Common Core State Standards (CCSS's) Response

Reading the CCSS’s was not the most amazing time I have ever had, but it was not all that bad either. Aside from a brief introduction in my Composition class, this was my first time delving into the actual text of the CCSS’s. I won’t say interesting is the word I would use but…informative…maybe?

The standards appear pretty straight forward in their description though there not exactly specific guidelines to measure accomplishment by. Based on the recollection of my K-12 schooling the standards look as if they are consistent with everything my teachers attempted at teaching me. In a way though, it seems almost impossible to teach all your students that material, as well as getting them all to a level of competency where they are average or above at completing those tasks. But, I guess that is one of the challenges of teaching. I am not sure, at this point, what the exact state requirements are for what materials must be taught but the CCSS’s give the impression they are congruent with those requirements. I would assume that was something they considered in implementing these regulations.

I liked the fact that the first draft of the CCSS’s was produced in 2009. This allowed for a trial and error period, and gave the creators time to make adjustments where needed. The most helpful part of the whole website, in the opinion of an inexperienced pseudo-teacher, was the appendices. They had examples from students which helped to highlight just exactly what they were looking for or striving to correct. I found that section very helpful for someone not quite comfortable yet with the actual expectations of each grade level.

The section within each grade level that surprised me the most was the Integration of Knowledge and Ideas section. I was impressed that beginning in grade 6 they asked teachers to compare material by using different mediums of reading, listening and watching (RL 6.7). I know that was something that I don’t remember having much variation on in my middle school classes. Another thing I noticed was the specific introduction of the Bible in RL 8.9. I was curious to know what age level the CCSS’s would consider appropriate to introduce religious material into literature studies.

Grades K-5 standards were “cute.” I enjoyed that they called Kindergarten reading material “text.” It kind of made me giggle. I guess that is an appropriate label for their material, but it is not often I hear See Spot Run being referred to as “text.”