It was in 2012, when I thought I got a big break, a foot in the door, my opportunity to grow as a teacher.  I dressed particularly well for the interview, reviewed my resume, did research on the school and the position, but I had no clue as to what Common Core Standard was or how to implement them in the classroom. As part of the interview process, I had to create a lesson plan that aligned with the common core standards.  

Here goes nothing…  Nothing would be an accurate word used to describe what I knew about these standards. I googled the five year old standards and they were very intimidating to read.  Are these common core standards or codes?   What do the numbers represent?  I had to shift roles, find more resources, and skills necessary to get this teaching position.   

Common Core was developed by State leaders and governors when they realized that there is a connection between consistent real-world learning goals and the preparation for college, career, and life.  Every state wants to ensure student success, and had its ideas and solutions to competence.  However, success in school correlates with social economic status and can impact individuals, families, and communities. The standards make things equal for all children in the U.S.,” says Colorado teacher Cheryl Mosier. “We’re not going to have pockets of high-performing students in one area compared to another area. Everybody will have a very high bar to meet, but it’s a bar that can be met—with supports [in place] for all teachers. “

The development of standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12, regardless of where they live, was the commitment, from states, across the country. Through members in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in partnership with Achieve, ACT, and the College Board; 2009 the common core was launched.  

Unfortunately I did not get the teaching position and I walked away with very little knowledge about the common core standards.  That experience is my reason behind wanting to find out more about these standards as it relates, to teachers, students, and parents.  I can appreciate the vast opportunity that remains but some will argue that the challenges surrounding implementation, are daunting.  Coaching and collaborating with my colleagues has helped me adapt to these rigorous standards, although no formal training was given. Many teachers also wonder about the role of new assessments.

According to PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) PISA USA Results 2012 among the 34 OECD countries, the United States performed below average in mathematics in 2012 and is ranked 27th (this is the best estimate, although the rank could be between 23 and 29 due to sampling and measurement error). Performance in reading and science are both close to the OECD average. The United States ranks 17 in reading, (range of ranks: 14 to 20) and 20 in science (range of ranks: 17 to 25). There has been no significant change in these performances over time.  The analysis suggests that a successful implementation of the Common Core Standards would yield significant performance gains also in PISA. The prominence of modeling in U.S. high school standards has already influenced developers of large-scale assessments in the United States. If more students work on more and better modeling tasks than they do today, then one could reasonably expect PISA performance to improve.

Alternative assessments are being designed to measure the growth of every student population. The World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment, for example, is a collaborative that advances the needs of English language learners. They have ensured that the new standards support and do not replace existing English language proficiency standards. Implementation of the standards should also address the needs of students with disabilities. The current plans for implementation should not in any way diminish access to the range of supports that students might need in order to learn.

I have managed to make things function in my classroom.  Problem solving collaborating, creativity, and freedom is accustomed as ways to promote student success.  “Educators desperately want to reclaim the joy in teaching—which means creative lesson plans, meaningful exploration of topics, and inspiring the joy of real learning in our students,” says NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “Common Core could help achieve that if the implementation is done correctly.  Most NEA teachers support Common Core and recognize that teachers played a crucial role in drafting the development of the Common Core Standards.    

The National Education Association (NEA) believes the Common Core State Standards have the potential to provide access to a complete and challenging education for all children. Broad range cooperation in developing these voluntary standards provides educators with more manageable curriculum goals and greater opportunities to use their professional judgment in ways that promote student success.

Do standards dictate how teachers should teach? Or quite the opposite? Jessica Keigan—Colorado educator and supporter of common core, understand that teachers and their schools will determine how to help students meet the standards. “I understand the anxiety that many teachers may have,” Keigan says. “What I remind myself of is that teachers are making the standards work in the classroom. We’re taking the lead.” For Sue Yokum of Pennsylvania, the creativity the standards allow will make her final year of teaching a memorable one. “The Common Core gives me guidance, but it does not tell me what materials to use. That’s up to me,” explains Yokum. “It allows me to do something different this year and next year so that when I go out at 40 years, it’ll be the best year I ever taught.”  The success or failure of Common Core implementation depends largely on collaboration between educators and parents.

Full knowledge of the standards was a challenge as a teacher and as a new parent.  Parents have always played a huge role in helping students learn, and the success or failure of Common Core implementation depends largely on collaboration between educators and parents. But results of a recent Gallup poll indicate only half of public school parents had even heard of the standards. Parents and community leaders should increase their knowledge of the standards and work together to ensure fair and successful implementation. Educators should reach out to parents and pressure lawmakers to provide the resources and to make implementation easier for teachers and students.

Three years later in an entry level teaching position, I ask myself, how common are The Common Core Standards?  Forty-two states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the standards. In moving forward, I got a big break, a foot in the door, my opportunity to grow as a teacher.    

Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers (2010) Title: Common Core State Standards Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington D.C. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.orgAuthor, Tim Walker. (October 16, 2013) Ten Things You Should Know About The Common Core. NeaToday, http://neatoday.org/2013/10/16/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-common-core/