Common Core is a vastly misunderstood underdog. With it’s introduction in 2010, teachers embraced the new standards, rolled up their sleeves, and got to work. That’s what teachers do. When presented with a task, especially one that is best for our kids, we don’t hesitate.
Education is cyclical. Those of us with a passion for our jobs that have stayed through thick and thin see things come and go and come back again through our years. The new standards were not threatening to us, just the next thing to improve our teaching.
I will admit that at the beginning is was a bit overwhelming. All the components that make up the comprehensive whole was mountainous. From the Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels to Math Practices to the standards themselves, there was a lot for educators to learn. But as with any large task, the only way to succeed at the end is just to take it one step at a time.
Now, in 2016, I still stand behind the Common Core. I have seen how the ideals that were set out are working in the classroom. My students are questioning if answers are precise. They are comparing information from close reads. They are not only learning the material at a deeper level, but at times, are asking that very question that takes my breath away, “Why does that work?” I believe that is the core of the Common Core, for students to understand the “why” and the “how” behind math concepts instead of just “what” it is. My philosophy that I carry into my classroom every morning is to help my students move their thinking, not only in math but in their lives as well. The key components of the Common Core Curriculum is a road map to help achieve this.
The Standards Themselves
As a math teacher for 21 years, I can honestly say there is no “new” math being introduced in Common Core. The math in the standards has been around for ages. It’s the Exact. Same. Math. Now, while it has been shifted around in the grade levels where it is taught, there is nothing new.
Contrary to what Facebook would have us believe, we are not making students think in a “weird-it-makes-no-sense” way how to solve problems. Why would we make a mockery of this beautiful subject entrenched in patterns and relationships? Facebook thrives on creating drama and has succeeded with stirring the pot against Common Core. In my classroom, multiple methods for solving the problem are encouraged. This is the beauty in math. One student may see the solution in one way, while another has seen it another. By analyzing these two methods, we can start to piece together the math puzzle and how concepts fit together.
Math Practices
The diamond among all these changes would be the eight math practices. Again, these eight guidelines for learning math are nothing new and have been implemented in math classrooms across the nation. But the spotlight that is illuminating these pivotal points is creating even stronger math classes. No one can argue against the math practices. I mean, who out there would say that persevering, reasoning, justifying, using models and the correct tools, precision, and discovering patterns and structure in math problems is a bad thing? Seriously! Not only are these things necessary in the classroom but in life as well!
So when those in charge of our state suggest to eliminate the Common Core, I am saddened by their lack of understanding. Many have never set foot in a classroom to see how the advanced rigor engages our students. Many have fallen for the hype that we are teaching hokey math. Many simply don’t understand and in their ignorance want to dispose of something they have no idea of how it even works. I encourage our legislators to step into our classrooms to see for themselves. Some have been so busy pointing their finger at education as the problem that they fail to realize the three fingers that are pointing right back at them. It’s time to support education in Kansas!
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