Teachers and administrators in the Sandy Creek Central School District presented an informational evening on the changes in K-5 curriculum for Math and ELA that align with the Common Core State Standards.
Quiet activities were also available including watching a movie or working on craft projects during the Sandy Creek Elementary School’s Title 1 Math Night where parents learned about the changes in Math and ELA instruction in grades K-5. Pictured is Dustin Mackey as he works on a coloring project.
The main focus of the evening was to introduce parents to the new standards and help them understand what to look for and how to help their children at home.
The Common Core Standards are a single set of clear standards for ELA and math instruction that will prepare students for success and provide educators with a clear, focused map for what to teach and when.
This will provide instructional consistency, not only from district to district, but also from state to state.
All but five states have adopted the Common Core State Standards across the nation.
The coordinators of the program also shared with the parents curriculum timelines that show when their child will be learning specific skills in math and how selected standards change from year to year.
Students were able to enjoy some fun activities while their parents were busy learning about the Common Core State Standards and how they could help their children at home with these changes in Math and English Language Arts (ELA). Pictured are students and staff members as they participate in the Wii game “Just Dance.”
The Common Core Standards feature six shifts in mathematics including:
1) build skills across grade levels (more in-depth study); 2) learn more about less (building on learning); 3) use math facts easily (speed and accuracy); 4) really know it, really do it (understanding); 5) use math in the real world (practical application); and 6) think fast and solve problems (use core math facts quickly). The six shifts in ELA include: 1) read as much non-fiction as fiction; 2) learn about the world by reading; 3) read more challenging material; 4) talk about reading using evidence; 5) write about texts using evidence; and 6) know more vocabulary words.
Sara McNitt was one of several teachers who explained to parents in the Sandy Creek School District the new methodology in teaching math to grades K-5 that align with the Common Core Standards.
To equip parents with tools to help them work with their children at home, coordinators of the program presented the parents with “goody bags” which contained math manipulatives that were grade-specific.
The manipulatives included red/yellow counters and shake and spill counters that provide students with a visual to help them combine like groups and help them solve problems multiple ways.
Parents were also given tools and demonstrations on how to help their child divide math problems into equation, model, and answer sentences.
The bags also contained resources for frequently asked questions, expectations, math and ELA testing information and activities that parents and their children can do at home to help strengthen and reinforce the Common Core Standards.
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