Common Core

[volinbham]

Forgive me: I'm already seeing the difference because I am the one that does this for a living and sees the difference that it makes if done correctly. CC helps students think at a higher level because I make them do it on their own, instead of just telling them all the answers. And don't get me started on this America History garbage being thrown around the board a couple pages back. Complete BS. The curriculum of AH has remained largely unchanged since the 1950's.

CC DID start on a more state-by-state basis and their were some encouraging results across the board. Thus, nationwide implementation has been pushed for ever since. If we wait a decade to implement nationally, we will have already run out of time. That's the point.

run out of time? Please.

Why is CC presented as "standards" rather than methodology which it clearly is?

 

[volinbham]

What's the point? CC allows for greater teaching styles than any other standards-based education strategy implemented since NCLB, and it's not even close.

Maybe we are using the word "styles" differently. How about pedagogy. If math is to be taught with a particular pedagogy then CC is proscribing method, not just standards.

 

[mrorange211]

Public school system is a pile of ****...and I spend more of my income on school for my kids than I do my mortgage to make sure they don't have to deal with it. My son is in 8th grade and has made 1 B since he started school on a curriculum that is miles and miles ahead of public schools. My daughter has yet to make a B but she is only in 1st grade. When my son took his California tests at the end of the year he placed PHS..meaning post high school...level in every single subject. His lowest percentile nationally was 97. I am sure CC produces tons of 13 year Olds who literally test off the charts like my kids do. Good luck with that.

I wonder why private school students always make higher grades than their public school counterparts? What could possibly be the reason for that?

Oh, check this out:

Top Tennessee High Schools | Best High Schools | US News - US News

It's a list of the best high school in Tennessee. Notice how the top ten consists of public and magnet schools? Crazy, I know considering the amount of money you are paying to have a nice pat on the back.

 

[VOLatile]

I'll counter this by saying that any learning style should not be applied universally.

The problem is not whether or not a CC style can work for some, it is the blanket application.

The other problem I have (stated earlier) is that it is presented as "standards" which implies learning outcomes but in practice it is teaching methodology.

CC proponents should be upfront about what CC is AND provide validated research that the CC methods work best for ALL learners. Otherwise, it should be an optional approach.

Let me backtrack and say that I am not a proponent of a universal standard like CC. Rather, I support an educational model like that found in Finland where the students are taught on a personal basis. Americans don't seem to want to invest the money that would require that kind of teaching.

 

[mrorange211]

run out of time? Please.

Why is CC presented as "standards" rather than methodology which it clearly is?

There is an urgency to this. It is a both, I think. Or at least I see it as a combination.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

I wonder why private school students always make higher grades than their public school counterparts? What could possibly be the reason for that?

Oh, check this out:

Top Tennessee High Schools | Best High Schools | US News - US News

It's a list of the best high school in Tennessee. Notice how the top ten consists of public and magnet schools? Crazy, I know considering the amount of money you are paying to have a nice pat on the back.

Note that I included my son's standardized test results. My daughters are the same. Those are independent of classroom grades and measure knowledge and application. My son was also 1 of the thousand or so kids selected for the Duke U. Talent identification program like I was when I was his age. He got almost 1100 on his SATs. As a 7th grader. I'm sure you roll out plenty of those.

 

[mrorange211]

Note that I included my son's standardized test results. My daughters are the same. Those are independent of classroom grades and measure knowledge and application. My son was also 1 of the thousand or so kids selected for the Duke U. Talent identification program like I was when I was his age. He got almost 1100 on his SATs. As a 7th grader. I'm sure you roll out plenty of those.

My point is that he was capable of such things in a public or private school. Intelligent students exceed regardless of circumstance, and if your child is that brilliant a public institution would provide him with all the means to be successful as that of a private "Christian" school.

 

[volinbham]

There is an urgency to this. It is a both, I think. Or at least I see it as a combination.

It is clearly a combination but if you go the CC website or listen to the proponents PR machine it is presented simply as standards.

Clearly they recognize that proscribing method is controversial so they hide that part of it.

In general I object to the nationalization of K-12 education. Clearly there a situations where what is best for an inner city kid in NY is different than for some rural kid in Montana or some suburban kid on the west coast.

IOW - it's a myth to think we can judge "learning" by a set of standards/tests. Designing a nationwide teaching approach to hit such standards is dubious IMHO and unnecessary.

I've been teaching at the college level for 25 years and I find grades to be a poor metric for learning.

 

[volinbham]

Let me backtrack and say that I am not a proponent of a universal standard like CC. Rather, I support an educational model like that found in Finland where the students are taught on a personal basis. Americans don't seem to want to invest the money that would require that kind of teaching.

WUT? We already spend considerably more per student than Finland does.

It's not money, it's policy. It's the pseuod-independence of local/state education from federal. The federal monies flow only if the locals do what meets the federal policies.

Change the policies and you can change the approach. The DoEd is directly responsible for the system we have.

It's not a money thing. We spend more per pupil than any OECD nation.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

My point is that he was capable of such things in a public or private school. Intelligent students exceed regardless of circumstance, and if your child is that brilliant a public institution would provide him with all the means to be successful as that of a private "Christian" school.

I agree with this statement. We didn't put my kids in a big rich persons private school. He is in a small Baptist school with a graduating class of about 40. Classrooms are not to exceed 20 students. There is a zero tolerance policy for behavioral issues. In short, he is surrounded by well behaved kids that want to be there .
An argument could be made that my kids are overly sheltered. I went to public school here in Charlotte and they suck. Students disrupting learning time to blatantly disrespect teachers because they didn't want to be in school at all. Students attacking teachers .students fighting all the time. Massive amounts of drugs and alcohol on school grounds. Guns at school and shootings.

So far my kids have been exposed to none of the above. They start every day in prayer and have chapel once a week. Both my kids are saved and the values we teach in our home are reinforced at school. We are far from rich but the money I spend on my kids education is hard earned and very wisely spent in my opinion. Values should be taught at home. Many kids in public school have no home training and I don't want my kids around them. I realize some other people don't value the same things we do. To each their own.

 

[wildnkrazykat]

I agree with this statement. We didn't put my kids in a big rich persons private school. He is in a small Baptist school with a graduating class of about 40. Classrooms are not to exceed 20 students. There is a zero tolerance policy for behavioral issues. In short, he is surrounded by well behaved kids that want to be there .
An argument could be made that my kids are overly sheltered. I went to public school here in Charlotte and they suck. Students disrupting learning time to blatantly disrespect teachers because they didn't want to be in school at all. Students attacking teachers .students fighting all the time. Massive amounts of drugs and alcohol on school grounds. Guns at school and shootings.

So far my kids have been exposed to none of the above. They start every day in prayer and have chapel once a week. Both my kids are saved and the values we teach in our home are reinforced at school. We are far from rich but the money I spend on my kids education is hard earned and very wisely spent in my opinion. Values should be taught at home. Many kids in public school have no home training and I don't want my kids around them. I realize some other people don't value the same things we do. To each their own.

Well done.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

Let me backtrack and say that I am not a proponent of a universal standard like CC. Rather, I support an educational model like that found in Finland where the students are taught on a personal basis. Americans don't seem to want to invest the money that would require that kind of teaching.

My kid goes to a great public school that is also a MONTESSORI school. They have to test and meet common core standards and do the homework. She tests gifted and in the top 98% of the state (not Tennessee).

She hates CC math, and to be honest if the kids get too frustrated they won't learn it so I don't know how I feel about it, but I see what CC is trying to do, mostly because I wind up helping her on her math. The parents are a big part of this because the parents are constantly complaining about it in front of their kid. She can do it when pressed but if it takes too long and she has to focus on it for a few hours after she gets home she loses interest (3rd grade). I hear a lot of "this is stupid" and "I hate common core". I basically tell her that it's what you have to do and it's your job. Nobody likes doing their job. She gets strait A's for now and I'm proud of her, but the incentive is...as long as you do the work and keep getting the grades you get to play just as hard and she gets spoiled silly for it.