Common Core Standards

     There is no doubt that controversy follows the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) wherever it is set into effect. Parents and teaches alike push back, but are they pushing against the standards being set in place by the government or is it just change that they want to avoid? Reading the first chapter of Teaching to Exceed the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards opened my eyes. My time at Eastern and has made me a bit apprehensive with teaching to the CCSSs when I get into a classroom. Reading this has definitely calmed those concerns. I appreciated how up front Beach, Thein, and Webb are in their writing. They understand that the CCSSs are not perfect, and they aren't afraid to publicly voice the issues and research done to support concerns like poverty and lack of privilege that affect students from exceeding these standards, or forcing curriculum on teachers who already have established an effective unit plan for their classes. But having standards established in a state's school systems does not mean teaching completely changes. They are the ultimate goal, standards are meant to be the bare minimum of what students are able to do by the end of their school year. Reading through the English Language Arts standards, nothing seems unreasonable or unattainable. There is an infinite amount of room for creativity with lesson planning and teaching styles. It makes me feel like teachers who push back and hate the CCSSs do so just because they don't want to update or change their teaching methods or styles. But with our shrinking world, change is unavoidable. If we do not strive for more, we will stagnant and fall further behind in the education of our developing generations. Parents who are completely against the CCSSs must ill informed because setting a bare minimum goal for your child is never a bad thing. Children learn better when they are provided with a structure that challenges them as well. Flexibility is key and teachers and parents alike need to change their thoughts on how education should occur to provide a better education for future generations.