1. 2017 NYS Common Core State Standards and Assessments
What they mean for you and your children
It’s Time to GEAR UP
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2. What are the Common Core Standards?

3. “These Standards are not intended to be new names for old ways of doing business. They are a call to take the next step… It is time to recognize that standards are not just promises to our children, but promises we intend to keep.”
-- The Common Core State Standards in Math, page 5
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4. Tonight’s Objectives
Help parents understand what college readiness is and why it matters.
Inform and update parents to the new standards and help them understand what to look for and how to help their children at home.
Help parents to see the VALUE in their child(ren) participating in the 2017 NYS ELA and MATH assessments.

5. Activity: What is college readiness?
At your table, discuss:
What does college-readiness look like?
When is a student ready for college?
What do children need to learn to be ready for college?
How can parents help?

6. So? What does it mean?
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7. College and Career Readiness
The new standards will get students ready for success in college and the workforce.
…but what does that mean?
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8. College Readiness
College readiness means that graduates have the skills they need to do well in college.
“College” doesn’t just mean a four-year degree. It can mean any program that leads to a degree or certificate.
Being “ready” means that students graduate from high school with key skills in English and mathematics.
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9. Career Readiness
Career readiness means that high school graduates are qualified for and able to do well in long-term careers.
“Career” doesn’t just mean a job. It means a profession that lets graduates succeed at a job they enjoy and earn a competitive wage.
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10. For G. Herkimer it MEANS
You, the parent, value your child’s academic career
You, the parent, see the added value it gives to staff in working with your child(ren)
G. Herkimer has a STRONG parent/school connection
G. Herkimer will have added support in student participation to ensure we remain a school in GOOD STANDING (without participation we fail to demonstrate this)
Our childrens’ learning matters!!!
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11. Why does this matter? Because it’s what our students need
For every 100 ninth graders…
65 graduate from high school
37 enter college
24 are still enrolled in sophomore year
12 graduate with a degree in six years

12. … and only 6 get a good job after graduation
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13. The new standards and assessments will…
Prepare students to succeed in college and the workforce
Ensure that every child—regardless of race, ethnicity or zip code—is held to the same high standards and learns the same material
Provide educators with a clear, focused roadmap for what to teach and when
Provide educators with individualized student data to drive lesson planning and instructional delivery
Provide your child(ren) with an opportunity to show what he or she knows
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14. What are the Common Core Standards?
A single set of clear standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics
A tool to help students and parents set clear and realistic goals for success
A first step in providing young people with the high-quality education that will prepare them for success in college and careers
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15. States that adopted the Common Core

16. What’s different in the new standards?
English Language Arts/Literacy:
Focus on non-fiction, careful reading
Discuss reading and write using evidence
Increase academic vocabulary
Mathematics
Learn more about fewer concepts
Focus on skill building, speed and accuracy
Use of real world examples to better understand concepts
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17. So, what can parents really do to help?
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18. Parent support can help students succeed
By staying involved, informed and engaged, parents can help students be successful
There are many ways to help:
Read with your children
Review and discuss their homework
Communicate with their teachers
Attend public meetings to learn more
Learn about the standards and how they affect your child’s education and school
Look through your child’s backpack each afternoon
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19. Activity: After school routines
Grab a partner and discuss your after school routines. Be specific!
Ask each other questions:
How do you help your child with homework? How closely do you review it?
How closely do you review their schoolwork?
How often do you communicate with their teachers?
How do you celebrate your child’s success in school? How do you address poor performance?
What is your favorite part of your after school routine?
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20. So? What works best?
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21. Backpacks: What you should see
Books that are both fiction and non-fiction
Real-world examples that makes what they’re learning in English and math make more sense
Writing assignments that require students to use evidence instead of opinion
Math homework that asks students to write out how they got their answer
Math homework that ask students to use different methods to solve the same problem

22. Some questions to ask your child
Did you talk about anything you read in class today? Did you use evidence when you talked about what you read?
How did you use evidence in school today? Where did you get it?
How often did you use math today? How did you use it?
Did you learn any new words in class today? What do they mean? How do you spell them?

23. Activity: Talking to your kids about school
At your table, talk about strategies you use to get your kids talking about their days after school
What questions do you ask?
Do you discuss what they tell you?
How do you get them excited to talk?
What do you do when they refuse to talk?
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24. What works best?
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25. A Closer Look: ELA/Literacy Shifts
Read as much non-fiction as fiction
Learn about the world by reading
Read more challenging material closely
Discuss reading using evidence
Write non-fiction using evidence
Increase academic vocabulary
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26. A Closer Look: Mathematics Shifts
Focus: learn more about less
Build skills across grades
Develop speed and accuracy
Really know it, Really do it
Use it in the real world
Think fast AND solve problems
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27. Resources for parents Please be sure to take a copy of the parent packet
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28. Closing Discussion
What will you do to ensure your child successfully participates and completes the 2017 NYS assessments for ELA and MATH?
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29. Answers/Recommendations to ensure your child successfully participates and completes the 2017 NYS assessments for ELA and MATH?
Be sure your child:
Comes to school on time
Is well rested
Eats a healthy breakfast
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30. OUR STUDENTS’ LEARNING MATTERS~LET THEM SHOW WHAT THEY KNOW!!! Thank you
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