Common Core State Standards
North Carolina is one of 45 states to adopt the Common Core State Standards, a prescription to raise the academic bar for American students. This fall, for the first time, all students across North Carolina will be engaged in learning experiences based on common core standards. The Core Standards establish a clear and consistent map for what your child should learn from kindergarten through high school to better prepare them for college and a career.
What’s new for your child under the common core?
English Language Arts:
· Half of the reading program will be with nonfiction text.
· Students should be able to dig into texts with the ability to answer questions, analyze the information, and site evidence from the text.
· Students should be able to collaborate respectfully with other students, to be partners in problem solving, and to know how to clearly communicate.
· Students should master several types of writing – argumentative (opinion), informative and narrative.
Mathematics:
· Students will learn to solve a variety of problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole numbers, and fractions.
· Students will master key concepts and operations and understand how to apply them in real life situations.
How can parents help?
· Research the new standards at http://www.pta.org/4446.htm. Talk with your child’s teacher about how he or she is progressing.
· Prepare to see more complex reading assignments. When reading, ask your child “why” and “how” questions.
· Encourage your child to be a better problem solver. Ask your child to explain and justify the process used to solve problems. Encourage your child to solve problems using a variety of strategies and tools (number lines, base ten drawings, arrays, ten frames, as well as the equations).
Assessments
To make sure every child is on track to meet the new requirements, teachers will be administering more benchmark tests. At Lockhart Elementary, third through fifth grade students will have benchmark assessments at the end of quarters one, two and three. They will have end-of-grade tests at the end of fourth quarter. Second grade students will begin benchmark assessments at the end of second quarter
This is the first year that we are teaching the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. As with any new curriculum, there have been changes as to when specific skills are taught. This year teachers are teaching bridging lessons to support students who have not already been taught prerequisite skills. They are also teaching the grade specific Common Core objectives.
The Common Core requires that students complete very rigorous activities in both Literacy and Math; it is more rigorous than the old North Carolina Standard Course of Study. This is good for our students. By holding them accountable to a higher standard, as a school system we will be better preparing them for College and Career Readiness. Students will be thinking deeper and working harder.
Daniel Zoller- Principal Lockhart Elementary
North Carolina is one of 45 states to adopt the Common Core State Standards, a prescription to raise the academic bar for American students. This fall, for the first time, all students across North Carolina will be engaged in learning experiences based on common core standards. The Core Standards establish a clear and consistent map for what your child should learn from kindergarten through high school to better prepare them for college and a career.
What’s new for your child under the common core?
English Language Arts:
· Half of the reading program will be with nonfiction text.
· Students should be able to dig into texts with the ability to answer questions, analyze the information, and site evidence from the text.
· Students should be able to collaborate respectfully with other students, to be partners in problem solving, and to know how to clearly communicate.
· Students should master several types of writing – argumentative (opinion), informative and narrative.
Mathematics:
· Students will learn to solve a variety of problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole numbers, and fractions.
· Students will master key concepts and operations and understand how to apply them in real life situations.
How can parents help?
· Research the new standards at http://www.pta.org/4446.htm. Talk with your child’s teacher about how he or she is progressing.
· Prepare to see more complex reading assignments. When reading, ask your child “why” and “how” questions.
· Encourage your child to be a better problem solver. Ask your child to explain and justify the process used to solve problems. Encourage your child to solve problems using a variety of strategies and tools (number lines, base ten drawings, arrays, ten frames, as well as the equations).
Assessments
To make sure every child is on track to meet the new requirements, teachers will be administering more benchmark tests. At Lockhart Elementary, third through fifth grade students will have benchmark assessments at the end of quarters one, two and three. They will have end-of-grade tests at the end of fourth quarter. Second grade students will begin benchmark assessments at the end of second quarter
This is the first year that we are teaching the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. As with any new curriculum, there have been changes as to when specific skills are taught. This year teachers are teaching bridging lessons to support students who have not already been taught prerequisite skills. They are also teaching the grade specific Common Core objectives.
The Common Core requires that students complete very rigorous activities in both Literacy and Math; it is more rigorous than the old North Carolina Standard Course of Study. This is good for our students. By holding them accountable to a higher standard, as a school system we will be better preparing them for College and Career Readiness. Students will be thinking deeper and working harder.
Daniel Zoller- Principal Lockhart Elementary