Hello, once again, Readers:
This is a response to “Teaching to Exceed the English
Language Arts Common Core State Standards: A Literacy Practices Approach for
6-12 Classrooms.”
As usual I
found this article to be extremely useful. Particularly in the explanation of
how to use Common Core Standards yet tailoring them to your classroom’s
specific needs. This text deals with developing and implementing a curriculum
based on Common Cores State Standards’ high expectations, learning in the 21st
century, varying degrees of literacy, teaching online, the use of role play as
a learning tool, homogenization of instruction, acknowledgement of cultural
diversity, and economic inequities’ influence on student performance. All of
these issues directly affect a teacher’s curriculum and methods in a classroom.
To do this seamlessly is a task today’s teaching are continuously learning and
striving for.
One section
that helped calm my nerves of teaching to Standards was “Developing Curriculum
Specific to your Classroom.” It reiterated that because they were skill based
standards they became guidelines or a “road map to developing curriculum that
is relevant to your unique students…”
But how do
I tailor curriculum based on prior knowledge and diverse social/cultural
settings? This piece showed me that there are many places to look in order to
find what suits a classroom demographic. For instance looking to previous state
or district curriculum for inspiration. Also the breadth of online resources
that other teachers and education professionals share is amazing. Chances are
if you are having trouble meeting certain needs and perspectives in the
classroom, another teacher has dealt with the same or a similar issue and is
willing to offer advice. (And most likely already have matched them up with
Common Core)
Another
section that I found very useful was “A Literary Practices Approach.” It
obviously called to my Lit major nerd self in that is used what I love about
the connection of literature to life in order to draw on the complex
diversities and worldviews of students. Which would allow them to find
something deeper in the text that they connect with and will be “create an
openness to keep learning and changing in acquiring new forms of expertise.”
As always this
article will be a useful tool in my own learning and professional development.
Cheers,
Halee
