An Adult Learning Curriculum for the Common Core State Standards

This post is a basic introduction to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for teachers.  What is found below is not an exhaustive list.  As our level of knowledge about the CCSS expands, we’ll continue to edit this resource.

What are the Common Core State Standards?

• An excellent video overview explaining the roots of the CCSS

 

• Another video with more depth on how/why the standards were formed  

 

• 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. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.  (from www.corestandards.org)
•  Download the standards for Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and the Technical Subjects
•  Download the Mathematics standards.
• What is new about the English Language Arts standards from previous approaches?

• What is new about the Mathematics standards from previous approaches?

 

What are the primary changes from the current standards to the CCSS?

•  The Connecticut State Department of Education has produced crosswalk documents comparing the current state standards with the incoming CCSS.
• In New York, they have done an excellent job of planning this transition.  Here is an excellent explanation of "shifts" in Mathematics and Language Arts

More excellent videos on changes for English Language Arts:

• Writing to inform and make arguments
• Text-dependent questions: a major shift!
• The balance of informational and literary texts in K-5
• Literary non-fiction in grades 6-12
• Conventions of standard English writing and speaking
• Speaking and listening: the key role of evidence
• More available here

More excellent videos on changes for Mathematics:

• The big picture:  The importance of coherence in mathematics  
• The importance of mathematical practice
• Gathering momentum for algebra
• More available here

This concludes this entry.  Future posts will provide you with resources to help us have a more in-depth understanding of what changes will take place in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Thanks for reading,

Tony