Common Core Standards For Parents For Dummies

A parent's guide to understanding the Common Core educational standards

 Designed to ensure a similar level of job and college preparedness for students from all backgrounds and regions, the Common Core standards have been adopted in 45 states from coast to coast. These new common standards are designed to bring many diverse state standards into alignment with each other in math and English to create a set of national educational standards. Common Core Standards For Parents For Dummies explains this new set of standards, what it means for students, and how parents can get their children prepared for the school year. 

• Explains what changes to expect in the classroom
• Includes a grade-by-grade explanation of the new math and English standards
• Provides tips and exercises for helping students succeed

For parents who want to help their kids excel at school, Common Core Standards For Parents For Dummies is a handy, straightforward guide that explains everything they need to know.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Beyond the Book 4

Part I: Getting Up to Speed on Common Core Standards 5

Chapter 1: Exploring Common Core’s Roots 7

Understanding the Rationale 8

Recognizing the standards 8

Recognizing the goals 9

Tracing Common Core’s History 10

Identifying the barriers 11

Resuming the conversation 12

Developing the Common Core Standards 13

State Adoptions and Implementation 14

Recognizing Common Core states 15

Striving to implement Common Core 16

Chapter 2: Grasping the Basics of the Common Core Standards 17

Brushing Up on Mathematics Practice and Content Standards 18

Meeting the standards for mathematical practice 19

Getting familiar with content standards by domain 22

Looking at the mathematics appendix 25

Exploring the English Language Arts Standards 26

Improving reading comprehension 27

Honing writing skills 29

Cultivating speaking and listening skills 29

Fine-tuning grammar, usage, mechanics, and vocabulary 30

Addressing Standard 10 30

The literacy standards 31

Tapping the ELA appendixes 32

Focusing on Instructional Shifts 34

Navigating instructional shifts in math 34

Exploring instructional shifts in English language arts and literacy 35

Chapter 3: Supporting Common Core at Home: Your Role as a Parent 37

Creating a Setting Conducive to Learning 38

Modeling Lifelong Learning 40

Encouraging and Nurturing a Curious Mind 41

Making Learning Resources Readily Available 43

Making Education Relevant to the Real World 45

Supporting the School’s Efforts 46

Chapter 4: Teaming Up with Teachers 49

Communicating Effectively with Teachers and Administrators 49

Monitoring Your Child’s Performance and Progress 51

Helping with Homework 54

Volunteering at School 55

Part II: Acquainting Yourself with the Standards 57

Chapter 5: Doing the Math in Kindergarten through Grade 8 59

Looking at K–8 Content Standards 59

Meeting Numbers and Shapes in Kindergarten 60

Counting and cardinality 61

Operations and algebraic thinking 61

Number and operations in base ten 62

Measurement and data 63

Geometry 63

Stepping Up with Numbers, Operations, and Shapes in Grade 1 64

Operations and algebraic thinking 65

Number and operations in base ten 65

Measurement and data 65

Geometry 66

Laying the Groundwork for Multiplication in Grade 2 66

Operations and algebraic thinking 67

Number and operations in base ten 67

Measurement and data 68

Geometry 68

Multiplying, Dividing, and Meeting Fractions in Grade 3 68

Operations and algebraic thinking 69

Number and operations in base ten 69

Number and operations: Fractions 70

Measurement and data 70

Geometry 71

Gaining Expertise in Multiplication, Division, and Shapes in Grade 4 71

Operations and algebraic thinking 72

Number and operations in base ten 72

Number and operations: Fractions 73

Measurement and data 73

Geometry 74

Honing Skills in Fractions, Division, and Volume in Grade 5 74

Operations and algebraic thinking 74

Number and operations in base ten 76

Number and operations: Fractions 76

Measurement and data 76

Geometry 77

Exploring Ratios, Rates, Variables, Exponents, and More in Grade 6 77

Ratios and proportional relationships 78

The number system 78

Expressions and equations 79

Geometry 79

Statistics and probability 80

Solving Real-World Problems Involving Fractions, Ratios, and More in Grade 7 80

Ratios and proportional relationships 80

The number system 81

Expressions and equations 81

Geometry 82

Statistics and probability 82

Gearing Up for Higher Math in Grade 8 82

The number system 83

Expressions and equations 84

Functions 84

Geometry 84

Statistics and probability 84

Chapter 6: Graduating to High School Math Standards 85

Revisiting Number and Quantity 86

The real number system 87

Quantity 88

The complex number system 90

Vector and matrix quantities 94

Discovering the Unknowns with Algebra 99

Spotting structure in expressions 100

Grasping polynomials and rational expressions 100

Building equations 101

Reasoning with equations and inequalities 102

Putting the “Fun” in Functions 103

Creating functions 104

Exploring linear, quadratic, and exponential models 104

Working with trigonometric functions 107

Applying Mathematics to the Real World with Modeling 108

Shaping Up with Geometry 108

Congruence 108

Similarity, right triangles, and trigonometry 109

Circles 112

Geometric properties as equations 113

Geometric measurement and dimension 115

Geometric modeling 116

Crunching Numbers with Statistics and Probability 116

Interpreting categorical and quantitative data 117

Making inferences and justifying conclusions 118

Exploring conditional probability and probability rules 119

Using probability to make decisions 120

Chapter 7: Helping Your Child Achieve English Language Arts Standards in K–5 121

Looking at the Anchor Standards 122

Reading 122

Writing 124

Speaking and listening 125

Language 125

Mastering Foundational Reading Skills 126

Kindergarten 126

Grade 1 127

Grade 2 127

Grade 3 128

Grades 4–5 128

Reading and Understanding Literature 128

Kindergarten 129

Grade 1 130

Grade 2 130

Grade 3 130

Grade 4 131

Grade 5 131

Reading and Deciphering Informational Texts 132

Kindergarten 132

Grade 1 133

Grade 2 133

Grade 3 133

Grade 4 134

Grade 5 134

Writing Clearly and Effectively 135

Kindergarten 135

Grade 1 136

Grade 2 136

Grade 3 136

Grade 4 137

Grade 5 137

Speaking and Listening Standards 138

Kindergarten 138

Grade 1 139

Grade 2 139

Grade 3 139

Grade 4 140

Grade 5 140

English Language Rules and Conventions 141

Kindergarten 141

Grade 1 142

Grade 2 142

Grade 3 143

Grade 4 144

Grade 5 144

Chapter 8: Raising the Bar: English Language Arts Standards in Grades 6–12 147

Reading More Sophisticated Literature and Informational Texts 148

Grade 6 148

Grade 7 149

Grade 8 150

Grades 9–10 150

Grades 11–12 151

Honing Your Child’s Writing Skills 152

Grade 6 153

Grade 7 154

Grade 8 155

Grades 9–10 156

Grades 11–12 157

Mastering the Spoken Word: Speaking and Listening 158

Grade 6 159

Grade 7 159

Grade 8 160

Grades 9–10 160

Grades 11–12 160

Exploring Higher-Level Rules and Conventions of Language 161

Grade 6 161

Grade 7 162

Grade 8 162

Grades 9–10 163

Grades 11–12 164

Chapter 9: Mastering Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 165

Improving Reading Comprehension in History/Social Studies 166

Grades 6–8 167

Grades 9–10 167

Grades 11–12 168

Deciphering Texts on Scientific and Technical Topics 169

Grades 6–8 169

Grades 9–10 170

Grades 11–12 171

Writing about History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 173

Part III: Part of Tens 175

Chapter 10: Ten Tips for Parents 177

What’s My Child Currently Working On? 178

How Well Is My Child Meeting Expectations? 178

May I See Samples of My Child’s Work? 178

Is My Child Struggling in Any Subject Areas? 179

In Which Subject Areas Does My Child Excel? 180

What Can I Do to Help My Child Achieve the Standards? 180

If My Child Needs Help with Homework, What Resources Are Available? 180

Does the School Offer Any Opportunities for Academic Enrichment? 181

What Can My Child Be Doing to Develop Good Study Habits? 182

Which Classes Should My Child Be Taking 182

Chapter 11: Ten Ways to Help Your Child Achieve Common Core Standards 183

Know What Your Child Is Working on 184

Monitor Your Child’s Performance 184

Have a Daily Homework/Study Routine 185

Provide a Study-Friendly Environment 186

Don’t Do Your Child’s Homework! 186

Praise Your Child’s Efforts 187

Provide Interesting Reading Material 188

Encourage Your Child to Take Advantage of Academic Enrichment Opportunities 189

Take Fun, Educational Trips 189

Encourage Stimulating Hobbies 190

Appendix: Resources for the Common Core Standards 191

Index 195

Jared Myracle, Ed.D. has experience in many different facets of education, including teaching and school administration. He has also served two years on the Tennessee Department of Education’s Common Core Leadership Council.