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Common Core Curriculum

Victoria Randles

March 16, 2014

ENGL-112

Professor Ryan

Think about this for a minute, when someone gives you a simple math problem such as 32-12, how do you come to the answer? In the state of Louisiana they are implementing this curriculum called common core. Basically what it consists of involves multiple steps to complete a simple math equation, they are teaching students to take a simple math problem such as 32-12 and solve it in multiple steps. How did you solve this problem? Most of us would solve this problem in a couple simple steps to get the answer of 20. The steps in common core are as follows, 12+3=15, 15+5=20, 20+10=30, and 30+2=32. Then take the 3,5,10, and 2 and add them together to get 20. My first thought when I saw this was “Huh? Why? Where did they get the extra numbers?” I am concerned about this new teaching style because I have a son who will be turning 4 years old in July and he will be starting Pre-k in August. I am worried that I won’t be able to help him with his homework when he gets into first grade because I won’t understand it. I don’t want my child or anyone else’s child to fail. I think this new teaching style is horrible. Why put in more steps than are necessary?

When I was in grade school we learned how to do addition, subtraction multiplication, division, etc. Now I am hearing about this common core they are teaching and I am confused and so are the students and teachers. I have a friend who has a son in second grade, she tells me about some of his math homework that he brings home and how difficult it is to understand. Also, how hard it is to understand and try to help him with his homework. I also have a friend who is a teacher here and she doesn’t understand it. She is a special education teacher and has students coming to her to help with their homework. They tell her what they are supposed to do and she tries to read the directions but even she doesn’t understand it. It is...