Common Core State Standards

In my personal experience, the Common Core State Standards has been presented as a controversial subject. It’s something that I’ve known about for some time. However, despite hearing about the Common Core State Standards I feel I still have a very limited understanding of what these standards entail. With the information I have, I feel the Common Core State Standards (or CCSS) can be useful if implemented properly within a classroom. I feel that they serve a purpose and can be helpful when taught effectively in the classroom. As with all things, however, I feel that if implemented poorly or ineffectively that it can do more harm than good to a student’s development.

In my time in the Education program, I've heard some complaints from both parents and education professionals about the CCSS, some of which I feel are unjustified. One of the more common complaints I’ve encountered is that the standards are too open-ended and don’t provide a solid basis for teaching lessons based on the material. While this can seem overwhelming and possibly a challenge, the CCSS are not meant to be a lesson plan. The standards provide a framework for which teachers can base their lessons and create their own curriculum to teach students the information. This allows teachers to adapt to the needs of their students as necessary, allowing the teacher to provide the best possible chance for learning. By providing a list of what students should know by the end of a specific grade level, the CCSS enables teachers to plan lessons to best teach their students without tying their classrooms to a curriculum that might not even meet the needs of a student in your classroom.

Looking at the standards for students in both “informational text” and “literature”, each of the standards follow a steady progression based on what students should already know. The standards for each grade level build on the previous standards. This allows teachers to base lessons on what students should know and can allow teachers to better optimize time spent in the classroom. This can also help teachers identify students who need additional support in lessons by checking their progress and ability to meet CCSS. However, this also presents a risk to students if the teacher assumes that all students already meet the standards from the previous year. This can create problems with students who were already falling behind, posing a potential problem for teachers in their classrooms.

While I still have a lot to learn as a student teacher, I can see the Common Core State Standards as a beneficial part of the classroom. They provide a framework to build lesson plans on, and allow teachers to adapt and accommodate the needs of their students. While there are some potential risks, with proper implementation and understanding the CCSS can help teachers to better plan their lessons. As a future teacher, I hope to be able to better understand the standards so I may best teach my students.