What are the Common Core Standards?
Each State has a list of topics that will be taught in each grade level. In the past, as you moved from state to state, this list of topics and standards were different. If you had to move your child to another state, there may have been big gaps in what they "should have already learned." Most of the country has adopted the Common Core Standards (as you can see from the above map) for ELA and mathematics. If you were to move your child from Rochester, NY to Los Angeles, CA they would be learning the same topics in California as they were learning in New York state.
What's different about the Common Core Standards?
For mathematics, the Common Core Standards not only focuses on steps and procedures, but also on concepts and understanding! Hallelujah! I am sooo happy about this change! When I went to college, I found that I had serious gaps in my math understanding (even though I was very successful in high school mathematics). For example, with Common Core students will learn both "how" to solve an equation and the why & the when.
What if I don't understand the standards when I am reading them?
Then you are not alone! I will have to comb through them pretty thoroughly to really understand them myself. In my opinion, they are not written for the public, but I wanted to make them available in case you were feeling brave and wanted to venture through them! Mostly, I think that it is good to be aware that they exist, that it is country-wide, and that it is intended to put the US back on the map when it comes to math education.
Each State has a list of topics that will be taught in each grade level. In the past, as you moved from state to state, this list of topics and standards were different. If you had to move your child to another state, there may have been big gaps in what they "should have already learned." Most of the country has adopted the Common Core Standards (as you can see from the above map) for ELA and mathematics. If you were to move your child from Rochester, NY to Los Angeles, CA they would be learning the same topics in California as they were learning in New York state.
What's different about the Common Core Standards?
For mathematics, the Common Core Standards not only focuses on steps and procedures, but also on concepts and understanding! Hallelujah! I am sooo happy about this change! When I went to college, I found that I had serious gaps in my math understanding (even though I was very successful in high school mathematics). For example, with Common Core students will learn both "how" to solve an equation and the why & the when.
What if I don't understand the standards when I am reading them?
Then you are not alone! I will have to comb through them pretty thoroughly to really understand them myself. In my opinion, they are not written for the public, but I wanted to make them available in case you were feeling brave and wanted to venture through them! Mostly, I think that it is good to be aware that they exist, that it is country-wide, and that it is intended to put the US back on the map when it comes to math education.
