Teach Me Tuesday

What is Common Core anyway?

 

 

"I don't understand why it takes all those steps?" "We didn't learn it that way!" "Would you want your child to be taught this?" These are some of the comments that have been made by parents referring to "Common Core". The comments are usually made as it relates to mathematics.

But WAIT! What is common core anyway and why do we have it all of a sudden?

According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, "Common Core" as we know it, however, officially known as Common Core State Standards, is "a clear set of shared goals and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level so they can be prepared to succeed in college, career, and life." They were created to "ensure that ALL students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live." 

Believe it or not, there was once a time when where you lived determined how much you learned. In the past, school aged children who lived across the United States were learning different things at different times in the year. If a kid were to move from, let's say Louisiana to Indiana, that child may find that his new peers had mastered prerequisite skills that he hadn't yet been taught. Having a "common" set of standards ensures that all children, at every educational level, learns the same information. While that was a solution to one problem another has ensued.

Many educators have now found it difficult to interpret these standards to instruct students effectively in order to meet expectations of newly adopted scandalized testing and evaluations. Additionally, parents haven't been able to accept or understand the multiple, often referred to as foreign, math strategies nor their purpose. As a result, to many parents' and some teachers' content, a number of states and school districts have opted out of using the common core state standards.

You may have noticed that an opinion about the standards has not been offered. So....here goes. While there are flaws, (early and wide-spread implementation, lack of clarity to assist in interpretation, limited resources available to educators, uninformed parents) there is some good that will come of it. Students who are taught, with fidelity, the Common Core State Standards from Pre-Kindergarten through high school will have a strong number sense, if they are not "naturally" math people. Also, they will be impressive communicators, both in the written and spoken forms, and have a strong ability to read and understand various types of genres specifically non-fiction. This will truly ensure that children of all classes, ethnicities, races and backgrounds will be on equal footing post graduation; whether they enter the world of work or pursue some form of higher education.

If you would like to know more about the strategies and when to use them and how; check out our Common Core Math Strategies video series on our YouTube Channel Guardians of the Gifts Empowerment Institute.

Don't forget to join this conversation. What are your thoughts about Common Core. Will it work? Will it last? Is it necessary? Comment below, we'd love to know your opinion. Also, share this blog post on your social media page and have your friends and follows offer their two cents as well.

Come back next week for another edition of Teach Me Tuesday! Until next time.

Peace and Blessings,

Erika O. Williams, Founder
Guardians of the Gifts

I've Got The Answer to How We Will Reclaim Our Children

"The Unified Village Reclaiming Its Children"

I am going to share with you how two very simple yet important and powerful words are the answer to how we will reclaim our children. I am certain that you have heard and used these two words I will share with you. The beauty of my two new favorite words, is that they both each are identified as nouns and verbs. Basically, they are not only classified and associated with characteristics of people and things, but are also actions. I am sure you're saying get to it already! Well, here goes. The two words I am referring to are steward and gift. That's my power couple word combination; steward and gift. 

The word steward is defined as an attendant; officially appointed to supervise, manage and look after something important. A gift is something someone willingly gives without payment. I challenge you to see yourself as a steward and our children as gifts. Therefore, stewards you have been officially appointed to attend to, look after, manage and supervise our gifts. I know the phrase "good steward" is often used. However, I am reluctant to use that phrase. It seems to be repetitive, wouldn't you agree? 

Often times, gifts are devalued of undervalued based on various factors; some being from whom it is given, to whom it is given, from which it originated or the way in which it is packaged or presented. Remember, our children are our gifts; they are our most precious gifts from the Great I Am. It doesn't matter who their parents are, where they live, or how they dress. It has been said if you don't use it, you'll loose it. While I do not speak for God, I do believe that he may not be pleased with our stewardship, or the lack there of, of our gifts. Many of our gifts have been abandoned, miseducated, they lack love, affection, encouragement and development.  As a result, so many of them have been plucked from this earth at immeasurable rates. Could it be that The Giver of the gifts refuse to allow His beautiful creations to be devalued and uncultivated? We will never know who and what so many of our village's youth were to be, possibly as a result of a lack of stewardship. 

As I reflect on the revolution that is occurring right before us, as a result of the recent consecutive police brutality toward unarmed black males in particular, I am convinced that protester's actions will result in the change sought after. I am proud to observe the unification of our people. I struggle though, with what will happen in the after math. What's the plan post-justice? Moving forward will require a plan of development and reclamation. I am charging anyone who reads this to pledge to reinstate the village, reclaim the gifts and reaffirm their trust in us.  

As I sign off, don't forget that you have been called to be #GuardiansoftheGIFTS. 

Peace & Blessing, 

Erika Orkes Williams, Founder & CEO

Guardians of the GIFTS Empowerment Institute