Common Core -- Overview

Common Core Standards implementation and new testing should start about 2015. The new standards are integrated to some degree with the best of our current CA standards, but the teaching methodology will be quite revolutionary.

First, teachers will share their techniques and results with real samples of student work online and in videos across the state.  This will allow a rich data base from which we can develop a deeper understanding of the thinking processes and misconceptions of kids, and know how best to provide correction.  By contributing problems and answers which require the student to “explain your answer”, all teachers will be able to “see” into the thinking of students and get a better idea of where and when confusion starts.  

You have probably heard about the CCS being less spread out (fewer) and much deeper.  Students will be encouraged to think carefully and creatively about a concept or problem.  There will be shared work and multi-media presentations.  The idea is to prepare these students for the new global economy.

STAR testing will be staged out.  These tests are based on the old standards.  The new tests will be online and kids will need to be taught how to feel comfortable with this (many, if not most already do). Answers will not be filled in bubbles, but combinations of multiple choice and written answers with explanations of answers.   It will require teams to analyze results with a lot of sharing going on.  Instead of merely right and wrong answers, results will indicate percentages of students who selected each answer and give details on their reasoning to highlight where they went off track.

I am excited about the changes and believe it will start to pull California out of the low rankings it has suffered for too long.  There will be huge hurdles and issues, but everyone will be involved and hopefully working toward the same goals.

I found this site to be particularly thorough and informative – with even a good preview of how students will learn in the classroom (Watch a couple of the videos):

http://www.sdcoe.net/commoncore/assessment.asp