Hello-
I just want to thank everyone for reading my posts and for the comments left. I'll continue to do my best to make my blog as entertaining as possible.
I just watched the YouTube videos from the Teaching Channel on the Common Core Standards. I started with the middle school level video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC4OG11zOC8&feature=youtu.be), but I was curious about the other ones because of the nature of the video itself. I had the time, so I watched all of them. They did a great job obscuring the intent of the video; I couldn't quite tell if they were marketing videos or informational videos. I've settled on marketing videos, because it seems like there may be some resistance to the implementation of the Common Core Standards, and these videos show teachers coming to grips with them and giving the new standards a shot in their classroom. I also noticed that the classes were fairly small and the teachers were telegenic and attractive (Too bad the principles weren't).
It's easy to forget that teachers are public employees. I've been a public employee before. I worked for the County of Los Angeles in the Probate Division. It's a strange environment when there isn't really a owner or a real boss and decisions are handed down "from on high". This is akin to the situation these videos are trying to address. I imagine, in general teachers look at what they have to teach and what they want to teach, what book they have to teach out of, what material they have to cover, and it probably takes a few years to get that down. Some teachers figure out what they have to do and go into cruise mode. Some teachers figure out what they have to do, which allows them to improvise and make it fun. Both allow for somewhat of a life outside of teaching.
Suddenly everything is shaken up. A veteran teacher is faced with the work and adjustments of a first year teacher again. That can't be a good feeling. I think these videos are made with these teachers in mind. They are basically saying "it's 90% the same thing, you just get to slow down and go deeper in some areas of your choice". They are trying to offer assurances in a time when teachers are expected to work more with less a la the weak economy.
That being said, I think I agree with the Common Core Standards. They seem to emphasize more rational thinking and writing as well as more practical problem solving. This is what America needs if we want to be competitive in the global village into the twenty first century.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Andy
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you state that this is what America needs in order to build more skilled citizens that can compete with the rest of the world. I enjoyed watching these videos, I learned a lot, and I was empowered by teacher’s coping mechanisms with the changes. Like you mentioned I think there was quite the resistance. I guess this can be very overwhelming not only for first year teachers, but for those teachers that have the experience, but need to change methodologies, practices and roles. It must be hard when everything is shaken down, however, at the end of the third video I felt confident that there are more benefits to the Common Core State Standards. I wonder how our education will be ten years after the implementation of these standards.
See you on Tuesday,
Lupita
Hello Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you in the fact that they seem like marketing videos. They seem to address the issues of resistance and show ways that teachers in these pilot schools are dealing with them. With that being said, these videos are also pretty informative and really show the benefits of implementing the Common Core Standards. I also like the idea of "shaking" things up in the classroom -- I don't think anyone should ever reach that coasting mode where they can sort of go through the motions. The society we live in changes everyday and teachers need to be not only willing to recognize these changes, but willing to overcome them as well.
Love you,
Vince Riedel