Action Plan for Common Core State Standards Based Teaching

Misson of the Common Core State Standards:
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.

OK Teachers! Whether we agree or not with the standards-based movement we have to agree that it is not going to go away. I would like to propose that we find simpler ways to make meeting the standards more streamlined and easier to implement so that teachers have more time to teach! So, how do we do this? Let's take the CCSS mission statement and break it down into an an action plan:

1. Provide a consistent clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them.This means that we must assume that we have a community of support. Action plan component number one: Build and define a community of support for teachers, parents and students.
2. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. The real world of learning includes experiential opportunities that exist outside of preparing for tests. Action plan component number two: Provide experiential opportunities to help students develop a strong sense of self and community; to strengthen critical thinking and problem solving skills.
3. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will best be positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. For our students to compete successfully in the global economy means that our students need to learn and know about the global economy. Action plan number three: Teach students about the world.