Until recently academic standards such as the Common Core and NCTE have generally been presented to me in a negative light. I would hear teachers complain about making sure all the standards were hit. I would often also get assignment which seemed out of place and thats sole purpose was to hit whatever standard was stapled on to the top of the paper.
I remember reading the Common Core standards for the first time and being very surprised with the open ended of the standards. They seemed very manageable and that they could be easily reached by a variety of lessons or activities. I became both relieved and confused by my previous encounters regarding the negativity of the standards.
Reading both the Common Core Writing standards and the NCTE standards this week I paid closer attention to whether or not the two included some of the components of critical literacy ideology we discussed in class last week. I found that the NCTE standards very much reflected the critical literacy views .he standards ask that students generate ideas using questioning and problem posing, respond using diversity of language styles, use cross cultural examples and use their own language to accomplish their purpose. I felt that nearly all of the standards in the NCTE list kept in mind the critical literacy ideology. As I moved to the Common Core I expected that they may not be as mindful of the discourse. I was surprised to find that some of the standards worked well with critical literacy such as using claims and counter claims to support arguments, and writing paying attention to voice and audience.
Reading the article about the PAARC test brought back into my head some of the criticism of Common Core. Although it is widely known that the test was overall not liked, It was very interesting to see teachers opinions of the test and their more specific complaints. I found it very alarming that students and teachers both felt that the questions were inappropriate for the grade level taking the tests. To me that is setting students up for failure even before they sit down to answer the questions. Another aspect of the article I found interesting was educators are concerned about how affiliated PARCC and the Common Core are and that if this goes to far how much of the education system will ended up to their discretion. This may have also been fueling some of the earlier critiques I had heard about the Common Core.
Although I do agree there needs to be some way to measure student knowledge and make sure all students are getting a fair and equal education I am not sure that standards and high stakes tests are the answer.
Katie, I like that you pointed out two specific aspects of the different standards. To make a claim and counter claim is not critical in the way we are using critical; i.e., to question dominant narratives. Instead, it's more about critical thinking. Of course, we should teach students to do that too, but how would that change structural ideologies? Something to consider.
ReplyDeleteI, similarly, always thought of standards as being an enemy to progressive education, right along with standardized testing. The more we move through this program, the more I am also realizing that many of the standards put our larger goals as teachers onto paper. Testing, on the other hand, doesn't seem to aid the teacher or the student in any way that I can figure out.
ReplyDeleteI like the way that you approached both the NCTE and CCSS standards and I agree that the NCTE standards are more careful in attending to critical literacy strategies. I found the NCTE standards easier to follow and seemed more realistic for the students. I also agree that having questions for the PARCC testing that are not appropriate for grade levels is setting up students for failure. While it might be viewed as challenging students or trying to speed up student success, it does the opposite in discouraging students and making the educating process for both students and teachers much harder as a result.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the negative opinions of the standards. I have even been told by professors that they are "evil." While not perfect, I do see the value in many of the skills the standards address and after reviewing them closer, I think they are things good teachers should be doing anyway. Like Scott said, standardizing testing, on the other hand, is something that I do not support. I think it is unfair to assess every student the same way, when we know that we have students with special accommodations such as special education students and ELL's, as well as "regular" students who struggle with these forms of assessment. I believe that there are many ways to demonstrate that you have learned something, and while for some, standardizing testing may be one of these ways, for most, it only brings on feelings of fear, anxiety, and resentment.
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