Common Core State Standards

In this article on the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts there were many ideas surrounding common core that changed my perspective as a future teacher. Growing up in the generation of No Child Left Behind, conversations surrounding common core can become arguments very quickly, arguments that are never resolved, with the same people leaving the conversation still not knowing how to adjust or grow with the development of common core. I never thought about the practical implications of common core until I began considering education as a future career. I recall talking to my mom one day about how I loved the concept of common core, but I didn’t think that our government was practicing it in the best way. I wasn’t sure at that time how I thought common core should be used, however; I think that since its inception it has evolved into something that is very functional and used well within our public schools today.

              Within the article there was a quote that stood out to me it said, “will make the Common Core state standards effective and meaningful.” I thought that this quote was interesting because to me, and I think to so many other Americans, Common Core can be something that feels effective, but we don’t always feel it is meaningful, either in its instruction or in its purpose to the class. Being intentional with what you are teaching in your class is so important. Students are going to be bored, or lose opportunities to make connections, either personal or cross curricular, if your lessons are not aligned with the standards, and lack meaningful instruction. This also plays well into another quote that I enjoyed that stated, “they do not specify what or how to teach” this quote was so important for me because I often think people that are not teachers assume that the government decided what we teach and there is no room for creativity or exploration. The standards are given to teachers so that students are not leaning at different paces, however; they are just standards, the teachers have creative freedom to teach what they want and how they want to. It is this type of creativity that I am so excited for, I am even more excited because I think the passion that I have for teaching and English will show through in the unit plan assignment that we do this quarter, and it will give me some great ideas for how to plan as a future teacher.

              The last thing that I want to mention is the importance on creating passionate places for students to learn. Students need to feel welcome, and encouraged share their ideas, personal experiences, and perspectives to help the class grow together. Without an environment that students can thrive in it will become increasingly difficult to captivate their attention, and allow them to share openly with their peers. Every student has a different story, they have their own narrative to share with the world and I think that as a teacher it is our responsibility to give them a place to share that story in a creative and passionate environment.