Language arts instruction hasn’t changed much in the past century or so. Reading, writing, and speaking have all been addressed and practiced equally over that time. Even though the media in which the words appear, from slate tablets to electronic tablets, might have changed, the goal remains the same: to produce a person who can communicate effectively as an adult.
The Common Core State Standards have a different idea on how to accomplish that goal.
With the new standards comes a greater emphasis on non-fiction texts rather than the literature you might have read growing up. Data, reports, and articles will now increase in importance as your child moves through their academic career, with at least 70% of your child’s language arts curriculum being made up of informative texts by high school.
How do we help our children succeed in this new language arts era? Here are some tips.
Provide real-world reading opportunities
The goal of the Common Core is to prepare students for the world of work and college. Some of the reading students will be doing in class will reflect that need, asking the students to read things they might see on the job, like reports and graphs.
If you have some of those materials from your own job, bring them home and share them with your child. They may not understand the majority of the copy, but they will begin to understand that reading as an adult goes a lot further than Harry Potter.
Loosen the reins on their reading
Because of this focus on non-fiction, the Common Core wants students to be able to consume a variety of information in a variety of formats. Part of that consumption lies in understanding the sources of that information, what’s reliable, and what’s not.
If your student wants to read some blogs that you may consider meaningless, revisit your opinion. Even meaningless reading offers an opportunity to instruct your child on relevant information sources and the importance of understanding agendas that the writer may have, highly important skills in the eyes of the Common Core.
Foster opinions
Some parents may view an opinionated child as a detriment, but the Common Core wants students to be able to express their views effectively in grades as young as kindergarten. They believe, correctly, that having an opinion and being able to back it up is a valuable skill in the world of work.
Allow your child to express more of their opinions about any topic. Don’t be afraid to debate them if you happen to disagree. If you happen to have an easy-going child, work hard to find places where they have an opinion.
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.