Mindy, I think you've described this very well. When we look at standards across states and etc. often they are much the same. I do think at times there are subtle differences, words that have very different connotations if we are serious about understanding different assumptions about learning though. And states do very with some very long fragmented lists of very specific pieces of knowledge and skills (like California's - my state) and others more general.
But if we know our subject/field etc. and how children learn and grow and develop in that field or subject, there is much to be agreed on and they just aren't that scary. I honestly never worried much about standards. I just knew how writing and reading develop across time and I just started where each child was and worked to support that child in moving forward! I was confident about my professional ability as a teacher. But there are big problems with what is happening now I (and others) believe. The common core standards are being set forth as ones that we will all follow. And this will enable curriculum developers to sell their wares across all the states. In fact, word has been sent out already to all those education entrepreneurs out there that this will make their jobs easier. And this will allow national assessments that will ensure that everyone follows and interprets these standards in the same way. And of all this frankly IS really scary. Does this make some sense? Sally On 5/23/11 3:33 PM, "Melinda Jurus" <mindy...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi all, > > I'm enjoying reading all of the viewpoints on the Common Core Standards. > Here is a question that I've always had in regard to the standards. Either > my district, my state or my country is choosing the standards that our > students will be learning that year. So no matter what, someone is making a > decision on the course of learning for my grade level next year. What is > the difference if it's done by my district vs. the federal level? When I > compare the state/district standards to the Common Core they're not really > that different, other than the Common Core have less individual indicators. > > Currently, I use my state standards. Soon I'll use the federal standards. > Either way, I'm teaching them what a citizen needs to do well in life and in > this country. With any standards I teach, I'm guiding them to question, > think and read. We don't learn the material for the test. We learn the > material because it's interesting, but also because more of their life will > make sense if they understand these key concepts. > > I'm just wondering what I'm missing when I hear people upset that we'll all > have the same standards, even though each one of our students already > follows *somebody's* idea of what's important. Why not have it be common to > everyone? I don't feel like I'm not educating my students if I'm feeding > them the Common Core Standards. It's just a slightly different set of > standards. > > I'm really curious about this, and hope it didn't come across as defensive. > > Thanks in advance for your insight, > Mindy > > On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Maureen Morrissey < > maureen.morriss...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Sally, >> great response, I hope Kaui and others read it and it makes them think: why >> did I go into teaching in the first place? To spoonfeed pap to my students >> or to make a difference in their lives? To help them pass a test or to help >> them develop into lifelong learners, thinkers, readers. I'm afraid we >> cannot >> have it both ways. It's sad to me that the question authority days are >> over >> and many in the profession are deferring to the powers that be. We are the >> educated educators; we are the professionals who should be lifelong >> learners >> and reflective practicioners. We need to take back the educating of our >> students, even if we have to start grassroots again like in the '80s. >> Maureen >> _______________________________________________ >> Mosaic mailing list >> Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
