Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/107698
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Common Core Myths and Facts, cont. from page 12 prepared to read, write, and research across the curriculum, including in history and science. These goals can be achieved by ensuring that teachers in other disciplines are focusing on reading and writing to build knowledge within their subject areas. were many state experts that came together to create a thoughtful and transparent process of standard setting. The initiative has provided educators, parents, and a wide range of stakeholders and experts the opportunity to provide input. Myth: Myth: Fact: Fact: The standards don't have enough emphasis on fiction/literature. The standards require certain critical content for all students, including: classic myths and stories from around the world, America's founding documents, foundational American literature, and Shakespeare. Appropriately, the remaining crucial decisions about what content should be taught are left to state and local determination. In addition to content coverage, the standards require that students systematically acquire knowledge in literature and other disciplines through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Myths about Process Myth: No teachers were involved in writing the standards. Fact: The standards are not research or evidence based. The standards have made careful use of a large and growing body of evidence. The evidence base includes scholarly research; surveys on what skills are required of students entering college and workforce training programs; assessment data identifying college and careerready performance; and comparisons to standards from high-performing states and nations. In ELA, the standards build on the firm foundation of the NAEP frameworks in Reading and Writing, which draw on extensive scholarly research and evidence. For Mathematics, the standards draw on conclusions from TIMSS and other studies of high-performing countries that the traditional U.S. mathematics curriculum must become substantially more coherent and focused in order to improve student achievement, addressing the problem of a curriculum that is "a mile wide and an inch deep." The common core state standards drafting process relied on teachers and standards experts from across the country. In addition, there Spring.13advo.indd 24 24 Spring 2013 x AEA Advocate 1/29/13 10:53 AM