What are they Teaching My Kids? - A Parent's Guide to Common Core

Introduction
There is plenty of buzz out there about common core and what it means for
children in public schools. Some parents are very impressed with it and
love the idea. Others aren’t sure about it because they have heard
complaints and that it confuses kids.

Some educators really embrace it and others don’t like the idea of change.
They also worry that it means they have to change their teaching methods.

Yet there are plenty of benefits involved with the common core curriculum.
As you learn about it, you will be more comfortable with what your child will
be learning about.

In the past, a big problem with schools is that they all did things differently.

A child going to school in one region would learn different things than
others.
Yet they all took the same standardized tests.
A student that moved due to family circumstances may find they are in a school where they are very far behind or where they are too far ahead.

With educational standards in place, educators can make sure that
students are exposed to the skills and the information they need to build on
from one grade to the next. Parents can feel good knowing that their child
is going to get a good education no matter where they have and which
public school they attend.

Educational standards help to make sure that all students get the
foundation they need for a successful future. It doesn’t matter what their
goals and plans are for after graduation. Ensuring that children have skills
they can use in the real world as well as in their post-secondary education
is very important.

The quality of education is important, and the common core curriculum
helps to ensure that students are able to consistently get that. The
standards can be implemented from one school to the next as well as from
one state to the next. It gives children a fair opportunity for learning in the
public education system.

Educators and supporters believe that with common standards in place,
they are better able to serve the needs of all students. Educators still have
the freedom to use their own teaching style and methods within a
classroom setting. However, they will have help with creating the program
that they will teach.

Students in any given grade will have certain knowledge and skills that they
should learn during the course of that given school year. Educators have
the chance to create great lessons as well as a terrific learning
environment.

We all know that in any school there seems to be those teachers that do a great job. You also have those that don’t teach enough and those that will overload students.

The goal of the common core is to help create a specific set of objectives
and goals that educators use in a classroom to help students learn and be
ready for the next grade level. With clear standards in place, parents are
also able to understand what their children are learning and why in any
particular grade. This enables parents to be more supportive and to assist
with making school a pleasant experience for their children.

With standards in place, children can get a quality education in any public
school they attend. It doesn’t matter if it is a wealthy upper class
neighborhood or a low income area where they attend class. It levels the
playing field for those students all to build a successful future upon.

Eventually, children grow up to be adults. It is believed that the common
core system is designed to help them do well in the workforce as well as in
college. It is very sad when you realize that there are high school graduates
out there right now that can barely read, write, spell, or do simple math.

They need those skills in every aspect of their life so it holds them back.
With the standards in place, it is believed that children won’t be falling
through the cracks based on the teacher they had or the school they
attended. This also reduces pressure on parents to live in particular areas
so that they are zoned for their children to attend a certain public school
with a reputation of a quality curriculum.

If you are uneasy about what the common core offers, you don’t need to
be. There is plenty of quality information here for you to learn from. It will
put your mind to ease about what kids will be learning. It also helps you to
see the value for teachers who are often overworked and underpaid.

The common core is designed to allow kids to be creative, to allow
teachers to use the methods they are comfortable with, and for students to
grow and to learn new concepts that will help them in the future. It isn’t a
punishment and it isn’t going to ruin public schools. Instead, ......