The Common Core State Standards at Arlene Hein Elementary SchoolInformation for ParentsJuly-September, 2013Adapted from CCSS for Elementary Parents 2013EGUSD Department of Curriculum & Professional Learning, A. Zeman

In this presentation:New Academic Standards In The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD)What Are The Common Core State Standards?Why Is EGUSD Changing To Common Core State Standards?How Will This Affect My Child?What Should I Expect In The Future?How Can I Help My Child To Do Well In School?

New in EGUSDBeginning this year, elementary students in all EGUSD schools will be taught and will learn new curriculum in both English/language arts and mathematics. This new curriculum prepares students to meet the expectations of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).3

Let’s watch this introduction to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).From the Hunt Institute:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9IGD9oLofksFrom the Council of Great City Schools:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5s0rRk9sER04

What Are the Common Core State Standards?Standards define the academic goals for student learning.Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are new, adopted by California in August 2010.5CCSS have been adopted in 46 states.Students will be assessed on CCSS beginning in 2014-15.

What Are the Common Core State Standards?These K-12 standards…6 Are aligned with college and career expectations. Are the new standards for academic performance.Are the concepts and skills that all students will learn.

Common Core State Standards: Have some similarities to the previous standards; Contain some important differences: Emphasis on clear thinking and clearly communicating one’s thinking to othersEmphasis on mathematical reasoning, expressing ideas in writing, and reading both stories and informational text7

How Do Common Core State StandardsImprove Learning?8Prepare our students to be competitive with students from top-performing countriesCommunicate clearly what is expected at each grade levelCreate cohesion across states

Why Is EGUSD Changing to Common Core State Standards Now?Gradual transition allows teachers & students time to adjust before testing begins. Students & teachers make the transition to CCSS in one subject per year.Students & teachers need time in order to be prepared for the new testing which begins in 2014-15.9

Transition to Common Core State Standards 10

How Will This Affect My Child in Kindergarten Through 2nd Grade?11Most important goals:Learning to readLearning to writeBecoming competent and confident in working with numbers

How Will This Affect My Child in Grades 3 – 6?12Greater percentage of reading of informational text as opposed to narrative or “stories”Greater emphasis on writing: narrative, informational, and persuasive

How Will This Affect My Child in Grades 3 – 6?13Students will use the new Go Math textbooks this year.Students will be asked to explain their mathematical reasoning. Students will learn to solve problems using multiple methods.Students’ math lessons will reflect a balance of conceptual understanding, procedural proficiency, and application.

What Should I Expect in the Future?California’s standardized testing system is in transition.2013-14 is the last year of California’s STAR (California Standards Test or CST) program. Students in grades 3-6 will be tested.The CST is not aligned with the Common Core. However, students who meet CCSS expectations will also do well on the CST.14

How Can I Help My Child to Do Well in School? Young students, Kindergarten and 1st Grade:Read to your child often! Vary what you read, choosing both stories and informational selections. Read material that your child cannot yet read for himself or herself.Hold conversations with your child daily. Select topics that help your child to build an understanding of our world: nature, weather, age-appropriate news stories, etc.15

How Can I Help My Child to Do Well in School?Young Students, Kindergarten and 1st Grade:Give your child opportunities to count and to compare numbers. (“Would you please count the number of slices of bread in each package and tell me which has a greater number?”)Ask your child about “real-life” addition and subtraction problems. (“Here’s a carton of a dozen eggs. If I use three, how many will be left?”)16

How Can I Help My Child to Do Well in School?Students in Grades 2 – 3 Read to your child! Vary what you read, choosing both stories and informational selections. Read material that your child cannot yet read for himself or herself.Provide a time for sustained reading every day. Encourage your child to periodically read selections that are a bit challenging. Encourage him or her to keep at it and re-read portions for understanding.17

How Can I Help My Child to Do Well in School?Students in Grades 2 – 3Play games that assist your child in learning math facts.When at a store, ask your child to mentally calculate total costs and amount of change.If your child asks for assistance with math homework, first ask him or her to re-read the directions, the problem, and the top portion of the page. Ask him/her what ideas he has to solve the problem.18

How Can I Help My Child to Do Well in School?Students in Grades 4 – 6Provide a time for sustained reading every day. Encourage your child to periodically read selections that are a bit challenging. Encourage him or her to keep at it and re-read portions for understanding.Encourage the use of precise vocabulary.When your child offers an opinion, ask him or her to identify the information that supports the opinion.19

How Can I Help My Child to Do Well in School?Students in Grades 4 – 6Give your child opportunities to work with fractions such as when cooking or measuring materials for projects. Encourage him/her to talk about the reasoning involved in thinking about fractions.Ask your child to assist in calculating everyday problems such as tips, costs of gasoline for trips. Ask your child to explain his/her reasoning and how he or she got the answer.20

How Can I Help My Child To Do Well In School?ALL Students:Read, read, read! Encourage – and model – reading of all sorts of materials: books of fiction; books that provide information; informative internet sites; magazines; sets of directions.Read for sustained periods of time daily.21

How Can I Help My Child To Do Well In School?ALL Students: Speak positively about math! If your own experiences in mathematics were not positive, do not share that with your child. Instead, tell your child, “Math is the basis of technology and a lot of science. Math is pretty cool.” 22

How Can I Learn More About Common Core?23Find more information about Common Core:http://blogs.egusd.net/ccssTalk to your child’s teacher.Find resources for math by logging into “Think Central,” the website associated with our Go Math textbooks. (Login provided by your child’s teacher.)Refer to the information sheet provided to you tonight.

Common Core State Standards Are Here!What questions do you have?