What is the Common Core?
The Common Core State Standards are a new set of academic standards adopted by 43 states . The standards are meant to prepare students for universities and careers. To ensure all students are ready for success after high school, the Common Core State Standards establish clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in Math and English language arts from 6th through 12th grade.
The Common Core includes a lot of benchmarks at each grade level. The Common Core focuses on developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills students will need to be successful. The new standards also provide a way for teachers to measure student progress throughout the school year and ensure that students are on the pathway to success in their academic careers.
Why is Common Core important for your child :
The English language arts standards require certain critical content for all students, including classic myths and stories from around the world, America’s founding documents, foundational American literature, and Shakespeare. Appropriately, the remaining crucial decisions about what content should be taught are made by the academic heads. In addition to content coverage, the standards require that students systematically acquire knowledge in literature and other disciplines through reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
In Math, the standards do accommodate and prepare students for Algebra 1 in 8th grade by including the prerequisites for this course in grades K‐7. Students who master the K‐7 material will be able to take Algebra 1 in 8th grade. At the same time, grade 8 standards also include rigorous algebra and will transition students effectively into a full Algebra 1 course.
The mathematical progressions presented in the Common Core State Standards are coherent and based on evidence.
Topics will move up or down in the grade level sequence. What is important to keep in mind is that the progression in the Common Core State Standards is mathematically coherent and leads to college and career readiness at an internationally competitive level.
