No Argument Here

Today's post is brought to you by Andrea Reichenberger.

There is a lot of sensation surrounding the Common Core State Standards, and it isn't just in our state. While on Facebook, I noticed that The New Republic posted an article written by a University of Iowa English professor entitled "Federal Bureaucrats Declare 'Hunger Games' More Complex Than 'The Grapes of Wrath.'" Its argument is based on the Lexile measure used for text complexity. However, if one reads the CCSS document carefully, it is clearly stated that text complexity is based on three important components - the Lexile being only one of them. I was even more disappointed when I noticed that NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) posted the same article. The standards aren't perfect, but many of the arguments against them are misleading and continue to perpetuate untruths.

What people need to understand is that the CCSS provide a clear list of skills that our students need in order to be successful in school and outside of school—and I say this in regard to the literacy standards as I am more familiar with them.

Why would we argue against our students being able to read at grade level?

Why would we argue against students using evidence from a text to defend their thinking?

Why would we argue against teaching our students critical thinking skills that allow them to analyze, synthesize, and write effective arguments?

Why would we argue against students participating in collaborative discussions and building on the ideas of others in those discussions in a respective manner?

Since the implementation of the Common Core, our instruction has dramatically improved and has become more focused.  The standards are designed with common language and skills at the appropriate grade levels.  In my district, this is imperative as it is a very transient one, so when our students are bounced from one neighboring district to another (which is often the case), they allow for consistency and the opportunity to build upon the skills and help to avoid providing disjointed instruction for those students.

Several well-known action researchers from across the country have used the Common Core to guide their instruction and have evidence to show that their students have made huge gains.  As a coach, I have the pleasure of visiting several classrooms and the opportunity to witness the powerful learning that is a result of these standards.  The learning is exciting and is based on best practices.  Unless you are an expert and well-informed in the area of education, and have a deep understanding of instruction, the standards, and what is best for student learning—there should be no argument against them.