Fall 2013 post #1

After participating in the webinar about Common Core Standards, what are your concerns? What ah-ha did you have about CCS?  What will you continue to do or do differently to ensure that you are teaching to the CCS?

My largest concern regarding teaching the Common Core Standards is the level of rigor; specifically, with regards to the level of reading comprehension skills that are required to be successful. As a teacher on the Navajo reservation I work with students who range from illiterate to low middle school reading levels. Even students that are near grade level do not have the vocabulary and cultural experiences to comprehend many of the situations portrayed in typical word problems. 

Highlighting the main changes that the Common Core Standards bring; i.e. rigor, coherency, and depth was helpful for me to understand better how the Common Core standards are different from the old Arizona standards. 

I will continue to stress conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts. I will also continue to spiral those concepts into new material so that students are required to maintain their understanding. I will start to choose problems and assignments that are aligned to the rigor/depth of knowledge of the new standards.