PA Common Core

Common core standards... a very common and hated phrase to many. As an education major this phrase came up.... A LOT! 

What are these standards?

These standards are  a state-led effort which is coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) & the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). 

These standards were created with teachers, school administrators, and other education experts.The Common Core Standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs.

I asked some teachers, parents and people becoming teachers what their feelings on the PA Common Core:

• one parent said "It's to confusing and complicated. In addition to that ... As a parent we can't help because we don't know it either. The teachers seem just as confused at times"
• Another parent who's child is not in school yet looked it up and said "Oh lord it looks scary"
• A Student teacher said " I think they limit creativity and doesn't allow students to learn in ways other than the way they outline."
• A teacher said " I think they are helpful but I don't think they should be the only thing that is taught. Like PA doesn't teach money at all until second grade because it's not common core. 

What are your thoughts?

Hands on? Hands off

I have heard in every education class that I have taken that children learn best from hands on experience. When I have observed lessons I have personally seen just how effective hands on teaching can be for such young children. Working in a daycare for over three years now has shown me how hands on activities affect children in their growth and development.

Even though we as educators see and understand how effective hands on teaching is for these children we are still sending home multiple worksheets and drill like homework for our students. What are even worse are the tests in this country.  Schools are so focused on the test scores since that is how funding is determined. These tests are very hands off for the student. I know even as a college student that tests where it is a lot of memorization is last on my list to study for. If we are focusing on teaching children in a hands on way shouldn't we be testing them in the same way?

As we continue to progress forward with technology and new ways to teach; I hope that we may also come up with new ways to give hands on homework.  I also hope that through technology we are able to come up with some hands on ways to have tests.