I enjoyed reading the
handout about the challenges of using common core. For years now the U.S has
been going through a standardizing process from “no child left behind,” which
as the article talked about, left teachers simply teaching towards the test.
Students were/are not getting the full depth of knowledge and critical thinking
that is possible. I myself am not very fond of standards as they can be restricting.
The article mentions how each class, school, and state are different, which is
beyond true. Having standards that seem to pander to a certain kind of student
type or learning type will only leave all the students who do not fall under
that particular category of student to fall behind. My placement school I am
placed at is populated by low income children and has a high diversity rate. My
placement school and the high school I attended are different in that way, and
I can see that the kids in my placement school do not learn the same as I did.
They need more movement, and assignments that interesting and worthwhile to
them.
The
article discussed how students will react much more positively to an assignment
if they are interested in it. Common sense dictates the accuracy in that statement,
and it is all the while true. If students can pick a topic, or have topics
chosen for them that relate to them directly, then the students will try
harder, and more likely participate in the assignment. Common core is nice in
the fact that it does not have super specific learning content to meet, but
more specific as to how to teach/what a student should get out of learning
whatever content is chosen. Common core is not perfect, and I still find it a
little restrictive at times, but it is a big step in the right direction, and a
good balance of creativity and standardization.
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