Common Core Standards

         Dear Readers:

A response to English Language Arts Common Core State Standards and “The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts Instruction in Grades 6-12: Origins, Goals, and Challenges.”

Setting a standard for all students to learn by is difficult and can be seen in several views. I personally can see the benefits and downfalls of this type of teaching much like those the chapter presents. We want all students to be able to have the skills that will benefit them through life but we also know every student is different. By setting these strict standards are we neglecting students who’s intelligence is not measurable on that scale? Or are we preparing them to distinctly have the correct skills necessary for college and the job market? Some students are behind in reading and therefore cannot move to the advanced levels of these skills until they catch up. Should we reward them for advancing from the level the start at and encourage them to exemplify those skills within their abilities? Or push them farther than feel capable at risk of them not passing a standard test? This is one dilemma that as a future educator I find difficult to find an answer.

Luckily, Language Arts is at the base of most other subjects as well. So no matter what a student is interested in or area they excel in they will find it necessary to strive for excellence in language arts.  Most of the common core standards for literature and informational texts deal with not only reading and understanding but to think about the deeper meaning, what we as lit majors usually call the “why.” Teaching students to think critically about a text is giving them one of the most important skills for any type of career and to be a productive member of society. As the article put it, it is our job to “foster attentive and critical reading of complex literature and ‘staggering amount of information available today in print and digitally.’” This doesn’t necessarily mean the students must perfectly identify all the pieces of good literature or write a perfect essay, but what it does mean is that we build skills for critical thinking for all mediums that students will come into contact with so they can make educated well thought out decisions in their academic, professional, and personal lives.

Thanks for reading!

All the best,

Halee