Lori Sabo
March 8, 2013
"This girl is college bound so start saving your money." This is what a first-grade teacher told the mother of one of my colleagues many years ago at her parent/teacher conference. From that moment on, it was assumed that college was in her future. What an amazing message.
The same message is delivered today through the Common Core. These rigorous standards reflect the knowledge and skills that students will need to be successful in college and careers. They identify and communicate what is expected from kindergartners through twelfth graders and essentially pass on a similar message to parents in the forty-five states that have adopted them: "We are preparing your child for college, so start saving your money."
If you aren't a fan yet, you might become one once you get to know the standards on a deeper level. And if you are already a proponent of the Daily 5 and CAFE, you won't find the literacy expectations too intimidating at all.
- Students need to become strong readers and writers.
- It's expected that they will read large amounts of both fiction and nonfiction.
- The high volume of reading should be in books of interest that students can read and comprehend independently.
- Even the youngest students are asked to think deeply about and respond to text, recognize themes, and decipher author's purpose.
Doesn't that sound familiar? When combined with exquisitely tailored instruction, the ambitious Common Core Standards begin to feel attainable. Daily 5 produces a sense of urgency and provides the practice time. The CAFE Menu provides the skills and strategies and helps teachers deliver the personalized instruction that will accelerate student progress.
If you are feeling a little intimidated by the Common Core, we highly recommend Pathways to the Common Core: Accelerating Achievement