The not so Common Core!

Just as common sense is not so common these days, the Common Core standards are not so common in my classroom. The biggest issue I have is that I still do not know how these new standards apply to my students. These new standards, as it relates to math, call for mathematical knowledge and performance standards that almost all of my students will never attain to in their lifetime. They are unable to because of their cognitive deficits and processing difficulties. And, thus far, there are no alternate standards to accompany the Common Core standards. This is my biggest concern and worry as it relates to implementation of the Common Core Standards.

Now, there is another side to the Common Core. I am really excited about the new standards and believe that, if implemented across the board by teachers, will improve learning and allow for students to grow and learn in unprecedented ways. These standards consistently push students to delve deeper, construct their own models for learning, and ultimately to learn how to learn.