Below you will see a couple of questions from a parent about Common Core, and my response. This parent is unable to come tonight so I wanted to address the questions. The questions and the answers are not whole, complete, or without flaw but I felt good about the conversation.
1) Question: Is there intentional/planned continuity in curriculum from one year to the next, all the way through completion of grade 12?
Implication: Gaps or overlap could increase frustration and threatens achieving ultimate goal.
2) Question: Piggy backing on previous—what is the ultimate, compelling goal? We have heard bits and pieces at the different open houses, parent teacher conferences,etc. However, there is variation in the description of the goal. Some teachers seem unsure and tentative. This seems common not just to our school, but across the country (ie…strange conspiracy theories are starting to surface around the “real” reason for common coreJ)
Implication: Just like with any big change, when the leaders don’t share a common compelling message, the impacted students and parents feel a little lost. Perhaps a “job aid” with some powerful, simplified messaging would be one mitigation?
Answer:
All great questions. First, let me start by saying like any conspiracy theory there are always believers and non believers, I just hope everyone makes educated personal judgments based on their individual schools approach to common core verses a blanket understanding of what it is.
That said, here is how GCMS approaches Core Curriculum and all curriculum. We have a for a very long time done both vertical and horizontal alignment of our curriculum. This is done through curriculum studies to make sure that the standards (which are k-12) have appropriate overlaps to ensure mastery, and at the same time avoiding gaps or pitfalls. I will say this is not a perfect science because teacher autonomy in their classrooms does sometimes emphasize some topics more than others (although we are constantly trying to be consistent and stay on track with the standards). The idea behind the Core itself is that we are scaffolding learning through more depth in concepts and less wrote memorization of facts. Understand that we have not thrown our “old” teaching practices out the window. In fact, many of the core standards are directly in alignment with the old Illinois Learning Standards. The biggest concern at this point for myself, teachers, and educators as a whole is any time there is a shift in curriculum the kids in the mix may have gaps. We are addressing that by trying to teach the new core and gaps at the same time. VERY stressful for teachers, because we do not want any students to have gaps because of this change. Ideally we would have implemented these new standards one year at a time starting in K and moving up. Obviously that is not the way it is happening so it has created more work and challenges for both teachers and kids (parents too:).
To try and address question #2 I will start with the fact GCMS has committed to these new standards and are working very hard to implement them with integrity and validity. We are not 100% there, but like any change it takes some time to know what you don’t know. To give you a time line. In 2011-2012 Core was introduced and teachers began to dig in and learn these new standards. That summer our Board of Education spent a large sum of money to allow teachers to work extra time in the summer to dig deep into these standards to understand them in a way they could begin more quality implementation. It was voluntary for the teachers to do it (they did get a stipend) and 92% of our teachers worked all 5 days to learn. This shows a commitment and buy in by the people charged with presenting these new standards to our students (mine will be here to someday). 2012-2013 a vast majority of our reading, language arts, and math curriculum was tied to the new core standards. 2013-2014 we are still working towards full implementation, but we have some work to do. Science is also following new standards this year (Next Generation Science Standards).
The key idea of Core is to give the kids tools to THINK, PROBLEM SOLVE, and CREATE. These are the old higher order thinking skills that we learned about in college. Simple wrote memorization is great for getting “good grades”, but future employers want critical thinkers and independent workers not people who can regurgitate fact. From a management standpoint I LOVE this. From a perceptual standpoint it can be difficult to relay this philosophical shift to parents and especially kids. There are still many opportunities for wrote memorization and traditional teaching, but we are certainly pushing the envelope.
As for the frustration with “grades”! I get that, it is hard, we grew up thinking (and I still think this way to an extent) that grades are the only thing that matters. Reality sets in and they do matter, but what matters more is learning, and there is a difference. Shifting to thinking like a parent. I want my daughter to excel, I want her to be successful, I want her to do everything well. If she works her butt off and gets a C – I am ok with that. If she slacks off and gets an A I will be upset. Work ethic and effort = success not A’s in my book as a father, and an educator. The kids hear me say that on the first day of school every year. As parents we want to provide for our kids and see them succeed, but we can also teach them amazing life lessons when they struggle or even fail.
My best advice to kids in this new era:
Work hard all the time. Don’t leave questions in your mind. Don’t be afraid to be wrong. Do not fear failure. Failure is only negative if you allow it to be. We tend to learn more from failure than we do from success if you are honest with yourself and give your best.
My best advice to parents:
Provide support not answers! Always first look to your child for an answer not the book or a teacher. Ask questions when you need help. Be careful how you define success. Give your kids your time and presence. Be involved and ask them questions. Make education matter with as much passion as other things (aka sports). Challenge authority when needed. Be your child’s biggest advocate (it is your right and responsibility). Understand the teachers and schools are not always right (but we try very hard).
My best advice for teachers: (I share this because it is a group effort)
Work hard (like they are all your child). Remember all kids have a story. Curriculum is part of education, relationships are huge. We will make mistakes, own them. Make great lessons (know when they stink). Teach with passion. Value every minute you have to impact a child (or parent).
At the end of the day we have a very complicated equation to solve with kids, curriculum, parents, teachers (who are human after all), peer pressure, and our every changing societal demands. I can say with absolute confidence that GCMS is fighting the good fight and providing quality opportunity and support for the kids we serve (not now nor will it ever be perfect).
Education is very cyclical. We are currently on a critical thinking push (not a bad thing) in the 90’s and 2000’s it was No Child Left Behind (standardized tests) Nothing standard about 6-18 year olds:). In the 50’s it was very similar to what we are starting again now (Sputnik). Kids, teachers, and parents are resilient and they will learn, their talents will shine through, and they will find their direction. That has not changed and will not with the Core Standards.
Please free to share with anyone who may have the same looming questions, and I welcome any conversations or concerns parents may have.
Sincerely,
Mr. Darnell