An Introduction to the Common Core State Standards

Have you heard of the common core state standards initiative (CCSSI)[1]? If you're a math teacher in the United States, you may already be familiar with the goals of the common core standards initiative, but many parents are not sure what this means for their schools and their kids.


Essentially, the CCSSI is an educational initiative in the United States that attempts to align the myriad state standards for math and English into a comprehensive set of national standards that will define the knowledge and skills that all students should have at every step of their education - from Kindergarten through 12th grade. The standards will also allow teachers and parents to understand exactly what students should be learning and when in an attempt to better prepare all students for college and beyond [2]. The common standards will make it easier for both parents and teachers to assess their student's achievements across the country as well as against international standards. 


The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) fully supports the goals of the common core standards initiative and has been at the forefront of its development [3]. The NCTM has been a key partner in developing the common core standards and is actively working with teachers and administrators nationwide as implementation of the standards begins (and continues through 2015). 


NCTM standards and research already play a significant role in the Peaksmart curricula. The Peaksmart team has been watching the development of the common core standards for math as we continue to evolve our math ecosystem. We will continue to monitor the roll-out and implementation of the common core standards initiative and provide you with more details to help you understand the impact for your schools and kids. In the meantime, the Peaksmart team is happy to provide practices, quizzes, and lessons that can be used to help promote the goals of this wide-reaching initiative to improve math education in the U.S.


References
1. http://corestandards.org//
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Core_State_Standards_Initiative
3. http://www.nctm.org/news/content.aspx?id=26109