A Look at Some Common Core Teaching Issues

A Look at Some Common Core Teaching IssuesThe Common Core State Standards has created an uproar among education reformers, as well as parents and school district officials across the country. These standards define how K-12 schools should educate students in math, reading, and science. Many of the Common Core Standards require teaching to the Common Core, even if that means teaching a broader range of topics in a different way.The Common Core Standards has sparked a debate between those who support the standards and those who are skeptical. Among those who support the standards are parents, teachers, education experts, and politicians, who all agree that the new standards will improve the learning experience for K-12 students. They also say that the Common Core standards will help increase the understanding of certain subjects for students, especially those who come from underrepresented communities. In addition, the standards can lead to significant cost savings for schools because they help them meet state and federal mandates.Still, the number of states that adopted the Common Core Standards has dwindled in recent years. For this reason, many schools and districts across the country continue to adhere to a more traditional approach to curriculum. There are some examples of how this has affected classrooms:Elementary school children who are taught in a traditional manner tend to underperform in their first two years of middle school, according to a recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics. Elementary school teachers often emphasize rote memorization and factual knowledge while ignoring creative expression. High school students, on the other hand, are held back by an overly analytical approach, the study found. They are expected to memorize and regurgitate facts rather than explore their learning through reading, writing, and thinking.In the school district of Littleton, Colorado, children of Hispanic immigrants were assigned to one of two classes -- one taught in English and the other in Spanish. The teachers who taught in English were given the opportunity to teach subjects that attracted their interest. Unfortunately, teachers who taught in Spanish were not given this same opportunity. Because of this, the Mexican-American students in Littleton were not exposed to subjects like music and art that were interesting to them.Over time, the Common Core has also been known to cause a reduction in the amount of creativity and originality exhibited by students. When children do not have any original ideas, they must rely on the few that exist in the course materials. In addition, when students lack creative thinking and critical thinking skills, they must rely on classroom repetition to fill in these gaps. This often causes students to become bored with classroom materials, which results in an overall lack of creativity.According to some school districts, the increase in standardized testing that has accompanied the implem entation of the Common Core has also led to less innovative or creative student curriculums. While more students are now required to take standardized tests, the most talented students are often the ones who do not take the tests. If teachers can give students a greater sense of control over their learning, this can only help boost creativity and innovation in schools.