• Babies
• Building a Family
• Children
• General Parenting
• Newborns
• Teenagers
• Toddlers
• Pregnancy

Common Core Confusion: A Guide to Understanding Your Child's Schoolwork

Parents just don't understand

Common Core Confusion: A Guide to Understanding Your Child's Schoolwork If you have a school-aged child currently learning under the Common Core Standards, you might have noticed that the curriculum your child is learning is vastly different from what you remember from your own school days. Does your third grader's homework seem impossible to you? Does your second grader mention terms you've never heard before? As Common Core takes hold, many parents have been left in the dark about what these Standards are, why they were created, and what it means for their child's education.

Defining Common Core
The set of Common Core Standards, first adopted by some states in 2010, is an education initiative sponsored by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) that details clear, consistent educational expectations for students in the United States to achieve in each grade (K-12) in the areas of English language arts and mathematics. The Standards emphasize mastering fewer subjects, rather than a basic understanding of several topics; and analyzing and applying information rather than simply recalling it. Teachers, researchers, and design experts across the country collaborated to design and develop these Standards, and each state decides independently whether or not to adopt them.

The goal of the Standards is to help students across all states compete with other students on a national and global scale, and ultimately prepare all graduating high school students for a 2- or 4-year college program, or the workforce. Texas, Virginia, Alaska, and Nebraska are the only states that have not yet voluntarily adopted any of the Common Core Standards, while Minnesota has only adopted the English language arts standards, so for most U.S. children, this is the new reality in school. View this map to see when each state adopted, or will adopt the standards.

In an effort to bring parents up to speed, most schools distribute a "Parents' Guide" at the start of the school year when they're implementing the Common Core to help explain new terminology and concepts that apply to children's homework.

Understanding the Math StandardsAccording to the Common Core State Standards Initiative website, a key element of the Math Standards, commonly known as "reform" math or "inquiry-based" math, is the ability to justify, based on the student's mathematical maturity, why a particular mathematical statement is true. Gone are the days of "basic" math (memorizing multiplication tables and simply adding and subtracting for the correct answer) — inquiry-based math encourages students to explore different methods of arriving at an answer instead of just learning a formula to solve it, and to explain the mathematical rule that allowed him to reach the answer. Although the correct answer is still important, it's equally as important to explain how you got there. What method of thinking led you in that direction?

For example, if a student has trouble learning multiplication, "new" math seeks to show that there is more than one way to approach a problem. The answer to a problem such as "6x3" can be arrived at by adding 6+6+6 or 3+3+3+3+3+3, or using a pencil and paper to make lines to add, instead of just memorizing multiplication tables. In younger grades, students are encouraged to count on their fingers and use objects (like blocks or cereal pieces) or lines or circles drawn on paper to grasp simple addition and subtraction concepts. This second grade addition and subtraction guide shows examples of the methods students can use to arrive at an answer. It not only uses numbers, but circles, lines, and graphs to aid in adding and subtracting.

In addition to this new focus on visual and mental math methods, the Math Standards also include some new terminology that many parents may not have heard before. For example, "forgiving math" or the "forgiveness method" is a different way of solving long division than the way most parents learned. Also, "Math Trailblazers" is a new research-based math program many schools are using to help kids learn math concepts using tools like calculators, rulers, and tape measures to solve real-world math problems. Many parents might feel frustrated that they didn't learn the same terminology or methods as their children. All parents are in the same boat and might need to take some extra steps (searching for examples online or consulting with the teacher for additional resources) to help their kids.

Understanding the English Language Arts and Literacy StandardsAccording to the Common Core State Standards Initiative website, the English Language Arts (ELA) Standards are broken down into four key components — reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language — and as students advance through each grade, they are expected to reach the grade-specific Standards, retain and strengthen the skills mastered in earlier grades, and keep working towards the general expectations set forth by the Common Core Standards.

Rolled in with the ELA Standards is a related set of standards called "Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects." Beginning in grade 6, these "Literacy Standards" are aimed at helping students speak, listen, and use language effectively in a variety of school subjects, including history and science — not only in language arts class. The Literacy Standards are meant to supplement — not replace — the curriculum of these subjects. So science and history students still learn the usual concepts and facts in those subjects, but the classes have more of an emphasis on communication skills and evidence-based reading and writing that relates to that subject.

Because of the importance of media and technology in the 21st century, the Literacy Standards also require students to use more technological and digital resources. For example, third graders are expected to know how to efficiently search online using important keywords on a particular topic, and use keyboarding skills to produce and publish writing for ELA class. Students should also know the strengths and weaknesses of different technological tools and know which one to use that will be most helpful to their current research.

In an example of the new ELA Standards, a fourth grader reading a classic book might be expected to consult online reference materials, such as a dictionary and thesaurus, for correct pronunciations and to clarify the precise meanings of key words. In writing a book report, she must include information and explanations that demonstrate that she understands (and not only recalls) important details and themes. She should also be able to work with her classmates by listening to other ideas on the topic, and verbally show an understanding by recalling relevant information.

For middle or high-school students, the Literacy Standards in history class mean that instead of just learning and memorizing the specifics of a historical event in a text book, students are encouraged to discuss the factors and evidence presented to them. The teacher might use prompts and questions to lead the students in a conversation about why the event occurred, how the outcome could have been different, whether or not it was preventable, any laws and codes that were violated, etc. They might use old newspaper clippings, records, and any other information from that specific time period to help them work together to reach a conclusion on their own, instead of having the teacher simply present the facts.

The pros and cons of Common CoreThe supporters of Common Core maintain that a set of national standards is essential for students to successfully enter college or the work force, and for our country to maintain a level of competitiveness on a global scale. Instead of 50 different sets of state standards across the country, the Common Core Standards outline a national set of principles, theoretically putting all students on equal footing.

Opponents believe that a "one-size-fits-all" approach is an overreach by the government and creates a flawed system that impinges on teaching by demanding rigorous standards that don't leave any room for flexibility or creativity in a curriculum. Additionally, many believe the high standards set by Common Core assessments and standardized testing are unrealistic, as evidenced by the high number of students who "fail."

As a bottom line, many opponents think the rush to implement the Common Core Standards overshadowed the need to field-test them to see if they worked in real classrooms with real students, including those with learning difficulties and those who are learning English as a second language.

Additionally, many parents have voiced concern and frustration over the inability to understand "new math" and the Common Core curriculum, or to help their children if they need direction with their homework.

Homework help for parentsSo now that you know what these new standards entail, how can you help your child with homework if you don't understand it yourself? For starters, here are 10 free homework help websites geared toward "new math" and Common Core concepts. In addition, here are some other helpful resources.

The CCSSO and NGA offer several resources on www.corestandards.org to help parents understand the standards, explain the key points of both the math and English language arts areas, and answer frequently asked questions.

The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) offers a printable guide to student success for parents of children grades K-12 who are currently learning the Common Core Standards. It offers an overview of what your child will learn every year and learning activities you can do at home that are in line with the curriculum.

The Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) offers parents a separate printable roadmap for each Standard and grade, and offers tips and ideas to help parents understand what their child is learning.

Slideshare.net allows others to share slideshows and presentations on the Common Core curriculum. Some specific examples include Common Core: Where to Start, and Aligning Curriculum to Common Core.

Some book retailers and children's libraries now note "Supports Common Core Standards" in the description or cataloguing of some children's books. When choosing books to read at home with your child, you might look for ones that support the Common Core.

Finally, www.commonsensemedia.org offers a short list to bring you up to speed on the current debate surrounding the Common Core Standards, arguments from both sides, and resources to understand the basics.