Common Core State Standards

My experience with Common Core begins with my high school education, where I was able to see firsthand the standards reforms happening in Washington State. At the time, the idea of Common Core State Standards was off-putting for a majority of my fellow students. We seemed to collectively agree that the standards appeared to be restricting our learning and creativity. But over time, as the standards have continued to be developed, and the implementation of those standards evolves, Common Core has become more palatable for me. The reading explains the goal of Common Core best when they quote, "standards provide a definition of what is possible, but standards are not curriculum documents". I think this sentiment is extremely important in understanding what the goal of Common Core standards are. Though my personal philosophy about education wouldn't include something like the state standards, they are a necessary and deeply integrated part of the public school system. Future teachers will have to learn about them and learn to adapt and teach to them. But like the quote says, they aren't necessarily constricting. Depending on the state and school, curriculum can still be fluid and outside the box. However, the standards are still there.

It was interesting getting an in-depth read into what the standards mean rather than what they actually are. The reading includes a concise history about how Common Core State Standards came to be in this country and further explains exactly what purpose they serve. Perhaps the most illuminating aspect of the article for me was learning about the different approaches. This part of state standards was not something that ever came across my mind, and it was fascinating to read about how Common Core can be approached/taught in a variety of ways that have their own pros and cons. It just goes to show how the standards aren't as strict as some people might make them seem.