The document discusses the Common Core State Standards initiative which aims to ensure students are prepared for college and careers. It outlines key aspects of the Common Core including focusing on developing critical thinking skills. The Common Core was implemented because many students were graduating high school but not ready for college-level work. Teachers, students, parents, and school leaders all play a role in helping students meet higher expectations around skills like independent thinking, using evidence, and comprehending different perspectives. The document provides details on how the Common Core shifts instructional approaches in language arts to emphasize textual analysis and in math to focus on fewer topics with greater depth of understanding.

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.