Counseling Students about Common Core

[druss]

I am a high school counselor and I am concerned about the first wave of students who are just being introduced to common core. I am especially worried about our high achievers. i think over the years students will get used to this new way of learning, thinking, participating, and being assessed, but in the meantime, i think our students deserve some explanation/insight into the “why” of common core (math inparticular). I have found loads of resources but none that are kid friendly. I want to explain why in math and pe there is going to be some writing and explaining expected of them and why (in a kid friendly way), it’s important. Some of these kids are great rule followers and can memorize anything and they have “learned” that that equates to being smart but now the script has flipped a bit. Any suggestions on to explain the “why” to kids would be greatly appreciated. We have seen high achievers get frustrated and give up on assessments.
I am a believer in common core and I want to explain it to parents and students in way that is not full of edutalk and not real to them.

Thanks so much.

[Cathy Kessel]

I’ve tried to post a reply several times. I’m just putting this comment as an experiment.

[Cathy Kessel]

Persevering in trying to solve the problem . . . I’m putting short pieces.

Part of what got me into math education from mathematics was the disconnect between the unmathematical beliefs and practices that students often acquire in K–12 and what’s expected in college. (Somewhat related: A large proportion of undergraduates take remedial courses, i.e., courses that repeat topics of high school. See TABLE S.2 and Figure S.2.1 of http://www.ams.org/profession/data/cbms-survey/cbms2010. Over half of the undergraduates in mathematics courses at four-year institutions are taking courses below calculus.)

[Cathy Kessel]

Less complicated suggestion: I haven’t read or used them, but you might want to check PTA’s parent’s guides to student success: http://pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2583

Here’s what the page says:

National PTA® created the guides for grades K-8 and two for grades 9-12 (one for English language arts/literacy and one for mathematics).

The Guide includes:

• Key items that children should be learning in English language arts and mathematics in each grade, once the standards are fully implemented.

• Activities that parents can do at home to support their child’s learning.

• Methods for helping parents build stronger relationships with their child’s teacher.

• Tips for planning for college and career (high school only).

PTAs can play a pivotal role in how the standards are put in place at the state and district levels. PTA® leaders are encouraged to meet with their school, district, and/or state administrators to discuss their plans to implement the standards and how their PTA can support that work. The goal is that PTAs and education administrators will collaborate on how to share the guides with all of the parents and caregivers in their states or communities, once the standards are fully implemented.

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