by Dr. Robin E. Henderson
I begin this entry with a disclaimer; I am not as witty or clever as the author of this blog. I’m telling you this as I would hate for readership to take a significant dip because of today’s post. So, for the sake of my ego and lifelong friendship with the blog’s author, please keep reading. I am not a parent, but I am a teacher who now teaches teachers. I became a teacher before there were state standards.
Common Core Standards
I have watched the evolution of standardized testing in this country over the course of my twenty-year career in education. This summer I attended training for high school teachers on the implementation of the Common Core Standards. According to the website, the mission of the Common Core Standards (CCS) is to “…provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers.”
Now Please Pay Attention
I suspect that many parents will not sit down and memorize all of the CCS for their child’s current grade level. However, if you don’t look at any other standards, I encourage you to become well versed in the standards that are probably most important yet most often undervalued – life skills.
Life skills are standards you can help your child master while driving her to soccer practice. You can develop and enrich your son’s life skills as he assists you with dinner preparation. You might even find it helpful to work on your own life skills. No, I’m not talking about math facts or cursive handwriting or even reading comprehension (although they are all important). I’m referring to the keeping it real, Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards.
Just Keeping It Real
Yes, speaking and listening. A note on range and content of student speaking and listening from the Common Core website illustrates the need for improvements in speaking and listening:
To build a foundation for college and career readiness, students must have ample opportunities to take part in a variety of rich, structured conversations—as part of a whole class, in small groups, and with a partner. Being productive members of these conversations requires that students contribute accurate, relevant information; respond to and develop what others have said; make comparisons and contrasts; and analyze and synthesize a multitude of ideas in various domains.
Relevant and Real World
These standards make good on their promise. Being able to speak and listen well are about as relevant and real world as it gets. Think about how many conflicts we encounter as adults that could be avoided if only we listened better, thought before we spoke, or actually thought about how our contribution to a conversation would advance or derail the conversation. Think about how much better your relationship with your child would be if you actually considered their point of view and reasoning as they shared their hopes and dreams with you.
Think about how much easier navigating other relationships might be if you “come to discussions prepared, having read and researched the topic at hand. Thereby being able to explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas”. I know…it’s a lot to think about.
Life Skills Are Not Just For Children
The Common Core standards get pretty specific. Students are supposed to be prepared to ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood. Forget utilizing the Common Core standards for the K-12 students, can we send these requirements straight to Congress? The Partnership for 21st Century Skills – a coalition of American businesses with an international focus, included communicating and collaborating among the fundamental 21st century skills. This shouldn’t be surprising. Communicating and collaborating skills are fundamental to marriage, parenting, friendship, and have been since the beginning of time.
As I close, I want to ask a question to you mom and you dad. What have you done today to ensure your child is proficient in these two undervalued, extremely important life skills? If your response is little to nothing, the good news…it’s not too late to develop and enhance your child’s common core and life skill proficiency. Use your smart phone and look at the CCS. You can start today by speaking and listening to your daughter on the drive to soccer practice or while your son helps you with dinner in the kitchen.
Dr. Robin E. Henderson is a nationally recognized educational expert. When she’s not training some of the nation’s best teachers, you can find her at a Boot camp or running a marathon near you.
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thanks!