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.
