Common Core is Coming…Ready or Not!
Woes: What are you worried about? What is aggravating you? What do you need?
Oooohs: What are you wondering about? What have you heard that needs clarification? What is your “Oh! It would be awesome if …”
Yos: What have you found that is so awesome that you want to yell, “Yo! Check this out!”
I’d love to gather your Woes, Oooohs, & Yos and share them. Together we can do anything!
I’ve been reading so much about Flipped Classrooms and cannot wait to try it out! I believe it will help increase student engagement and motivation, allow me to differentiate more effectively, and allow me to go full force with the Common Core!
Here’s the shortlist of what I’ve been reading (mainly from http://www.flippedclassroom.com/)
The Flipped Class Manifesto by Brian E. Bennett, Dan Spencer, Jon Bergmann, Troy Cockrum,
Ramsey Musallam, Aaron Sams, Karl Fisch, Jerry Overmyer,
How the Flipped Classroom is Radically Transforming Learning by Jon Bergmann, Aaron Sams
The Flipped Class: Shedding light on the confusion, critique and hype by Aaron Sams
Are you Ready to Flip? by Dan Spencer, Deb Wolf, and Aaron Sams
“The Flipped Class: Myths vs. Reality” by Jon Bergmann, Jerry Overmyer and Brett Wilie
“The Flipped Class: What Does a Good One Look Like?” by Brian Bennett, Jason Kern, April Gudenrath and Philip McIntosh
Private School Math Teacher Flips Learning by Stacey Roshan
The Flipped Class: Show Me the Data! by Stacey Roshan
Teachers “Doing the Flip” to Help Students Become Learners
This infographic from http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/ is AWESOME!!
Created by Knewton and Column Five Media
Now I’m trying to figure out just what technology to include in the grant. I know that I want the following:
I’d love to hear your feedback on both technology & your experiences!
Here’s a great list from ASCD Inservice on Common Core Resources:
http://ascd.typepad.com/blog/2012/03/common-coors.html
I especially like the state resources. I love looking at what is already out there!
Let me know what you think of these and other Common Core resources you’ve found!
~Mandee
This is a great read on the Common Core from Darren Burris on The Hechinger Report.org
Here’s my favorite part:
So the report should not be taken as evidence that standards are useless, or that the Common Core State Standards are a step in the wrong direction. In fact, I find its message ultimately empowering for teachers if we write ourselves into it—empowering if:
1. We marshal the experiences and lessons learned from the classroom and bring them to bear on the national conversation about education reform.
2. We see this as an unprecedented opportunity for collaboration and the sharing of best practices.
3. We turn the conversation toward enabling and supporting quality teaching in our schools.
4. We connect the K-12 conversation to the demands of college and the workforce.
Read it and let me know what you think!
Have a a great week!
~Mandee
As I strive to be positive about the Common Core, I realize that I must also be realistic.
I will always do what is best for students, so articles about the Common Core fall into the “Must Read” category for me!
Making the shift from only reading for enjoyment to academic reading has to happen, but I would never want to dampen a child’s love of reading for pleasure! Joanne Yatvin shares the same concerns in her EdWeek post. The idea that anything outside of the Common Core should be completely eliminated just doesn’t sit right with me. There are also specific guidelines/approaches for teaching that don’t appear to include all of the research and best practices. That worries me, too.
Another huge concern of mine-spending (already drastically limited) funds on shiny new “Common Core Approved” packaged literature-is also addressed by Yatvin. I have never found an entire program that met the needs of all of my students or one that matched my teaching style. That is, after all, the main reason why I can justify being a master hoarder. There isn’t one awesome think, book, lesson, technology, or gimmick that is going to fit everyone! And I thought we were moving away from that!
Read the article here: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/02/29/22yatvin.h31.html?tkn=VZOFXZVsu%2Fopuos8f9DGuC7vsAOc2NxXSJ00&cmp=clp-edweek
I’d love to hear what you think!
Here is a great list of Common Core Resourses from Edutopia!
http://www.edutopia.org/common-core-state-standards-resources
Check out the links at the bottom of the page, too. You’ll find great things like this:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-state-standards-1-virginia-goatley
Catherine Gewertz, of Ed Week’s Curriculum Matters, shares new information from PARCC on the Common Core Content Frameworks.
Read about the frameworks and what she thinks here: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2011/11/assessment_consortium_releases_1.html
Check out PARCC’s frameworks for yourself here: www.parcconline.org/parcc-content-frameworks
While you are on the PARCC site, check out the Sample Instructional Units and Sample Assessment Tasks, too!
Keep fighting for what matters most–our students!
Have a great day!
~Mandee
Warning-This post rambles a bit, but I think it is worth hanging in there!
I’m just going to say it–popular or not–Good teachers go with the flow. Great teachers embrace it.
We all need to fight for what is best for our students. That’s a given.
But sometimes we need to leave the hand-to-hand combat to those who are have the energy & time.
Hear me out on this one:
My number one job is to be the best teacher I can be in my classroom. I have to. It is sometimes all I can do to focus on the unique needs of my students in six classes. Sometimes I just need to put all of my thought and energy into that. When that happens, I do make sure to support those who are out there fighting the fight for all of us. Often the are fighting full time, work in a different kind of school, or have more energy that me! It is ok. I’m not hard on myself about it. I’m embracing it and doing what I do best–being there for my kids!
On that note…
The Common Core is coming. It is already in place for many of us. I’m not fighting it. I’m going with it. There are great things about it & there are things that need some work. But, it is happening either way. Personally, I’m encouraged by the great amount of resources out there to support the Common Core.
The bottom line is this: Good teachers do what is best for their kids. Great teachers always find a way to be what our kids need!
Here are a few great Common Core resources:
This article from edutopia by Heather Wolpert-Gawron is awesome! Common Core + Ted Talks = My idea of a great lesson!
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-lesson-plans-speeches-heather-wolpert-gawron
The Kentucky DOE has been busy publishing tons of Common Core info. This list of Literacy Strategies (complete with many Word & pdf printouts, is great. Check out this link then explore the rest of the sight! So much of the work has already been done-why not use it!
http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Instructional+Resources/Literacy/Literacy+Strategies+Glossary.htm
So, are you a fighter or a supporter? Either way, we’ve got to make our kids the #1 priority!
If you are fighting, thank you! If you are supporting those that fight, thank you! If you are just an observer, jump in!
I’m excited about all of the sharing that is happening right now in education. I’m thrilled by the amount of technology we can access. I’m proud of the positive attitudes of the amazing educators that are not giving in to the gripes, whines, and general negativity that is out there. I’ve opted out and I hope you have, too!
The Common Core is coming. Luckily, there are a ton of resources out there for us to use! No starting from scratch or flying without a net!
I’ll be posting resources here as I find them. If you have any to add, please let me know!
The Common Core Site has up-to-date information about the standards. http://www.corestandards.org/
PARC is creating the Common Core assessments. Check their site often for new framework and assessment information and be sure to sign up for their email newsletter! The IN THE CLASSROOM section of the PARC site has great teacher resources! http://www.parcconline.org/
Check out this video from Scholastic Administrator!
Straight Talk on Common Core: Sue Gendron explains what’s coming and details how to prepare your district for the curricula changes.
literacyeverywhere 