Common Core and its ChallengeZhonghe Wu (Ph.D.), Professor

Feb. 7, 2016

Content of Discussion

• What is the Common Core?• Why the Common Core?• How to implement Common Core?• What can QD Learning help?• Questions/Answers

What is the Common Core?

• National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) convened a state-led process in 2009 to develop common ELA and Math standards.

• A state-led effort to develop a common set of standards in English language arts (ELA) and math that:• Align college and workplace expectations

• The CCSS have been adopted by 46 states

• The CCSS will affect all public schools in adopted states• Implementation beginning 2012• New state assessments in 2014-15

Common Core: A Fast Timeline

June 2009Beginning of CCSS Initiative

March 2010

K-12 Draft Released for Public Comment

June 2010

Formal Release of K-12 CCSS

February 2012

47 States Have Adopted CCSS 2014 - 2015

Participating States Administer New CCSS Assessments

Implementation is NOW!

Why the Common Core?

• Evidence was used to guide critical decisions in the following areas:

– Timing of when content should be introduced and the progression of that content

– Ensuring focus and coherence• Evidence includes:– Standards from high-performing countries, leading states, and nationally-

regarded frameworks– Research on adolescent literacy, text complexity, mathematics

instruction, quantitative literacy

CCSS – Mathematics The Three Shifts

Focus strongly where the standards focus

Coherence: Think across grades and link to major topics within grades

Rigor: Require conceptual understanding, fluency, and application

CCSS -Mathematics

There are two sets of standards in math

CCSS – Mathematics what

Counting and Cardinality (number relationship) (K only)

Operations in Algebraic Thinking

Number and Operations in Base Ten

Measurement and Data

Geometry

Number and Operations-Fractions (grades 3-5)

CCSS – Mathematics how

Eight Standards for Mathematical Practice

Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them

Reason abstractly and quantitatively

Construct viable arguments and critique the understanding of others

Model with mathematics

Use appropriate tools strategically

Attend to precision

Look for and make use of structure

Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

CCSS - English/Language Arts Framework

K-5 ELAHistory/SS

Science & Tech Subjects

Reading • Foundational Skills• Literature• Informational Text

Writing

Speaking & Listening

Language

6-12 ELA

Reading • Literature• Informational Text

Writing

Speaking & Listening

Language

6-12 History/SS

Reading• Informational Text

Writing

6-12 Science &Technical Subjects

Reading• Informational Text

Writing

CCSS - ELA / Literacy: Major Shifts

Balance of Literary and Informational Texts

Informational Text Literature

Poetry,Drama

Myths, Legends,

Short stories,

SS, Science, etc.

Informational Text Literature

Poetry,Drama

Myths, Legends,

Short Stories,

Directions,Forms, etc.

Social Studies,History, Arts,

Science,Biographies,

Assessment Update

Assessments will begin the 2014-2015 school year

SBAC

Will incorporate technology with computer based testing

How to implement Common Core?

SchoolTeacherParent

Challenge of Implementation

Challenge of Implementation

How can QD Learning (work with Parents) help?

Have teachers and professors to teach

Math

More practice with reasoning

Encourage children to develop their critical thinking skills.

Ask students to think of different ways they can solve problems.

Have children apply their math knowledge to a real-world scenario, such as doubling a recipe or calculating the area of a room.

Language

More reading and making connections to culture and community

Talk, read, listen, sing, and play games with your child

Questions&

Answers