What’s this ruckus?
Common Core has me in the mindset of the elder vampire Viktor
when he was awaken a century ahead of time therefore sending poor little Craven
into frenzy. I swear I wanted to just give Craven a Xanax. Yeah, this may be dramatic, but let’s be
honest Common Core has caused the biggest uproar in education since No Child
Left Behind so in my opinion being dramatic is acceptable. Judge me! LOL
In my opinion I do not believe it is the standards that are
the problem, but the implementation of the standards. Teacher autonomy is almost nonexistent. Seriously it’s almost like just let a robot
teach the class. As an educator I believe
it is my purpose to challenge my learners to see mathematical content in
complete totality, not just limit my learners to the standard algorithm. After teaching a standard my learners should
be able to take their knowledge of the standard algorithm and apply it to a
variety of problems (some in which they have never seen before) and solve them
successfully and defend their reasoning.
Let’s look at Common Core Standard:
4.NBT.5: Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a
one-digit whole number, and multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies
based on place value and the properties of operations. Illustrate and explain
the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.
So traditionally learners had to
simply solve a multiplication problem using a standard algorithm, now they have
to take that knowledge and apply it in a variety of ways.
Traditional Way
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Common Core Way
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Solve:
7 6
5 8 8
X 8
4, 7 0 4
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Which answer seems more reasonable? Explain their errors.
Brian
Jermaine
6 6 6
5 8 8 5 8 8
X 8 or X 8
4 0, 7 0 4 4, 6 0 4
The learner should be able to comprehend that they must first solve the
problem in order for them to be able to effectively evaluate and analyze the work of
Jermaine and Brian. After solving the
problem the learners should be able to identify that Jermaine’s response is
more reasonable. When explaining the
errors made by Brian the learner should have determined that Brian no longer
regrouped after the ones place. Brain
multiplied 8 x 8 then added 6 and got 70; versus placing 7 over the 5 Brian
allowed it to be part of the product, etc. Also, the advanced learner may point out that
Brain’s work does show he knows his math facts, Brian’s errors are due to him
not understanding the correct algorithm.
The learner can infer that Jermaine’s mistake was possibly due to not
proofreading or rushing, as he added incorrectly in the tens place. When
Jermaine multiplied 8 x 8 then added 6 he got an answer of 60 when he should
have got 70. Unlike Brian James knows
the algorithm, he merely added incorrectly.
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Sigh...I have no clue why those 6s in the second column appear the way they do. They are fine in my draft post :(
I love the Common Core way (Please note I said I love Common Core, not PARCC, but that discussion is for another blog).
It challenges the way my learners think, provides opportunity for engaging
discussions thus leading to good debates.
This methodology also allows students to have an opportunity to learn
how to agree to disagree respectfully, see how others think and why, and lets
them comprehend the importance of defending their answers through experience. Keep in mind education was initially designed to help build
social skills and foster the minds of beings to be assets to their community;
not test takers. Sigh.
Let’s look at another standard:
4.NBT.6 Find whole-number quotients and remainders with
up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors, using strategies based on
place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between
multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using
equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.
Traditional Way
|
Common Core Way
|
Solve:
1,497 ÷ 5
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In which place is the first digit in the quotient 1,497 ÷ 5?
The leaner must know math terminology. Quotient =answer. The learner does not have to complete the
problem to solve. If you look at the
problem to your left you will see the that 5 cannot go into one which is in
the thousands place, however 5 can go into 14 thus placing a 2 over the four
that is in the hundreds place, thus the first digit of the quotient starts in
the hundreds place.
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Think about this, lack of knowledge in terminology hinders
our understanding. Many times we can
work a problem or complete a task, however depending on how it is asked it can
hinder success/completion. Many learners
know the algorithm however we must take them beyond simply algorithm and into
analytical thinking. Also the biggest challenge for learners on state test is lack of vocabulary knowledge.
Common Core in my opinion has good intentions. Implementation & resources are what I am
observing to be the issue. Fussing,
complaining, and name calling is not going to solve our challenges in
education. Communication, honesty,
responsibility, and possible solutions are what we need. As you read my next few words take this quote
in, “Truth is not judgment.”
Like it or not America is falling behind other countries in the area of
education. I am not saying Common Core is the answer. I am saying something must be done. Our learners must be challenged. Education is
not revered in America as it is in most countries or for that matter as it once
was here in America many moons ago. Many
Americans take education for granted. Sad but true. Makes you think of that
old saying “When something is given away freely and frequently it loses its perceived
value.” Teachers in America are not
valued and are more than often taken for granted. Many decisions that are made about education
seldom have the input of teachers. Many
individuals who are making these decisions never taught in a classroom. Children should be prepared to be an asset to their communities and to identify and foster their talents. As a teacher I love all my students and for
me it is about them. I encourage them to
foster their talents. Not all students’
talents are that of an academic/college nature. I encourage them to educate themselves and how
to do so (reading, researching, networking, keeping good company, having a good
reputation). I encourage them to not just desire be a professional
athlete, but to desire to own a team. To
see the beauty in being an entrepreneur. Most importantly I teach them the
importance of being kind to others. The
world is changing before our eyes, technology has created limitless possibilities.
When it came to finding work my parents competed with individuals in their
city, my generation started out competing with individuals in their city and
state, and now we compete with all of America when applying for a job. The idea of working for a company 30 years no
longer exist. The idea of staying in the
same city or state for 30 years is a memory.
The truth is this generation of learners will not compete with the
individual in their city, their state, or country, they will compete with the world. Like it or not something must change in our
education system. A start would be embedding
in our learners to look at teachers with as much admiration as they do that
football player or artist. For this to
take place that means all of America should admire and praise teachers. I am not saying teachers should be idols. I
am saying that we should be respected so much that if a child dreamt of disrespecting
us they should wake up and apologize. Teachers are not glorified babysitters. From observing other countries the
respect and appreciation they have for teachers far exceeds ours just as their
academic success does. Education not
college is what is vital. I know plenty
of people with college degrees that have yet to apply their knowledge and be
successful. Education is more than
remembering (lower level of BLOOMS) which conquistador conquered Montezuma. Education is about how to evaluate and
analyze (higher levels of BLOOMS) how to prevent meeting the same fate as
Montezuma. In America we worship status,
titles, positions, money, and things far more than we value each other. We are so far off our true essence and purpose;
LOVE. We compete and copy versus
cooperate and compliment. Do not for one
second think that other countries are not watching us. When I look at students, I look at easy
prey. Students in other countries are
going to school longer and have a passion for learning like no other. I’m not even going to say this is a race
thing because at one point education in America was hard to come by for all
races and genders. Abraham Lincoln taught himself. Think about it. I will say this. As a woman of color it’s disheartening
when I observe the number of failing schools and my race is the dominant, if
not only, population at those failing schools. A ball in the
African American community has been dropped.
Yes we have done and continue to do great things as a race, however
doing great does not mean we ignore/excuse the bad. Blaming teachers for failing
schools and low test scores is not the answer. That’s equivalent to putting a
band aid on a stab wound. Parents and students should
be held just as accountable. In summary
I am saying that children are given a false sense of reality growing up in
America. Hopefully American will not one
day be a modern day Montezuma. Think on
it.
