Reading Summary Chapters 1 and 2

Genesis of Standards Standards are: Standards are: Expectations of student learning. Since early time, elders expected and taught young people skill necessary to carry on society. Since early time, elders expected and taught young people skill necessary to carry on society. Today we have the added emphasis of documenting student learning. Today we have the added emphasis of documenting student learning.

Past Expectations - General Women Women Cooking Cooking Sewing Sewing Cleaning Cleaning Child care Child care Assist husband/father Assist husband/father Men Men Make a satisfactory wage Support family None of these required a long-term, successful formal education

Past Expectations - Teachers Female Female Single Single No “unseemly conduct” No “unseemly conduct” Read Bible or other good books in free time Read Bible or other good books in free time Spend 10+ hours in classroom each day Spend 10+ hours in classroom each day Male Male Similar constraints Allowed to marry Allowed to court one night a week, twice if regularly attending church. No mention of that teacher’s impact on student learning!

Context for Today’s Educational Standards Began in the 1980’s (1983 study, A Nation at Risk) Began in the 1980’s (1983 study, A Nation at Risk) Revealed downward trend in documented learning results. Revealed downward trend in documented learning results. (see quote on p 4 of text) (see quote on p 4 of text) In the midst of the Cold War, this sounded like a threat to the American way of life. In the midst of the Cold War, this sounded like a threat to the American way of life.

Context for Today’s Educational Standards 1989 NCTM published first set of national standards for mathematics NCTM published first set of national standards for mathematics. Many followed, causing confusion as to which is THE set of standards to be followed Many followed, causing confusion as to which is THE set of standards to be followed First National Education Summit held in 1989 leading to 10-year plan highlighting goals to be met by First National Education Summit held in 1989 leading to 10-year plan highlighting goals to be met by 2000.

Standards in Diverse Settings Trends: Trends: The country will become a nation of minorities The country will become a nation of minorities Education will shift from averages to individuals Education will shift from averages to individuals The Millennial Generation will insist on solutions to accumulated problems and injustices. The Millennial Generation will insist on solutions to accumulated problems and injustices.

Standards in Diverse Settings Racial labels will become more difficult to use. Racial labels will become more difficult to use. Many diverse elements Many diverse elements Race Race Ethnicity Ethnicity Gender Gender Religion Religion Socio-economic Socio-economic Learning (dis)abilities Learning (dis)abilities Spoken language Spoken language

Standards in Diverse Settings Emphasis moving to individual achievement instead of the “average” child concept. Emphasis moving to individual achievement instead of the “average” child concept. Bell curve vs all kids will progress satisfactorily Bell curve vs all kids will progress satisfactorily Teacher efforts in this area are now being documented, analyzed and, sometimes, used for evaluative purposes. Teacher efforts in this area are now being documented, analyzed and, sometimes, used for evaluative purposes.

Standards-Driven Reform Decisions are made in ways that reflect the intent and purpose of a given standard. Decisions are made in ways that reflect the intent and purpose of a given standard. Not the same as “standards-based” where every activity must be based on a standard with no exceptions Not the same as “standards-based” where every activity must be based on a standard with no exceptions Standards-driven allows for teacher-flexibility and the zig-zagging we do as students ask questions and bring up new ideas. Standards-driven allows for teacher-flexibility and the zig-zagging we do as students ask questions and bring up new ideas.

Types of Standards – View 1 Types of Standards ContentPerformanceDisposition

Types of Standards – View 2 classroom activities used to teach skills

Types of Standards – View 2 Types of Standards Content ProceduralDeclarativeContextual Curriculum Identify the processes students need to master Identify the basic information students need to know about. Identify the knowledge and skills that take on a particular meaning because of the conditions in which they occur.

Vertical Standards Build w/in a content area from one grade level to the next. Build w/in a content area from one grade level to the next. Similar tasks gradually increasing in complexity and difficulty until mastery is achieved. Similar tasks gradually increasing in complexity and difficulty until mastery is achieved. Highest level is often referred to as the overall standard. Highest level is often referred to as the overall standard. Interim standards provide benchmarks. Interim standards provide benchmarks.

Horizontal Standards Standards that don’t necessarily build upon each other. Standards that don’t necessarily build upon each other. Grammar Grammar Creative expression Creative expression W/in a school year. W/in a school year.

More Standards Interim Interim Temporary measure of progress Temporary measure of progress Benchmark Benchmark See “Interim” See “Interim” Tiered Tiered Think “scaffolding”. Combination of both vertical and horizontal standards. Think “scaffolding”. Combination of both vertical and horizontal standards.

Purpose of Standards National Security National Security Financial Accountability Financial Accountability School to School Differences School to School Differences Practices in Other Industrialized Countries Practices in Other Industrialized Countries A Need to Anchor Standardized Tests A Need to Anchor Standardized Tests We want a system that performs, that gives our children a better future that we have had. We want to increase student achievement, solve problems and achieve goals.