The Meaning of "Common Core"

Yep, I'm talking about Common Core again. Why? Because it's such a hotly debated topic that it needs this kind of attention.

Today's discussion is about what "Common Core" actually means, and there are two main lines of thought. So let's get into it.

When Teachers Say It...

The voice of authority on Common Core is always going to be an educator. They are the ones looking at the Common Core standards every day and developing instruction around them. Long story short: Teachers know Common Core. So, when a teacher says "Common Core" they are referring to the Common Core Standards as defined by CoreStandards.org and their individual state standards.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Common Core Standards are not a form of instruction or curriculum. Common Core is simply the outline of what students should know by the time the graduate high school. The standards are written almost like "I Can" statements, as in "I Can... understand the four properties of math and apply them correctly" or "I Can... explain the difference between a simile and a metaphor, and use them both in writing."

Teachers use the Common Core standards to develop grade level instruction that ensures students will master those standards in the appropriate time frame. Teachers may use a variety of tools, curriculums, and resources to achieve that goal. Common Core itself is not a curriculum.

When Parents/Other Adults/Social Media say it...

We've all heard it before:

• "This new math is so dumb. Why are we even using Common Core?"

• "Common Core broke education. I didn't learn Common Core and I'm fine."

• "Common Core is the reason all these new millennials and gen z'ers don't know anything."

To the layman, Common Core is seen as the curriculum and/or instruction being used to teach students. It's the "new math" and everything that is wrong with education today. What these people fail to understand is that Common Core has nothing to do with it.

The "new math"

Fun fact: there is no "new math". Math is math, and it hasn't changed much in the last hundred years or more. What's new are the methods of instruction - how teachers are being asked to teach math.

Many schools use what's called a "Common Core Aligned Curriculum" - and there are more than a few of these floating around. Each "aligned" curriculum has it's own idea of how math should be taught. Some curriculums are great; they offer a variety of ways to teach content and encourage teachers to "teach to the student," i.e. differentiate. Unfortunately, the majority of curriculums stick with the idea that there is only one "right" way to teach math and that's the way to do it.

Tell me you've never taught in a classroom without telling me you've never taught in a classroom.

What makes those curriculums so problematic is that many schools and administration insist or demand that their teachers teach strictly "by the book". So, teachers aren't able to reach every student on their level, which leads me to my next point.

Why this generation seems to know "nothing"

There's actually a couple of answers to this.

1. Aligned Curriculums: As mentioned above, aligned curriculums can be very restricting. If a teacher is not able to differentiate instruction to meet the varied needs of students, many students will fall behind. I once substitute taught for a class of 5th graders and the teacher explicitly stated in the sub plans that I was to teach the math "exactly as taught in the book" and the students were expected to do it that way. By the end of that lesson, half the class was in tears. Most of the students were able to do the math in general and get the correct answer, but they couldn't comprehend the method being taught. They had their own tools for solving the problem and that should have been enough. But, because of a strict adherence to a flawed curriculum, it wasn't and students struggled unnecessarily.

2. Classroom Problems: in most schools, classrooms are way over crowded. Honestly, the ideal class size would be between 15-20 students (in my opinion). Instead, there are 25-30 students crammed into a space too small for them and all their learning materials. Now, add in the varied behaviors, abilities, and general drama that comes from having a classroom full of children. Then add in lesson time restraints put on the teacher that don't take into account transitions, behavior management, reteaching, etc. What you get is limited instructional time, which is not the teacher's fault. In fact, most of the blame lies with the government officials dictating educational policy without ever having been a teacher. They demand unrealistic expectations and then are surprised when test scores plummet, teacher performance drops, and suddenly there's a teacher shortage.

3. Assigned Responsibility: as mentioned above, teachers don't have a lot of time to teach everything they have to teach. They certainly don't have the time to reteach skills from previous years or provide repetitive practice on those skills. Yes, as a teacher, it is our job to "teach" your children, but that has its limits. We are only required to teach the Common Core Standards relevant to the grade level in our classroom. While most teachers go above and beyond, teaching students more than just the standards, that's still never going to be enough; especially for those complaining about it. The responsibility to teach children does not rest solely on teachers. All adults in a student's life are responsible for providing education in a variety of forms. From manners and yard work to writing and math, children are learning from everyone and everything around them. If you are so concerned about what your child doesn't know, take the initiative to teach them. If you want them to be practicing a skill, make them practice. Don't assign full responsibility of teaching to the teacher alone, because you are just as responsible.

The Bottom Line

"Common Core" doesn't mean what the general public thinks it does. Take the time to be informed about Common Core before blaming it for all the education related problems.

Recognize that children learn from a variety of sources, not just their teachers, and you are equally responsible for what they do and do not know.

Teachers - advocate for the freedom to differentiate in your classrooms. Accept that the "aligned" curriculum can be helpful, but don't allow it to become your only teaching method.

Admin - give your teachers the space and freedom to teach as their class needs. As long as they are teaching the standards and the students are showing proficiency, it doesn't really matter what method they're using.

Once again, Common Core is not the problem. When you understand that, you'll have a whole new perspective on what's actually wrong with education today.