Common Core – Jefferson County Students See Curriculum Change

Parents and students may have noticed a difference in the tasks that are a part of this year’s academic curriculum, as the Jefferson County School System moves to a Common Core Curriculum.  The Common Core initiative is led by the National Governor’s Association, has been adopted in 45 States and is designed to bring continuity to educational standard across the United States. At its most basic, the Common Core is projected to address college and career readiness through improving the student’s critical thinking ability and encouraging that thought process in cross subject matter. In the past, students were asked to give the correct answer to a math problem. With Common Core, the student will be asked to explain, in words or pictures, the reasoning behind their answer. This will allow the student to own the information, rather than just rotely answering questions. It will also give the teacher a greater insight to the student’s understanding of the question and the opportunity to break down where a student may need additional help in learning a concept. By encouraging problem solving skills, the student is more ready to attack higher level questions in college or the work force. Also included in the Common Core is an emphasis on non fiction reading, or reading for information. Students and Parents may notice that much of the reading assignments are science or history related, rather than just fiction. This allows for the student to gain information in those associated areas while exercising their reading skills. Pulling important information from text is necessary, whether the student is engaged in college classes or reading directions in the work force.

Director of Secondary Education for Jefferson County Schools, Ruth Pohlman, stated that the change may be challenging, at first, for students, parents and teachers, however it should provide a better academic base for students. Critical and analytical thinking skills are paramount to a student’s success in college and the work place. Standardized testing reflects the move from rote information to critical thinking and the Common Core will put students across the Nation on equal footing, according to Pohlman. Certainly, there will still be some components of the academic process that require memorization, however, the thrust Nationally will be toward a more fluid approach of teaching, with subjects overlapping and a push toward stretching the student’s understanding of each concept. Pohlman and the Department of Education are aware that parents may have concerns, especially during the initial change over, and want to convey that there is an open door policy at the Department of Education to answer parental concerns. While students acclimate to the new curriculum, parents may notice a slight drop in grades and Pohlman is encouraging parents to consider the quality of education rather than the letter grade. After the learning curve, grades should level out, however it is necessary to remain patient with students as they make the move to Common Core Curriculum. Fortunately, students should see a bump in standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT which rely heavily on critical thinking skills and reading for information. There will also be a move away from the TCAP to other forms of testing that are reflective of the new standards.

Some classes and educators in the County have been promoting Common Core skills for many years and with great success. Though there are some detractors of the Common Core Curriculum, the decision to move to Common Core was made at the State level and is not a local or federal directive. According to the National Governor’s Association,  students who meet the Core Standards will know what it means to be a literate person in a progressive society and be able to derive information from reading material and apply that information in their daily lives, whether in the work force or in the pursuit of higher education.

Parents that have questions regarding the change in curriculum, student expectations or need assistance can contact Ruth Pohlman at the Department of Education 397-3194.