Dear Parents and Guardians and Community Members,
I wanted to share some additional
thoughts on the Common Core standards.
The implementation of Common Core is in full swing in Dakota. As we work toward implementation there have
been many thoughtful conversations between engaged administrators and teachers
plotting the course for how best to reflect the new standards in the
classroom. Common Core implementation in
Illinois hasn't been without resistance in some corners, but thoughtful
communication and presentations about these new expectations goes far to
increase understanding. As a district we continue to place information on our
website, in our newsletters, on the district facebook page and blog. These sites can be found at www.dakota201.com.
A recent survey by Scholastic shows that the awareness and support for Common
Core among Illinois educators is very strong. The third edition of Primary
Sources surveyed more than 20,000 teachers nationwide this summer and the full
report is not yet complete, but a preview with some state specific information is available now at http://www.scholastic.com/primarysources/2013preview/index.htm.
These preliminary results show strong support for and confidence in the Common
Core among educators, but also concerns about implementation. Some of the
findings include:
·
76 percent of surveyed
teachers are enthusiastic about implementing the Common Core.
·
79 percent of surveyed
teachers believe the new standards will have a positive impact on student
reasoning and critical thinking skills.
·
76 percent believe
implementation will be a challenge.
The survey showed teachers are
concerned about the availability of high quality instructional materials and
also how to best assist students currently working below grade level as well as
students with disabilities.
Please continue to view our website for
additional information on the Common Core Standards. Or you can view more information at the sites
listed below:
Illinois State Board of
Education:
Common
Core IL, a project of the Core Coalition:
Common
Core State Standards Initiative:
