Description
Book SynopsisA parent's guide to understanding the Common Core educational standards Designed to ensure a similar level of job and college preparedness for students from all backgrounds and regions, the Common Core standards have been adopted in 45 states from coast to coast.
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Beyond the Book 4
Part I: Getting Up to Speed on Common Core Standards 5
Chapter 1: Exploring Common Core’s Roots 7
Understanding the Rationale 8
Recognizing the standards 8
Recognizing the goals 9
Tracing Common Core’s History 10
Identifying the barriers 11
Resuming the conversation 12
Developing the Common Core Standards 13
State Adoptions and Implementation 14
Recognizing Common Core states 15
Striving to implement Common Core 16
Chapter 2: Grasping the Basics of the Common Core Standards 17
Brushing Up on Mathematics Practice and Content Standards 18
Meeting the standards for mathematical practice 19
Getting familiar with content standards by domain 22
Looking at the mathematics appendix 25
Exploring the English Language Arts Standards 26
Improving reading comprehension 27
Honing writing skills 29
Cultivating speaking and listening skills 29
Fine-tuning grammar, usage, mechanics, and vocabulary 30
Addressing Standard 10 30
The literacy standards 31
Tapping the ELA appendixes 32
Focusing on Instructional Shifts 34
Navigating instructional shifts in math 34
Exploring instructional shifts in English language arts and literacy 35
Chapter 3: Supporting Common Core at Home: Your Role as a Parent 37
Creating a Setting Conducive to Learning 38
Modeling Lifelong Learning 40
Encouraging and Nurturing a Curious Mind 41
Making Learning Resources Readily Available 43
Making Education Relevant to the Real World 45
Supporting the School’s Efforts 46
Chapter 4: Teaming Up with Teachers 49
Communicating Effectively with Teachers and Administrators 49
Monitoring Your Child’s Performance and Progress 51
Helping with Homework 54
Volunteering at School 55
Part II: Acquainting Yourself with the Standards 57
Chapter 5: Doing the Math in Kindergarten through Grade 8 59
Looking at K–8 Content Standards 59
Meeting Numbers and Shapes in Kindergarten 60
Counting and cardinality 61
Operations and algebraic thinking 61
Number and operations in base ten 62
Measurement and data 63
Geometry 63
Stepping Up with Numbers, Operations, and Shapes in Grade 1 64
Operations and algebraic thinking 65
Number and operations in base ten 65
Measurement and data 65
Geometry 66
Laying the Groundwork for Multiplication in Grade 2 66
Operations and algebraic thinking 67
Number and operations in base ten 67
Measurement and data 68
Geometry 68
Multiplying, Dividing, and Meeting Fractions in Grade 3 68
Operations and algebraic thinking 69
Number and operations in base ten 69
Number and operations: Fractions 70
Measurement and data 70
Geometry 71
Gaining Expertise in Multiplication, Division, and Shapes in Grade 4 71
Operations and algebraic thinking 72
Number and operations in base ten 72
Number and operations: Fractions 73
Measurement and data 73
Geometry 74
Honing Skills in Fractions, Division, and Volume in Grade 5 74
Operations and algebraic thinking 74
Number and operations in base ten 76
Number and operations: Fractions 76
Measurement and data 76
Geometry 77
Exploring Ratios, Rates, Variables, Exponents, and More in Grade 6 77
Ratios and proportional relationships 78
The number system 78
Expressions and equations 79
Geometry 79
Statistics and probability 80
Solving Real-World Problems Involving Fractions, Ratios, and More in Grade 7 80
Ratios and proportional relationships 80
The number system 81
Expressions and equations 81
Geometry 82
Statistics and probability 82
Gearing Up for Higher Math in Grade 8 82
The number system 83
Expressions and equations 84
Functions 84
Geometry 84
Statistics and probability 84
Chapter 6: Graduating to High School Math Standards 85
Revisiting Number and Quantity 86
The real number system 87
Quantity 88
The complex number system 90
Vector and matrix quantities 94
Discovering the Unknowns with Algebra 99
Spotting structure in expressions 100
Grasping polynomials and rational expressions 100
Building equations 101
Reasoning with equations and inequalities 102
Putting the “Fun” in Functions 103
Creating functions 104
Exploring linear, quadratic, and exponential models 104
Working with trigonometric functions 107
Applying Mathematics to the Real World with Modeling 108
Shaping Up with Geometry 108
Congruence 108
Similarity, right triangles, and trigonometry 109
Circles 112
Geometric properties as equations 113
Geometric measurement and dimension 115
Geometric modeling 116
Crunching Numbers with Statistics and Probability 116
Interpreting categorical and quantitative data 117
Making inferences and justifying conclusions 118
Exploring conditional probability and probability rules 119
Using probability to make decisions 120
Chapter 7: Helping Your Child Achieve English Language Arts Standards in K–5 121
Looking at the Anchor Standards 122
Reading 122
Writing 124
Speaking and listening 125
Language 125
Mastering Foundational Reading Skills 126
Kindergarten 126
Grade 1 127
Grade 2 127
Grade 3 128
Grades 4–5 128
Reading and Understanding Literature 128
Kindergarten 129
Grade 1 130
Grade 2 130
Grade 3 130
Grade 4 131
Grade 5 131
Reading and Deciphering Informational Texts 132
Kindergarten 132
Grade 1 133
Grade 2 133
Grade 3 133
Grade 4 134
Grade 5 134
Writing Clearly and Effectively 135
Kindergarten 135
Grade 1 136
Grade 2 136
Grade 3 136
Grade 4 137
Grade 5 137
Speaking and Listening Standards 138
Kindergarten 138
Grade 1 139
Grade 2 139
Grade 3 139
Grade 4 140
Grade 5 140
English Language Rules and Conventions 141
Kindergarten 141
Grade 1 142
Grade 2 142
Grade 3 143
Grade 4 144
Grade 5 144
Chapter 8: Raising the Bar: English Language Arts Standards in Grades 6 – 12 147
Reading More Sophisticated Literature and Informational Texts 148
Grade 6 148
Grade 7 149
Grade 8 150
Grades 9–10 150
Grades 11–12 151
Honing Your Child’s Writing Skills 152
Grade 6 153
Grade 7 154
Grade 8 155
Grades 9–10 156
Grades 11–12 157
Mastering the Spoken Word: Speaking and Listening 158
Grade 6 159
Grade 7 159
Grade 8 160
Grades 9–10 160
Grades 11–12 160
Exploring Higher-Level Rules and Conventions of Language 161
Grade 6 161
Grade 7 162
Grade 8 162
Grades 9–10 163
Grades 11–12 164
Chapter 9: Mastering Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 165
Improving Reading Comprehension in History/Social Studies 166
Grades 6–8 167
Grades 9–10 167
Grades 11–12 168
Deciphering Texts on Scientific and Technical Topics 169
Grades 6–8 169
Grades 9–10 170
Grades 11–12 171
Writing about History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 173
Part III: Part of Tens 175
Chapter 10: Ten Tips for Parents 177
What’s My Child Currently Working On? 178
How Well Is My Child Meeting Expectations? 178
May I See Samples of My Child’s Work? 178
Is My Child Struggling in Any Subject Areas? 179
In Which Subject Areas Does My Child Excel? 180
What Can I Do to Help My Child Achieve the Standards? 180
If My Child Needs Help with Homework, What Resources Are Available? 180
Does the School Offer Any Opportunities for Academic Enrichment? 181
What Can My Child Be Doing to Develop Good Study Habits? 182
Which Classes Should My Child Be Taking 182
Chapter 11: Ten Ways to Help Your Child Achieve Common Core Standards 183
Know What Your Child Is Working on 184
Monitor Your Child’s Performance 184
Have a Daily Homework/Study Routine 185
Provide a Study-Friendly Environment 186
Don’t Do Your Child’s Homework! 186
Praise Your Child’s Efforts 187
Provide Interesting Reading Material 188
Encourage Your Child to Take Advantage of Academic Enrichment Opportunities 189
Take Fun, Educational Trips 189
Encourage Stimulating Hobbies 190
Appendix: Resources for the Common Core Standards 191
Index 195
