I used this presentation to introduce the CCSS at Back-to-School Night.

1. Uncovering
the
Common Core
By Denise Davis

2. What is Common Core?
• College and Career Readiness
• Designed to ensure students are prepared for college and careers in today’s
markets.
• Focuses on developing critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills
that students need to be successful in college and in careers.

3. Why the Change?
• College eligible does not necessarily mean college ready.
• Colleges, universities, and employers expect students to come equipped with the
skills and behaviors that are found in the CCSS.
• Prior to the CCSS almost half of all college freshmen dropped out before their
sophomore year, and over 40% of students are not ready for college English
language arts or math, but must first take remedial courses.

4. Who Plays a Part?
• Teachers
• Parents
• Students
• Colleges
• Technical Training Programs

5. Student Expectations
Students must demonstrate the following:
• Independent Behavior
• Strong Content Knowledge
• Respond to Varying Demands
• Comprehend and Critique
• Use Evidence
• Use Technology and Digital Sources
• Understand Other Perspectives and Cultures

6. Student Demands
Students must employ the following critical thinking skills:
• Sequencing
• Describing
• Comparing
• Problem Solving
• Cause and Effect
• Classification
• Metacognition

7. School Leaders and Principals
School leaders and principals must:
• Lead teachers to examine their curriculum and instruction and make adjustments to
ensure students are achieving at higher levels.
• Provide teachers with access to professional development.
• Work with families and the school community to develop strategies that support
student learning.

8. Teachers
Teachers must:
• Engage in regular collaborative processes to develop rigorous lessons and strategies
to support student learning and success.
• Participate in professional development.
• Learn new ways of thinking and learning.

9. Parents
Help support your child at home by:
• Providing a quiet place for your child to study and do homework.
• Set aside a specific time every day for your child to study, use technology and
learn.
• Spend time supporting your child with their homework.
• Engage your child in discussions about current events.
• Encourage your child to read consistently at home.

10. Implementation
Language Arts
What does the shift look like at school?
• Focus on depth.
• Emphasis on textual analysis and evidence based responses.
• Integration of more informational text with more depth and complexity.
• Emphasis on a variety of writing tasks.
• Building knowledge through content rich non-fiction text.

11. Implementation
Math
• Greater focus on fewer topics:
depth of understanding.
• Coherence:
Linking topics and thinking across grade levels.
• Rigor

12. What Does it Look Like?
• A shift from direct instruction to teacher as facilitator .
• Uses investigations with real world problem solving skills.
• Students understand at a deeper level.