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April 2013April 2013

Common CoreCommon CoreWhat is it?What is it?

Why are we hearing about it?Why are we hearing about it?

How will it affect us?How will it affect us?

What is it?What is it?

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Common Core - What is it?Common Core - What is it? CCSS = Common Core State StandardsCCSS = Common Core State Standards

Standards = structure/framework of international Standards = structure/framework of international benchmarks used by educators to ensure their students benchmarks used by educators to ensure their students have skills and knowledge needed to compete with their have skills and knowledge needed to compete with their peers in the U.S. and abroadpeers in the U.S. and abroad

They were developed by the NGA (National Governors They were developed by the NGA (National Governors Association) and the CCSSO (Council of Chief State School Association) and the CCSSO (Council of Chief State School Officers) beginning in 2007.Officers) beginning in 2007.

So far, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted So far, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core standards. Those states independently the Common Core standards. Those states independently began adopting in 2010.began adopting in 2010.

… … more about the CCSSmore about the CCSS

The CCSS were written by building on the best The CCSS were written by building on the best and highest state standards in existence in the and highest state standards in existence in the U.S. U.S.

They are evidence-based and aligned with college They are evidence-based and aligned with college and career expectations.and career expectations.

The CCSS include rigorous content and skills.The CCSS include rigorous content and skills.

They were developed in consultation with They were developed in consultation with curriculum experts and parents from across the curriculum experts and parents from across the country; so, they are realistic and practical.country; so, they are realistic and practical.

Didn’t we already have State Standards?Didn’t we already have State Standards?

The CCSS enable The CCSS enable collaboration between collaboration between the states.the states.

They ensure that all They ensure that all students, no matter students, no matter where they live, are well-where they live, are well-prepared.prepared.

They are focused on They are focused on Language Arts and Math, Language Arts and Math, K-12 K-12thth grades. grades.

So, what are the CCSS?So, what are the CCSS?

The Common Core State Standards The Common Core State Standards are a are a clear set of shared goalsclear set of shared goals and and expectations for the knowledge and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in skills students need in Language ArtsLanguage Arts and and mathematicsmathematics at each grade level at each grade level to ultimately be prepared to to ultimately be prepared to graduate from high school ready for graduate from high school ready for college and/or a career.college and/or a career.

Why did we need CCSS?Why did we need CCSS? In 2009, U.S. high school students ranked ninth, falling In 2009, U.S. high school students ranked ninth, falling

behind other nations, for college and career readiness behind other nations, for college and career readiness performance benchmarks in math.performance benchmarks in math.

Future workforce projections indicated on-going shortages, Future workforce projections indicated on-going shortages, especially in high growth career fields.especially in high growth career fields.

By 2018, 63% of U.S. jobs will require a college degree.By 2018, 63% of U.S. jobs will require a college degree.

Recent studies showed that by the 12Recent studies showed that by the 12thth grade, only 17% of grade, only 17% of American students were math proficient and interested in a American students were math proficient and interested in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career.STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career.

……bringing it closer to homebringing it closer to homePercent of national ACT-tested high school

graduates meeting college readiness benchmarks in 2012

100

80

60

40

20

English Reading Math Science all 4 subjects

67

5246

31

25

Career Ready?Career Ready?

If learning styles are not If learning styles are not adjusted, will the students of adjusted, will the students of today be ready for their world today be ready for their world of tomorrow?of tomorrow?

I Choose “C”

“Knowing is not understanding. There is a great difference between knowing and understanding: You can know a lot about something and not really understand it.” . . . Charles Kettering

What do our students need to be What do our students need to be successful in THEIR world?successful in THEIR world?

High capacity for abstract, conceptual thinkingHigh capacity for abstract, conceptual thinking

Ability to apply this thinking to real-world problemsAbility to apply this thinking to real-world problems

Ability to function in an environment where communication Ability to function in an environment where communication skills are vitalskills are vital

Ability to work easily and well with others to resolve conflict Ability to work easily and well with others to resolve conflict and to work without supervisionand to work without supervision

Draw useful inferences, make connections among facts, Draw useful inferences, make connections among facts, and explain their conclusions in writing with evidenceand explain their conclusions in writing with evidence

Learning Outcomes desired by EmployersLearning Outcomes desired by Employers

Learning Outcomes

Concepts/developments in science/technology

Ability to analyze/solve complex problems

Ability to apply knowledge/skills to real-world settings

Critical thinking/analytical reasoning

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing

% Employers who agree

0 20 40 60 80 100

What about assessments?What about assessments?

Assessments will be Assessments will be aligned to the CCSS aligned to the CCSS and will replace and will replace existing existing assessments.assessments.

They will be They will be available in the available in the 2014-15 school 2014-15 school year.year.

How will all of this affect us?How will all of this affect us? Assessments will become more rigorous.Assessments will become more rigorous.

The framework will be: Depth, Rigor, & RelevanceThe framework will be: Depth, Rigor, & Relevance

Teaching and learning styles will need to be adjusted.Teaching and learning styles will need to be adjusted.

Focus will not only be on procedural skills, but also on Focus will not only be on procedural skills, but also on conceptual understanding.conceptual understanding.

It’s about quality more than quantity. Coherence is needed It’s about quality more than quantity. Coherence is needed so that we teach mastery rather than re-teaching year after so that we teach mastery rather than re-teaching year after year.year.

Really…what will this mean for us?Really…what will this mean for us?

Student-centered learningStudent-centered learning Less workbook pagesLess workbook pages Less study guides that resemble the testLess study guides that resemble the test More technologyMore technology Engaging lessons – more small groups, more Engaging lessons – more small groups, more

collaborative sharing, hands-on activitiescollaborative sharing, hands-on activities

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to create the condition for learning.” . . . Albert Einstein

What should learning look like?What should learning look like?

collaborativerigorous

relevance

relationships

engaging

More is learned if the student More is learned if the student perceives the content as relevant.perceives the content as relevant.

More learning is retained if the More learning is retained if the learning is by discovery.learning is by discovery.

Understanding gives meaning to Understanding gives meaning to knowledge.knowledge.

Skills learned in isolation remain in Skills learned in isolation remain in isolation.isolation.

Language ArtsLanguage Arts

All disciplines are grounded in literacy, All disciplines are grounded in literacy, making making literacy standards the foundation for all subjectsliteracy standards the foundation for all subjects: : math, science, social studies, etc.math, science, social studies, etc.

Students need to conquer more - substantially Students need to conquer more - substantially more - non-fiction. more - non-fiction.

It is vital to use textual evidence to support both It is vital to use textual evidence to support both reading and writing.reading and writing.

MathematicsMathematics

All roads lead to algebra. All roads lead to algebra.

Focus on fewer skills each year, but with Focus on fewer skills each year, but with greater depthgreater depth. Fewer concepts early . Fewer concepts early with with greater masterygreater mastery make algebra more make algebra more accessible.accessible.

The greatest predictor of algebraic agility is The greatest predictor of algebraic agility is one’s ability to understand one’s ability to understand fractionsfractions..

All this happens overnight, right?All this happens overnight, right?

This will take years to unfold. It began in 2007.This will take years to unfold. It began in 2007.

It will take time and collaboration among It will take time and collaboration among teachers, students, and parents.teachers, students, and parents.

Improvement is ever-changing.Improvement is ever-changing.

Keep the focus on learning for the world in which Keep the focus on learning for the world in which your students will live in … the future.your students will live in … the future.

What is in their future?What is in their future?

We want to assure you that the We want to assure you that the implementation of the CCSS will not implementation of the CCSS will not interfere with our Catholic identity.interfere with our Catholic identity.

There are Common Core Standards There are Common Core Standards geared to Catholic Identity that we geared to Catholic Identity that we will be adopting as well.will be adopting as well.

We are different because we are We are different because we are Catholic.Catholic.

We need your support.We need your support.

Working in partnership, we Working in partnership, we will prepare our young ones will prepare our young ones

for their future.for their future.

Thank you sincerely Thank you sincerely for being here tonight. for being here tonight.