Checking-In on the Common Core
By: Tina Shively
Updated: February 6, 2013
New, more rigorous education standards are being rolled out across America. So far, 45 states, including New York, have adopted the Common Core Standards.
On Tuesday night the Rochester School Board will get an update on how their students are adjusting, Tina Shively visited Irondequoit to check on progress there.
These third graders in Jill Tallinger's class at Durand Eastman Intermediate School are now on the same path to success as those in Florida and California.
Tallinger explained the Common Core Standards. "It unifies a curriculum basically learning standards that all students no matter what state they're in are learning under those particular areas."
The Common Core Standards are the same no matter what subject the students are learning. Instead of a literal focus it's an inferential focus. Before, students learned a wide range of content. Now, they have a deeper understanding of less content.
In math, it's much more than plain old multiplication. Third graders need to be able to understand word problems, arguments and how to critique the reasoning of others. At a time when growing up to be a global citizen is more important than ever, Social Studies is taking center stage.
Michelle Barrett's class was working in groups to research the branches of government. She said
"Within that branch they have to determine what the branch does, how it works, all the rules and responsibilities between their branch and the other 2 branches."
She says students are constantly challenging themselves to succeed, to read at a higher grade level, and to learn more than just what's in their textbooks.
Tallinger sees that as the most important standard of all.
"If something is hard we don't quit we just keep going back at it. And that's your greatest reward when you are able to say 'I solved a problem by myself.'"
