It is definitely interesting to take a look at standards for a different subject. I expected the standards for English Language Arts to be completely opposite from my own subject of Science. This may be because when most people think of the two subjects, they are seen as complete opposites: Science as hands on and applied, and English more as creative and open to interpretation. The Common Core Standards for English teaching also have a whole section for literacy teaching, standards that are applied to all of school subjects. These standards show that literacy is important in every classroom, no matter how different the subject may be. Now, after taking a few education classes, I see the two subjects in a new light; the subjects are more alike than I ever imagined. Science has this side that is completely creative. Any scientist involved with research knows that creativity is a huge part of the experimental process. Scientists need creativity to think of how to test their hypotheses, even to create a hypothesis. English Language Arts involves a huge amount of hands on work: reading and presenting ideas. But, in both subjects, critical thinking takes the forefront. Educators realize that without the skill of critical thinking and really understanding texts, no matter what the subject, students cannot really absorb what they are learning. Critical thinking is also a main skill needed in life, whether it is on the job or in college. I think it is important to integrate all of the subjects, but having English exercises is hugely important in every classroom, especially the Science classroom.
Here is a passage taking from the introduction of the CCSS: "The grades 6–12 standards are divided into two sections, one for ELA and the other for history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. This division reflects the unique, time-honored place of ELA teachers in developing students’ literacy skills while at the same time recognizing that teachers in other areas must have a role in this development as well. Part of the motivation behind the interdisciplinary ... is extensive research establishing the need for college and career ready students to be proficient in reading complex informational text independently in a variety of content areas..."
I agree that it is important for students to develop there writing skills in other subjects other than English so that students are ready for college. I think that it is important because not all students will be English majors in college and therefore they will have to do reading and writing in other subject areas of their choice. If students are required in high school to practice their reading and writing skills in other subject areas, they will have an easier time applying the same methods when they get to college.
Although these standards are for a separate subject area, I think they are a feasible set of guidelines that outline the goals for learners in the higher grades in order for them to be functional in their careers and college lives as stated in the packet. Literacy is the big word today which dictates our learners educational careers and it is rightly so. These standards may be for English Language Arts but it still stresses the importance of our learners to become literate and be able to interpret, manipulate, articulate and express what they have read. Text as we know come in different forms, and for different subjects each subject requires a different set of lexicons. However, it is our goal to ensure that our learners are fluent in each of the subject "languages" and be able to apply and mesh the different "languages" and lexicons. When a learner is able to fine tune the skills of literacy needed in each respective subject area, he or she has become an effective and efficient learner.
-ensure students are college/career ready -research/evidence based -aligned with college and work expectations -internationally benchmarked -standards lay out a vision of what it means to be a literate person in the 21st century -reading/writing/speaking/listening/language is a shared responsibility--interdisciplinary -the standards define what all students are expected to know and be able to do, not how teachers should teach -they comprehend as well as critique and value evidence in their work -what students should understand by the end of each grade -history/social studies along with ELA K-12
The common core state standards were a bit complicated. It would definitely take some getting used to reading and understanding. Although, it seems kind of difficult to understand any of the curriculum standards that the state puts out. When creating lesson plans in a class last semester, it was difficult to incorporate all of the specific details in one lesson plan. I like the idea of being interdisciplinary but sometimes it seems really hard to incorporate different subjects into a math lesson.
•Lays out vision of what it means to be a literate person •Informational along with communicative •Students will analyze texts along with making connections •All about college and career readiness
I feel that the purpose of these standards is to get students ready for the real world. It states how students should be able to “explore and inquire into areas of interests to formulate an arugument” which I feel is necessary for every subject to make the students more interested in the subject. However, from taking a critical literacy class last semester I felt that it was difficult to combine a literacy task with a math lesson to ensure that the students are understanding the math “language” and not just the numbers. It takes a lot of thought and breaking down of the standards to incorporate it into a lesson and I feel that not all of these standards will be met. I really like the idea how they use these standards to get the students prepared for college and their future because not a lot of students leave high school knowing what the next step is and how to approach or even communicate with the outside world.
Staying on Topic Within a Grade and Across Grades (page 43)
No section for mathematics
I believe this is an important document especially for a mathematics teacher because it allows me know where I should be expecting my students. If I am to implement literacy into my lessons I should know at what capacity. I do however find it very interesting that mathematics is left out of this document even though NYS requires literacy to be taught in math classes. This is especially interesting considering main aspects they expect of students in literacy are directly related to a mathematic mind: "Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.", "Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content."
This only provides me with more proof that connecting and collaborating with the teachers of other subjects to be increasingly justifiable.
“The Standards define what all students are expected to know and be able to do, not how teachers should teach.” This quote from the article answered the BIG question I had. In class we have been talking about can it be possible for teachers to do inquiry based learning as long as they are meeting the common core state standards, well I think this quote answers that! If state standards do not mention anything about how teachers should teach and only decide what skills the students should have by the end of the school year then why can’t a teacher plan inquiry based lessons and just make sure that the standards are being met? I guess this answer led me to another question. Is it possible to have inquiry based lessons and meet the state standards? Personally I do believe so; it just requires a lot of more effort into the lesson planning.
It is definitely interesting to take a look at standards for a different subject. I expected the standards for English Language Arts to be completely opposite from my own subject of Science. This may be because when most people think of the two subjects, they are seen as complete opposites: Science as hands on and applied, and English more as creative and open to interpretation. The Common Core Standards for English teaching also have a whole section for literacy teaching, standards that are applied to all of school subjects. These standards show that literacy is important in every classroom, no matter how different the subject may be.
ReplyDeleteNow, after taking a few education classes, I see the two subjects in a new light; the subjects are more alike than I ever imagined. Science has this side that is completely creative. Any scientist involved with research knows that creativity is a huge part of the experimental process. Scientists need creativity to think of how to test their hypotheses, even to create a hypothesis. English Language Arts involves a huge amount of hands on work: reading and presenting ideas.
But, in both subjects, critical thinking takes the forefront. Educators realize that without the skill of critical thinking and really understanding texts, no matter what the subject, students cannot really absorb what they are learning. Critical thinking is also a main skill needed in life, whether it is on the job or in college. I think it is important to integrate all of the subjects, but having English exercises is hugely important in every classroom, especially the Science classroom.
Here is a passage taking from the introduction of the CCSS:
ReplyDelete"The grades 6–12 standards are divided into two sections, one for ELA and the other for history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. This division reflects the unique, time-honored place of ELA teachers in developing students’ literacy skills while at the same time recognizing that teachers in other areas must have a role in this development as well.
Part of the motivation behind the interdisciplinary ... is extensive research establishing the need for college and career ready students to be proficient in reading complex informational text independently in a variety of content areas..."
I agree that it is important for students to develop there writing skills in other subjects other than English so that students are ready for college. I think that it is important because not all students will be English majors in college and therefore they will have to do reading and writing in other subject areas of their choice. If students are required in high school to practice their reading and writing skills in other subject areas, they will have an easier time applying the same methods when they get to college.
Although these standards are for a separate subject area, I think they are a feasible set of guidelines that outline the goals for learners in the higher grades in order for them to be functional in their careers and college lives as stated in the packet. Literacy is the big word today which dictates our learners educational careers and it is rightly so. These standards may be for English Language Arts but it still stresses the importance of our learners to become literate and be able to interpret, manipulate, articulate and express what they have read.
ReplyDeleteText as we know come in different forms, and for different subjects each subject requires a different set of lexicons. However, it is our goal to ensure that our learners are fluent in each of the subject "languages" and be able to apply and mesh the different "languages" and lexicons. When a learner is able to fine tune the skills of literacy needed in each respective subject area, he or she has become an effective and efficient learner.
-ensure students are college/career ready
ReplyDelete-research/evidence based
-aligned with college and work expectations
-internationally benchmarked
-standards lay out a vision of what it means to be a literate person in the 21st century
-reading/writing/speaking/listening/language is a shared responsibility--interdisciplinary
-the standards define what all students are expected to know and be able to do, not how teachers should teach
-they comprehend as well as critique and value evidence in their work
-what students should understand by the end of each grade
-history/social studies along with ELA K-12
The common core state standards were a bit complicated. It would definitely take some getting used to reading and understanding. Although, it seems kind of difficult to understand any of the curriculum standards that the state puts out. When creating lesson plans in a class last semester, it was difficult to incorporate all of the specific details in one lesson plan. I like the idea of being interdisciplinary but sometimes it seems really hard to incorporate different subjects into a math lesson.
•Lays out vision of what it means to be a literate person
ReplyDelete•Informational along with communicative
•Students will analyze texts along with making connections
•All about college and career readiness
I feel that the purpose of these standards is to get students ready for the real world. It states how students should be able to “explore and inquire into areas of interests to formulate an arugument” which I feel is necessary for every subject to make the students more interested in the subject. However, from taking a critical literacy class last semester I felt that it was difficult to combine a literacy task with a math lesson to ensure that the students are understanding the math “language” and not just the numbers. It takes a lot of thought and breaking down of the standards to incorporate it into a lesson and I feel that not all of these standards will be met.
I really like the idea how they use these standards to get the students prepared for college and their future because not a lot of students leave high school knowing what the next step is and how to approach or even communicate with the outside world.
What is not covered by the Standards (page 4)
ReplyDeleteStaying on Topic Within a Grade and Across Grades (page 43)
No section for mathematics
I believe this is an important document especially for a mathematics teacher because it allows me know where I should be expecting my students. If I am to implement literacy into my lessons I should know at what capacity. I do however find it very interesting that mathematics is left out of this document even though NYS requires literacy to be taught in math classes. This is especially interesting considering main aspects they expect of students in literacy are directly related to a mathematic mind: "Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and
relevant evidence.", "Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content."
This only provides me with more proof that connecting and collaborating with the teachers of other subjects to be increasingly justifiable.
K-12 Common Core State Standards
ReplyDelete“The Standards define what all students are expected to know and be able to do, not how teachers should teach.” This quote from the article answered the BIG question I had. In class we have been talking about can it be possible for teachers to do inquiry based learning as long as they are meeting the common core state standards, well I think this quote answers that! If state standards do not mention anything about how teachers should teach and only decide what skills the students should have by the end of the school year then why can’t a teacher plan inquiry based lessons and just make sure that the standards are being met? I guess this answer led me to another question. Is it possible to have inquiry based lessons and meet the state standards? Personally I do believe so; it just requires a lot of more effort into the lesson planning.