Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

LONGMEADOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS  |  535 BLISS ROAD  |   LONGMEADOW, MA  01106  |  P  413-565-4200  |   F 413-565-4215

WHAT ARE THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS?

The Common Core is a set of standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics that provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn. These shared standards, or learning expectations, allow educators and families to provide the necessary instruction and intervention to prepare our students for college and career readiness in the 21st century. These standards are rigorous and robust and focus on the most critical skills our students will need to be successful in their lives beyond our K-12 schools. 

HOW ARE THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS DIFFERENT FROM PAST PRACTICES? 

Shifts in English Language Arts (ELA) Standards.   The ELA common core standards shift our instruction in three key ways throughout grades K-12. First, the standards emphasize text complexity and require regular practice with increasingly complex text and related academic language. Second, the standards emphasize reading and writing substantiated by evidence from both informational and literary text. FInally, the standards require building schema through content rich nonfiction texts. 

Shifts in Mathematics Standards.   The Mathematics common core standards shift our instruction in four key ways throughout grades K-12. First, educators will significantly taper and deepen the scope of math instruction. Second, students are expected to demonstrate fluency, which includes both speed and accuracy, when making simple calculations. Third, students master concepts and demonstrate their ability to adeptly tackle math concepts before moving on to new learning. This involves much more rigorous understandings than simply memorizing and applying a formula. Finally, students are expected to apply math concepts and skills independently and choose appropriate strategies for solving complex problems even when they are not prompted to do so.