I'll start by saying I don't want a debate. I am a public school teacher, so I'd like to offer a teacher opinion on Common Core.
I teach 6th grade math- one of the hardest subjects dealing with common core.
First of all, change is always hard and there's always questions when the course of study is changed. Alabama hasn't had a major change is a really, really long time.
Alabama uses common core standards as it's base for its course of study. We actually call it "College and Career Ready Standards". And it's more rigorous than what we've had in the past. It's going to be harder on the kids in the middle grades right now than anyone else. Period.
Those of you who have primary kids right now though- in a few years, I really think you're going to be amazed at how your kids are thinking about problems (especially in math and science). This is because they have been taught the CCRS standards since kindergarten.
And as far as all of this "old way/new way" stuff you're seeing online about math problems, here's what really happening:
Remember when we were all in math class in school, and we had that teacher who always said "if you don't do it this way, I'm counting it wrong!"? Remember how much you hated hearing that?? Well that's NOT common core. Common core forces teachers not to do that.
We are asked to teach the students different strategies, so that they may choose the best strategy for them or that situation. I've seen 1st hand students in math multiplying and dividing in ways I never saw in school. And for those kids, that's the only way they get the answer correct. So good for them!
Personally, what I do, is introduce all the strategies, then I choose the one I think is best (this is what most people would call "the old way") and say, "This is the best strategy, I'll be doing all the problems this way, but if you like another, you do it that way. Just make sure we have the same answer!"
I think a lot of people are misreading a lot of the Common Core stuff out there. You have to remember that you can't believe everything you find online. Please talk to your public educators, who are out there in it everyday. Get the opinions of those who really understand it and have training on it before making any decisions.
There are parts I like, there are parts of it I don't. It's going to be that way no matter what we adopt. People are never going to be satisfied. Before CCRS, people complained because our kids weren't being taught enough. Now it's too hard... Before CCRS, people sent their kids to a different school or a private school because the curriculum was more challenging. Now we complain because it's more challenging.
Sorry for such a long post. I just get very defensive about my job, which I love and have an incredible passion for.
I'm a math nerd :)
