Although teachers have been planning for the new Common Core State Standards for years, it’s only been recently that discussion about the new standards has reached the general consciousness of parents. Considering the member states will start implementing the changes this school year, the time is now for parents to understand the changes in the standards and how they can help their student best prepare for success.
Less About What; More About How and Why
The primary goal of the authors of the Common Core was to better prepare students for the world of work and college through an expansion of problem solving and critical thinking skills. In other words, the standards are less about what a student knows, and more about how the student can arrive at a solution to a problem.
When talking about problems and solutions with your child, ask them more about how they got the solution they did, not just whether the solution is correct or not. Walking through their thought process can help students explore problem-solving methods.
Writing for Math, Facts for Reading
The Common Core standards take a more holistic approach to the subject areas. Kids in math classes will often be asked to write. Kids in reading/language arts will be reading more non-fiction, factual texts, rather than literature.
Provide more real-world reading and writing opportunities for your child. It’s great if your child likes to read a lot of fiction. Just make it a point to bring some interesting non-fiction articles and stories to their attention to create more of a balance.
Performance-based Learning
The new tests designed for the Common Core standards are high-tech and seek to have students perform tasks to demonstrate their knowledge rather than just recite facts or work math problems. The hope is that the new testing will be the impetus for more experiential learning in the classroom.
You can create that experiential learning now at home. Simply ask for your child’s help when faced with a problem to solve. Everything from cooking to working out the day’s schedule is fair game. Again, make sure you have them explain their reasoning as they help you solve your problem.
The Next Level
What has your child’s school been telling you about their transition to the Common Core? Educate us in the comments below.
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And if you feel your child needs a little more help preparing for this rigorous new curriculum, please find out more about Athena’s services and how they can help you using this link.