The Common Core standards are being talked about a lot these days. The Common Core is simply a set of educational standards that are the same from state to state and are designed for students to be career ready when they graduate from high school. They are reasonable and make sense. The state legislature should let the state school board decide what is best for students.
Many of our local schools have begun implementing the standards. Kansas teachers and the state department have played a part in their development.
Everyone who has graduated from high school and even college has asked, “Why did I have to take that class? It was a waste of time.”
The Common Core answers that question, focusing on real life applications.
In reading, students are expected to develop progressively more challenging reading comprehension so that they understand what they read. Teachers are expected to decide on the appropriate curriculum content but must include foundational U.S. documents, Shakespeare, and important works of American literature.
In writing, students are expected to write logical arguments based on solid reasoning and relevant evidence. They will have short research projects similar to the  kind of work projects adults perform at work. This includes analysis and presentation.
There is an emphasis on small-group and classroom academic discussion with formal presentations.
Vocabulary instruction takes place through conversation, direct instruction and reading. Students are expected to use formal English in writing and speaking.
Media and technology instruction includes analysis and production.
In Math, students learn to make sense of problems and persevere to solve them, to reason abstractly, and critique the reasoning of others.
During implementation, undoubtedly there will be some setbacks and unintended consequences, as there is with any new overhaul of any program.
In addition, the Common Core will allow the student to move from school to school, state to state, and to different schools with little difficulty. That is not the case now.
It is too bad that some individuals criticize without taking the time to learn.
Teaching has to change with the times.
Really, Common Core stands for common sense.