The Common Core's Fundamental Trouble (Blog #4)

Another great article.  It just makes me not like the Common Core even more than I already do, which scares me.  I know that this is what I am going to be teaching by and I need to get used to it, or think about changing my profession (which isn’t going to happen.)  I had heard about the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reform, but did not realize that is was the results from these assessments that made the U.S. aware of where our children stand in education.  The results from the once-a-year testing and assessments showed that “millions of students were not meeting existing standards.”  So why make it harder??  I believe that the NCLB program showed that pressure and testing is stressful and children buckle under pressure, so why would they want to make the test even more difficult?  The only thing that this is going to do is make more students drop-out.  I think about the ACT.  That test was torture for me.  I was so anxious and nervous about the test that I threw up the day of the test, each and every time I took it.  I finally stop taking it, because of the way that it made me feel.  I cannot imagine taking a test and knowing that I am going to fail.  And I cannot imagine giving a test, as a teacher, and knowing that 80% of my class is not going to pass it.  

This program shows no type of positive reinforcement, which a student and child needs!  Even Common Core supporter Charlotte Danielson states that, “The test items I’ve seen that have been released so far are extremely challenging.  ...That’s what I mean by train wreck.”  We need to get teachers and parents into the review panels, so that they give their opinions on the program, and work through the problems that they are seeing in the classroom and at home.  My opinion still stands, Common Core is going to be detrimental to the school system.  I hope I can soon be enlightened about some positive things this program has to offer.  

The Biggest Fallacy of the Common Core Standards (Blog #3)

The Common Core Standards “...discourage, they do not encourage.”  I enjoyed this article because this is my view on the sticky subject.  Although I am not a teacher yet, just the few things that I have heard about the changes towards common core have put a sour taste in my mouth.  Why do we need this change?  If it is to make sure that the children in North Dakota are learning the same things as the children in Louisiana, then this is unnecessary.  The article explains that we already have the National Assessment of Education Progress which compares the states to one another.  This change is to make children college and career ready.  I do not believe that changing the curriculum is going to make a child more ready than what they are being taught now.  Many children go to college after high-school and move onto getting a job, and the ones that do not go to college try to find a job in society.  

All that the Common Core is going to do is discourage children from going to college.  When they do not pass these standards, which are out of their reach, they will think of themselves as ignorant and not have enough self-esteem to move onto college.  Drop-out rates are about to sky rocket because of Common Core, which will lead to more teenagers getting minimum wage jobs.  Actually I see no good in the program!  I think that Common Core is going to take the fun out of teaching.  Our lesson plans will have to be prepared around what we have to teach instead of what we want to be teaching.  We might not even need to make lesson plans anymore, since the curriculum and what to be taught will be directly in front of us in the manual.  Before I am on board with the whole idea of Common Core, I am going to need to be educated on both sides of the subject, since right now I am only hearing the negativity of it.

How Teachers Are Integrating Tech Common Core

       Elementary School Principal Fred Sitkins likes the idea of common core and the technology advances that it includes.  He is excited to bring technology into instruction and thinks that the timing is perfect since society is moving towards technology and ipads are available for children in the classrooms.  He thinks that this connects children to the world, to deeper thinking and exploring.  Using different apps, students can take notes and share them with their peers, and teachers.  Sitkins likes that in the classroom a teacher can show a video, or article off of the internet or a student can look up a word or definition when they need help.
Personally I am scared of common core and adding technology to the classroom.  I do think it is necessary, but computer class can cover the basics.  I think testing online is going to be difficult, especially for a young child.  I think ipads are good if they are using them for learning, but a child can also have access to games that are not educational.  Then we have students playing at school instead of learning.  I think if Common Core is going to bring technology into the big picture, that the ipads should be blocked to certain websites and games.  Only put educational, helpful games onto the ipads.  Lastly I think that teachers should be able to turn the internet off during testing so that a student is not able to cheat.  I like the idea of technology in the classroom, I just think it needs some restrictions.

Introduction

My name is Madeline Varnado! I am a 20 year old Elementary Education major and when I grow up I hope to become a second grade teacher.  I want to be a teacher because I love children, have a young brother, and have babysat since I was 14.  I currently live in Hattiesburg, MS but I go home and visit my family often in Bogalusa, LA.  I live with my mom, dad, and 9 year old brother.  In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with friends and attending the movie theater.