Aha Moments #2

From RRCNA #14
"Literacy Coaching K-12 for Cohesion"
Enrique Puig
Nancy Charier
Chad Harnish
Betty Jahnke

There is much conversation regarding the adoption of Common Core State Standards. We are told what they are, how to break them down, etc. But in one of the ideas address in this session was "What the Common Core State Standards are not..."

"The most important intentional design limitations are as follows:

1. They do not tell how teachers should teach
2. They do not describe all that can or should be taught
3. They do not define the nature of advanced work for students who meet the standards prior to the end of high school
4. They do not define the intervention methods or materials necessary to support students who are well below or well above grade level expectations
5. They do not define the full range of support appropriate for English learners and for students with special needs
6. They do ont define the whole of career and college readiness."

While there is a lot to learn about the implications of addressing the CCSS, perhaps understanding their limitations needs to be a part of the discussion. In the process of implementation of the CCSS, we cannot neglect other important elements of instruction that are essential to our students' success.