CCS, in some ways overwhelm me and make me frustrated. I did not know that it was started by just one person and backed by millions of dollars from people in corporate America. The above reflections make me realize how the Common Core will limit creativity even more in our young children, whom we educate. I never really thought of the comparison of students who live in small or large cities, learning the same things, and how that could be detrimental to them. I thought in a very small way that it was beneficial to have states adopting CC in order to be more cohesive across the board. I looked at it as, if you have a student who moved back and forth between AZ and CA, they will benefit because the gaps should be less as the states would be teaching the same CC standards. However, now I can see the detriments, and the challenges as I am exposed to a different perspective. Unfortunately, I feel it comes down to increase control of the government, and this is another way for massive control over education, by every state (the ones who have adopted) all teaching the same standards. However, I have learned a long time ago, competition, helps us strive to do and be better, when there is no hierarchy, and everyone is doing the same, that system is doomed to fail.
What is happening in your schools as they relate to the issues raised in these readings and videos?
I see CCS being transitioned in my district, we will have full implementation in 2014-2015, and it is difficult to be teaching CCS and Arizona State Standards, as students will still be taking AIMS this coming school year. It is hard to put much focus on the CCS when they are not even being tested on them, and the so called transitioning has its challenges. There is a lot of pressure on these standards, and a lot of emphasis on student achievement and teacher accountability to the scores. These videos had me thinking, it makes me see how frustrated parents are, but I feel parents where I teach may not be informed enough about what is going on, and I am not sure if they would really put up a fight. I am not saying that they don't care, because I feel a lot of parents have a lot of respect for American schools, because they have such bad experiences in Mexico, or little education in their own home countries.
What are you experiencing as a teacher?
I feel helpless, I am at a point where it is just like, do as I say. I do it, I have to follow certain expectations, and creativity is very limited. Education is highly controlled, and unfortunately, I don't have the same feelings that teacher in the first video talked about, because this is really all I have ever known as a teacher. My first two/three years of teaching my school was under a Reading First grant, there was a lot of involvement from the state, we constantly had people in our classrooms. Then we went through grueling years of being an under-performing school, and that has its own set of trials and tribulations. So honestly I cannot say I have experienced this awesome time where I was able to be creative, and allow for my students to be creative. I have actually always felt like a controlled robot.
What are the reactions of parents to these issues?**
I think parents want what is best for their children, and some will not go down without a fight. I think it is great that there are all these parent movements supporting creativity and fighting testing companies. I know parents have a huge impact and they can help the process of change.
I agree that as novice teachers some of us find it difficult to imagine what education was like or what it could be. As you said, this is all we know. Sure, we have the knowledge of what has been and what could be, but as far as implementation is concerned, the ways of education today is all we have experienced. Parents and teachers want what is best for the students; I think the teachers' desire to provide students with the learning experiences they will benefit from is key. There are several pressures associated with CCSS and other assessments in schools, but teachers are finding ways to allow students to be creative and enjoy learning while addressing the CCSS. Teachers are "forced" to teach to the test so that students perform well, but I think teachers also need to find ways to make these types of activities interactive.
I try and find ways to make interesting activities for concepts, but for me it is not as easy as you make it sound. When it comes to AIMS testing my classroom is planned down to the day. I am given the lessons that I must follow and to be honest it is so much material that there is not time for there to be exploration type activities. I just pray that during this time I do not get sick or need to be gone for school related business, because then I will be behind and my students may not get all the necessary information covered.
It does, always feel like a major time crunch. I know it is hard to believe we will have time to dive deeper in these CCS, where there are less standards. I am not sure if the goal will be reached.