Top Ten

References

Common Core. (2012). Common Core State Standards Initiative: Preparing America's Students for College and Career. In

Implementing the Common Core State Standards. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/.

Greene, J. P., Stoksky, S., Evers, B., Forster, G., & Wurman, Z. (2011). Closing the door on innovation. In J. W.

Noll (Ed.), Taking sides: Clashing views on educational issues (17th ed.) (pp.382-387). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Law, J. . (2013). YouTube. In Data Mining In Common Core - TheBlazeTV - The Glenn Beck. Retrieved ,

from www.youtube.com /watch?v=7NJQoBEc3hu

Meador, D.. (2013). About.com. In What are some Pros and Cons of the Common Core Standards?. Retrieved undefined, from http://

teaching.about.com/od/assess/f/What-Are-Some-Pros-And-Cons-Of-The-Common-Core-Standards.htm.

Minnich, C. (n.d). GE Foundation. In A History of the Common Core State Standards—Chris Minnich. Retrieved from

http://www.gefoundation.com/videos/a-history-of-the-common-core-state-standards-chris-minnich/.

September 2013

Top Ten

Oregon Department of Education. (2013). Oregon Department of Education. In Common Core

State Standards - Historical/Background Information. Retrieved from http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=3253.

Twenty-Eleven Theme. (n.d). Blog at WordPress.com. In Pros and Cons. Retrieved undefined, from http://

thecommoncore.wordpress.com/common-core-arguments-for-and-against/.

By Hannah Morgan

Contemporary Educational Thought

EDGR 602

"Common Core Closes the Door on Innovation" (Noll, 2012, p. 382)

"First there is no constitutional or statutory basis for national standards, national assessments, or national curricula" (Greene, 2011).

Risks/Threats

Theories

"Third, the national standards on which the administration is planning base a national curriculum are inadequate" (Greene, 2011).

Background

"Second, There is no consistent evidence that a national curriculum leads to high academic achievement" (Greene, 2011).

Issue #1

Issue #2

Over the past decades students were required to know whatever their state had in place as curriculum. Every state's curriculum varied. Not one state could be compared to another based on curriculum. "We know that our graduates will compete for jobs with students from other states and countries with more rigorous standards" (Oregon Department of Education, 2013). "The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers" (Common Core, 2012). It took five years for the standards to be created and was implemented within forty-eight states in 2012. From the creation of standards materials were created to help educational professionals delivery the rigorous

curriculum and professional development courses were implemented across the

nation.

Should the Curriculum be Standardized for all?

Do American Schools

Need a Common

Curriculum?

Outcomes/Conclusions:

It is in my professional opinion that common core if given the appropriate amount of time to be effectively implemented students will continue to show growth. With Common Core only have been implemented one year now there is not sufficient data to its outcome or conclusion, just opinions.

In 2014-2015 the assessments are coming. Chris Minnich states: "I encourage you to get as involved as you can in the assessment conversation right now" (Minnich, n.d).

Issue #4

Facts 1: The Standards are designed to build upon the most advanced current thinking about preparing all students for success in college and their careers. This will result in moving even the best state standards to the next level.

Fact 2: International benchmarking played a significant role in both sets of standards.

Fact 3: The ELA Standards suggest “Grapes of Wrath” as a text that would be appropriate for 9th or 10th grade readers. Evidence shows that the complexity of texts students are reading today does not match what is demanded in college and the workplace, creating a gap between what high school students can do and what they need to be able to do. The Common Core State Standards create a staircase of increasing text complexity, so that students are expected to both develop their skills and apply them to more and more complex texts.

(Common Core, 2012)

The conversation for assessments has to be lead at the district level.

Issue #1

Is the "21st Century Skills" Movement Viable?

Do Computers Negatively Affect Student Growth?

"The Common Core Standards will require younger students to learn more at a quicker pace than they ever have before. With the increased rigor and higher level thinking skills, early childhood programs will become more rigid. Pre-Kindergarten will be more important, and skills students used to learn in second grade will need to be taught in Kindergarten" (Meador, 2013).

Do American Schools Need a Common Curriculum?

"The Common Core Standards will be a tremendously difficult adjustment for students and teachers initially. Make no mistake that this will be a difficult transition. It is not the way many teachers are used to teaching and not the way that many students are used to learning. There will not be instant results, but instead will be a slow process" (Meador, 2013).

"The Common Core Standards is a program pushed by the government – Adopt the program or no money" (Twenty-Eleven Theme, n.d).

Major Draw Backs:

"The Common Core Standards do not guarantee improvements in testing on the global scale" (Twenty-Eleven Theme, n.d).

"The Common Core Standards will likely cause many outstanding teachers and administrators to pursue other career options. Many veteran teachers will retire rather than adjust the way they teach. The stress of getting their students to perform will likely cause more teacher and administrator burnout" (Meador, 2013).

Issue #5

"The Common Core Standards straddle the middle ground of education – either better than some states or worse than others" (Twenty-Eleven Theme, n.d).

Will Canceling Master's Pay in NC Allow for the State to be Competitive?

Will Freezing Teacher Pay Cause Teachers to Leave the Profession?

Major Benefits

Is No Child Left Behind a Flawed Policy?

Is the Inclusive Classroom Model Workable?

1. Common curriculum across the nation.

2. Rigorous curriculum that will help students be competitive through education.

3. "Clear understanding of what students are expected to know" (Common Core, 2012).

4. Career and College readiness for all students no matter culture, demographics, religion, poverty level, or even their community.

5. High quality instructional support.

6. A rise in expectations for students.

7. More opportunities to teach a wide variety of topics.

8. More availability across the nation for instructional lessons on the web.

9. Decreased performance gaps.

10. Increase in performance from students.

Major Challenges:

3. A major question has been ask over the past two years. Are Students cognitively ready for the high demands in thinking that Common Core sets forth?

1. There are four states who have not currently joined the idea of implementing Common Core. It is a challenge for states across the nation to show and prove to them what common core is about and that it is a good move. With four states not implementing Common Core they can not compare themselves with other states across the nation, who currently use the same curriculum. These four states, even tough they may have a great curriculum will now be distant from our nation's education. The biggest question is; will their students be ready to compete with students who are now into their second year of Common Core Curriculum?

4. Because Common Core is so new there are little materials, such as math books, language arts books, or writing text books that have been created geared towards Common Core. Chris Minnich states in his speech "I would encourage you as districts not to buy material until you are sure they fit in with the standards. Don't simply buy material because it has a sticker on it that says Common Core" (Minnich, n.d).

5. The biggest challenge is to get everyone on board, including teachers who are set in their ways or want to teach whatever they want. Teachers can still incorporate their favorite lessons, but they must change their approach.

2. Common Core has been implemented and going on into

the second year. There are still many teachers who have not been efficiently trained on how to use the curriculum effectively. With it rigorous demands teachers have to change their own thinking process. Rather it be insufficient funds or some states not caring, professional development needs to be distill and continually reinforced by states so

that the curriculum can be implemented in a proper

manner.

Controversial Media:

1. Four states have not joined in on implementing Common Core.

2. Teachers are not sufficiently trained in Common Core.

3. Students are not cognitively ready for the rigorous curriculum.

4. Material for teachers to use have not been fully developed.

5. Some teachers say they will continue to teach how they have taught before.

Can Zero Tolerance Violate Students Rights?

Is Privatization the Hope of the Future?