Common Core Research Paper

The book Inquiring into the Common Core by Nancy Fitchman Dana, Jamey Bolton Burns, and Rachel M. Wolkenhauer focuses on what Common Core is. This is a book that you can read that helps with the ideas and guidance for teachers, principals, and administrators in implementing the Common Core State Standards. Inquiring into the Common Core is an essential resource that offers teachers an inquiry based professional development model for achieving greater understanding of the standards, then the desired outcomes will be determined. “The CCSS values the voices of teachers, as teachers were and continue to be involved in their development” (Dana, Burns, & Wolkenhauer, pg.2). The Common Core is clear about what to teach but it is up to the teachers on how they teach it.

What is the common core? “The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) defines the knowledge and skills in English language arts and mathematics that students need for success in college and careers upon high school graduation” (Santos, Darling-Hammond, Cheuk (2012)). The common core was created, “to provide clear academic benchmarks with more concise academic standards for essential learning that will prepare students to be college and career ready” (Liebtag, E. (2013)). The common core standards have then, been introduced and applied to most schools in the U.S, and although it may have its controversies, the major issue, is its effect on ELL (English Language Learners) students. “ELs currently constitute

Adopted by forty-two out states in 2010, the Common Core State Standard Initiative strives to provide an educational structure which details what English language arts and mathematics should be taught from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The initiative is the federal government’s attempt to ensure all students who graduate from high school are adequately prepared to enter a two or four year college or the workforce. Despite their intentions, the Common Core has caused much controversy in the education community. The thought behind Common Core is very valid and has the potential to help students, however changes must be made to unrealistic standards and wordy statements. Common Core must first be rewritten so that the language is clear and can be easily understood by the general public. Next ask experts on childhood development and elementary school teachers to review the standards and rewrite standards they see as unneeded or irrelevant as well as unrealistic.

The Common Core is a set of academic standards in both mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These standards were created to insure that all students, no matter where in the United States and regardless of social economic standing all will acquire the necessary skills to graduate and allow for success in college and or a career. With these learning goals students progressively gain the tools for each grade. The standards define the knowledge and skills students should gain throughout their K-12 education. The standards are research and evidence based goals that include clear, understandable, and consistent lessons that are aligned with college and career expectations with higher order thinking skills. In North Carolina,

The lack of educational benchmarks and standardization in the United States of America, USA is disjointed and subpar leaving students ill prepared to enter the workforce and college. As evidenced by the persistent problem of students graduating and passing required exit exams in high school; yet, they still needed remediation upon entry to college. The Common Core is good because it provides a set of age appropriate learning goals and sets a national high-quality academic standard for Math and English to prepare students for college and career readiness. In essence, the Common Core defines what a student should know and be able to do at different grade levels.

“Common Core State Standards Initiative” is a result of the “Standards and Accountability Movement” which began in the 1990s in the United States. This particular branch of education reforms was geared towards expectations of learning at each grade level. The Standards and Accountability Movement not only brought attention on what students were expected to learn, but on teachers as well – focusing on how teachers were to implement lessons and able to teach for student achievement which would be measured in

Prior to writing this response paper, I had no pre-existing knowledge revolving around Common Core other than the negative ideas and opinions I’ve only vaguely heard, often including photos of honestly outrageous equations. What exactly is Common Core, according to them, and what is the goal? By definition, the Common Core State Standards Initiative details a list of subjects for students kindergarten through twelfth grade to have learned the by the end of each specific grade. The ultimate goal is to be certain that students across all of the states receive the same education and reach the same requirements in order to be prepared for college work; or, rather, the standardized tests that will determine whether or not they are even granted access into college in the first place.

In the article, “9 Reasons Why Common Core is Bad for Education” James Bascom addresses the problems with Common Core and standardized testing in the education system. James Bascom published his article on January 20, 2016 on the TFP Student Action website. Throughout the article, Bascom talks about the negative effect the change in the education system has on students and their parents. He addresses the way that Common Core bunches children together holding some back while challenging others too much. Teachers are often too set on teaching exactly what the core has lined out that they rarely stray from the plan. He outlines how the core has held students back from learning more and expanding upon their education.

Common Core State Standards is being heard throughout the education world. Many cringe when the words are spoken and many fight to support what the words stand for. Common Core was introduced in 2009 by state leaders. Common Core State Standards were developed to prepare children for the business world or the reality after grade school. “The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy, also known as ELA” (About the Standards, n.d.). The goals for the standards outline what students should know before leaving his or her current grade level. “The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live” (About the Standards, n.d.). This is an ambitious goal, but with much support can be accomplished. According to Common Core State Standards Initiative (n.d.) The Common Core has been adopted by forty-two states already and is accompanied by District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity. Common Core was developed to improve the academics in society’s schools. Academics in the past years have not been successful and the United States has fallen behind international education. “One root cause has been an uneven patchwork of academic standards that vary from state to state and do not agree on what students should know and be able to do at each

Education in the United States is in an abysmal state. It continues to spiral downward as students and educators fail to meet standards. The standards are then altered on a patchwork basis throughout the states. The goal is no longer to have a high standard educational system. The goal now is to maintain the status quo, allowing students and educators to strive for the minimum. There is no common approach to achieve success. Incipit Tragoedia, in comes the Common Core, agreed upon by educators, politicians, and

First, common core standards will ensure consistency in instruction among all states. Students from all parts of the country should be exposed to the same rigorous standards. Being held to the same rigorous standards, promotes commonality in the quality of education and the level of achievement gained. There has been no outline from state to state on what is being taught. For example, if a student is learning English his first semester then suddenly

Our country has been falling behind in the academic aspect compared to out international peers. Our remediation rates in college have grown over the past few years. The main problem is because our states vary in what they believe students should be able to do in each grading level K-12. So, technically Common Core Standards is giving students a better education. Based on my research from English Language Arts Standards, I found that the Common Core Standards are built off of these five standards:

Many Americans, including teachers, are very displeased with the new standards children are having to live up to. If parents knew what the Common Core is doing to the classroom, there would be a revolt.; a quote directly from a New York high school instructor. Instead of teaching the fundamental basics of education, many teachers are too heavily stressed on the fact they have to meet a deadline and rush through important materials needed for adolescents future success.

Over the past several decades the education levels in America have dropped below those of many of the other nations in the world. Having Common Core will give Americans an accurate description of where the U.S. school systems ranks in comparison to other nations. Additionally, it will hopefully lead to improved education. Furthermore, through Common Core teachers will be better equipped to monitor the progress of students. Through the defined standards it will become easier where students show in which subject matter students show weakness. Hopefully, this will allow teachers to provide more one on one attention to students who need it. However, one of the most beneficial parts of Common Core applies directly to students. Because of the set goals and standards of the program students will be able to better connect the material they learn and be able to see the real world application and practicality associated with their

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) was first implemented in 2010, nine years after I graduated from high school. Although I wasn’t personally affected by the new academic standards, it has a direct impact on the current and future generation of leaders, innovators, and world changers including my future children. The initial purpose of the Common Core Standards is to set high-quality learning goals designed to prepare students to be college and career ready. Given the current controversies surrounding CCSS, studies have shown that although the intent was to benefit students in the long-run it may actually be hindering their mathematical and reading skills. To further explore the arguments behind the Common Core initiative, I will