The Core is the Family and the Community
" The family and the community surrounding the child outside of the classroom environment are two of the most important supports for our students in reaching the goals set forth in the Common Core State Standards. Our job as educators is to enroll parents and the community in the process of creating literate learners, to break down the barriers impeding the active collaboration and participation of the family and the community."
-Pam Allyn (2013, p.159)
" The family and the community surrounding the child outside of the classroom environment are two of the most important supports for our students in reaching the goals set forth in the Common Core State Standards. Our job as educators is to enroll parents and the community in the process of creating literate learners, to break down the barriers impeding the active collaboration and participation of the family and the community."
-Pam Allyn (2013, p.159)
What the CCSS Means for CommunityThere are many misconceptions about the CCSS that community and family members often think. Teachers need to reach out to the community to share what the CCSS are and why they are important. The community needs to realize that this is an opportunity for everyone to come together to reach one common objective. Allyn (2013, p. 160) suggests several ways to engage the community in the CCSS. Some of these include:
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- Enrolling parents and the community in the process of creating literate learners and create a true partnership between the district and the world outside of the classroom
- Help support the development of parents' understanding of the standards and how they can play a role
- Recreate the CCSS into accessible language that is available to the community
- Focus on ways families can support the components of the CCSS
- Empower families with an understanding of concrete activities they can do at home to help their children become lifelong readers and writers.
What the CCSS Means for FamilyThe CCSS should be communicated with families regularly and positively One way to incorporate families into the CCSS would be to create a readable language for families an communicate which standards are being taught throughout the week through e-mail or newsletter. Allyn (2013), states that teachers should also focus on ways families can support the speaking and listening components of the CCSS. Parents could engage thoughtful conversations with their students to help support real thinking. Families can also help support the minutes that the student is actually reading in school. Asking parents to continue to increase students interest in a topic at home through their own reading or research on the computer. Teachers can help parents by creating reading lists, providing parents with supplemental activities to reinforce standards at home.
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Above is a Parent Roadmap that would aid a parent in supporting their student in the 5th grade English Language Arts standards. Click the button below to find road maps for other grade levels.
Retrieved from: http://www.cgcs.org/Page/330 |
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- Having a Core Ready assembly where teachers explain the CCSS in kid-friendly terms.
- Appoint Core Ready youth ambassadors who would meet regularly and create projects to make a difference in their Core Ready school.
- Creating a Core Ready newspaper or online magazine where students share their best work. Community members, families and staff could be included to make comments about their hard work.