Common Core Standards

Common Core standards were introduced within New York's school P.S. 124 for level k to 2nd grade in the subject matter of mathematics. Students here, are being introduced to math concepts where they are expected to not only figure out answers but also use their critical thinking skills in order to find them. These new common core standards promote both written and oral skills within math. One example shown, was when the students were to not only find out number answers but show the way in which they found them, This was demonstrated with them finding their conclusions by making charts and graphs. Such a demonstration allows for children to not only find an answer but gives them the opportunity to explain how they got there. This new method of common core standards is beneficial in that it helps the teachers see which students are struggling and which students understand which concepts. Often times some children will move at a faster pace then others, so the children that are struggling can now take time to internalize the information, so no one falls behind. These "domains" as they called it are the basis for kindergarten level thinking and include counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, numbers and operations in base ten, measurement and data, and geometry. The domains change at grade level and are called progressions. These basic domains are being used as the stepping stones into the students career path. Teachers were in favor with these new types of standards, saying that they enjoy seeing their students having to think, while noting there are often times multiple ways of figuring out a problem.
The next set of common core standards were implemented in the elementary's 4th and 5th grade classes where children had to make observations and inferences about the characters in their books and then impersonate them in their own talk show. This method allowed students to become more organized by using their text to help them figure out their ideas. Responding to text is also included as part of these common core standards for language and visual arts as well as literacy in history/social studies, and science and technical studies. This type of preparation now is what will be used to help them later on in life...
When it came to the English language learners, they too were expected to work collaboratively with one another as they are considered to be at the same pace as their fellow students.
I personally see these new common core standards as a beneficial movement as it allows students to use their critical thinking skills, which in turn leads to academic improvement. The only roadblock I see, is keeping everyone at the same level. Because students learn so differently, these common core standards may be a a bit more challenging for certain students.