Common Core

 

As we look at our children's education, parents and educators need to prepare the next generation to be productive contributing members of a global economy and an ever changing world.  This is creating a shift in education.  While educators have long been focusing on much of what Common Core standards encompass, all educators are now focusing on these elements in their classrooms. 

The major themes for teachers to focus on are called The 4 Cs:

 

Critical Thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Creativity

 

In addition, there will be a shift to nonfiction text materials, incorporation of technology, and students' backing up arguments with "evidence" derived from research.  Another emphasis will be on collaboration with others and on speaking and listening skills.

 

What parents can do to help their child succeed:

 

~Educate yourself about the new curriculum standards.  Go to pta.org and look under Core State Standards.  

~Engage your child in deeper conversations about what they are learning.  Do not accept one word answers from your child about what is going on at school. 

~Encourage your child to read nonfiction as well as fiction 

 

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)

 

The link below will give you more information about Common Core testing.  Students will be required to submit multiple sentence responses to support their answers during testing.  There will also be a student written essay based on multiple sources and media presented to the student during the test.  You can take a practice test to see what testing will be like.

 

Go to the Smarter Balance link below:

Click on "Assessments, "Practice and Training Tests"

Your child DOES not need a login: Click on "Guest"

www.smarterbalanced.org

California Department of Education

Another link to learn more and take a practice Common Core Standards test.

cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asp