standards were released in 1996 and revised in Along the way, additional state goals and action plans intended to: “Raise the learning standards to exceed global standards to graduate all students ready for citizenship, work, and continued education. Align standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction across P-16, emphasizing transitions.” 2006 P-16 Education: A Plan for Action

Why is the Federal Government getting involved in Education? Fact ◦ The Federal Government has always had a role in public education:  The Constitution  Laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex and disability  NCLB  And, most recently, RTTT Grants – awarding federal funds to states that ensure that our students are ready to compete in a global society

Why do we need to adopt the Common Core State Standards? New York adopted the Common Core State Standards along with 44 other states. As a public institution and recipient of public funds, we are bound to follow NYSED guidelines We have always been bound to state standards and their accompanying assessments

How do Standards impact instruction?

Standards DO NOT tell us What to teach ◦ What we teach is our locally developed curriculum – it helps map our journey towards the target (the standards) How to teach ◦ How we teach is our local study of research-based best practices in teaching and learning – e.g. use of differentiated instruction, brain-based teaching and learning strategies, effective strategies for developing higher order thinking skills, etc. How to respond to the needs of the students we serve ◦ Our curriculum and teaching is dynamic – it is responsive to student needs – not just learning standards – our goal is to move students forward in their learning.

A Helpful “Travel” Analogy Standards determine destinations along a students’ journey in public education. They are set by state and federal guidelines. route curriculum we develop We decide the route we’ll use to reach those destinations. Our route is the standards-based curriculum we develop. transportation. Our transportation is the instructional methodology we use to ensure our students reach the desired locations – targets! We also decide the method of transportation. Our transportation is the instructional methodology we use to ensure our students reach the desired locations – targets!

Destination = Common Core Learning Standards – this is a NYSED decision and one we must abide by as a public institution. These are our Somers Central School District decisions: Route = Curriculum. Which route we use takes into account what students already know and what we want them to learn along the way. Transportation = Instructional Methods. In other words, how will we get students to the desired destination based on their needs?

And Assessment? Why do our students have to take new tests? STANDARDS inform assessment. How will we know we’re heading towards our destination if we don’t see where we currently are on the map? Since our curriculum is a route towards the standards, our own local assessments are critical in measuring student progress toward the goal – achieving or surpassing the standard

What has caused so much distress? Hastily implemented NYSED plans Newly developed curriculum resources that districts have decided to use – e.g. NYSED’s EngageNY Curriculum Modules – since publishers have not yet developed “tried and true” Common Core resources. Neither are the EngageNY Curriculum Modules “tried and true” Connection of teacher evaluations to the results of new and changing assessments - APPR Creating new assessments and figuring out how to administer these – test length, types of questions, computer or paper and pencil?

As a district we are committed to student learning To that end, we will: Develop sound curriculum that is aligned with the CCLS Build a balanced assessment system that gives us reliable and real-time information about where our students are and what their next learning target should be Attend to student needs at all times – enlisting our collective professional knowledge and expertise to ensure that our students are more than ready for college or career upon graduation

So what’s different? Let’s look at the shifts brought about by the Common Core Learning Standards

Shift 1 Balancing Informational & Literary Text Shift 2 Knowledge in the Disciplines Shift 3 Staircase of Complexity Shift 4 Text-based Answers Shift 5 Writing from Sources Shift 6 Academic Vocabulary Shifts in ELA/Literacy Students read non-fiction books along with stories! Students learn about the world around them by reading – books, articles, websites – not only through experiences and teacher telling. Students must learn to read increasingly complex texts as they move up through the grades. “ Teachers are patient, create more time and space and support in the curriculum for close reading.” When talking about texts, teachers ask students questions that reveal true understanding. Students base their answers on real evidence from the text. Students use “sources” (texts, articles) to write informative or persuasive writing pieces – the kind of “real-world” writing that is required beyond school. Academic vocabulary is the vocabulary that helps you to learn – if students don’t build this vocabulary, they can’t even attempt to answer questions or solve problems.

ELA Then – NYSED English Language Arts Core Curriculum K

NYSED English Language Arts Core Curriculum K Standard 1: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information. Standard 2: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression Students will read and listen to oral, written and electronically produced texts and performances, relate texts and performances to their own lives, and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent. As speakers and writers, students will use oral and written language for self-expression and artistic creation.

NYSED English Language Arts Core Curriculum K Standard 3: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers, they will present, in oral and written language and from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues. Standard 4: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction Students will use oral and written language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.

ELA Now – NYS Common Core Learning Standards for ELA and Literacy

NYS Common Core Learning Standards for ELA and Literacy Include standards for ◦ Reading – focus on text complexity and comprehension ◦ Writing – focus on various text types, response to reading and research ◦ Speaking and Listening – focus on flexible communication and collaboration ◦ Language – focus on conventions, effective use and vocabulary

2005 ELA Questions

New ELA Question

Shift 1Focus Shift 2Coherence Shift 3Fluency Shift 4Deep Understanding Shift 5Application Shift 6Dual Intensity Shifts in Mathematics Teachers and students focus on the topics that are most relevant for their grades. They build understanding as they move through and across grades. There is a clear progression of knowledge and skills across grades. It makes sense and topics are linked within and across grades. Students build speed and accuracy with computation. This can only be accomplished by practice in school and at home. Students develop deep conceptual understanding of mathematical ideas. Math is a lot more than following tricks to “get the answer” in an arithmetic problem. Students need to know when to use the skills they develop to solve real world problems. They need to be able to apply mathematical learning to solving problems. Both practice of skills and understanding of concepts are important and so, classrooms must be places where students can both practice and apply.

Math Then Standards for Mathematics, NYSED

Math Now – CCLS for Mathematics

Controversy? Are being prepared for college and/or career and being prepared for life mutually exclusive?

Our Mission Somers Central School District will ignite a passion in each student by engaging students at a personal level to ensure success in a global society. Our Vision The vision for SCSD encompasses three fundamental areas, each an important component of the Whole Child — 21st Century Knowledge & Skills Social-Emotional-Physical Wellness Global Citizenship

Our Focus

Resources History of the Role of the Federal Government in Public Education: Timeline Produced by the LWVUS The Education Study: The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education © 2011 by the League of Women Voters of the United States and-how-did-we-get-here A Parents’ Guide to Common Core Learning. A joint publication by the NYSPTA and NYSUT ta_nysut.pdf Common Core State Standards Overview. The Shifts: What they are and why they are important. A publication of the National Education Association.