Yesterday at the presentation to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House Joseph Martineau, deputy superintendent of accountability services for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) erred when he claimed that there was no federal review team overseeing SMARTER tests. According to a report by Gongwer, Martineau indicated that, …there is not, as Mr. McMillin […]
Category: Common Core ELA Standards
Information, updates and research about the Common Core English-Literature Arts Standards
In our technology age, learning to type is an important skill. But is it necessary to learn that skill to a young child in first or second grade? Thanks to Common Core and the Smarter Balanced Computer Assessments, the answer appears to be “yes.” The Washington Post reports that students in kindergarten are now learning […]
In a research paper released today , MSU Professor Gary Troia questions the “effectiveness of the Common Core State Standards in teaching writing.” I have not read the actual report but according to reporter Brian Smith at MLIVE, “Research published Friday by the National Association of School Psychologists from a Michigan State University education professor […]
A common lie spread by those who support the common core is that this is a standard and not a curriculum which they say will be left up to the local districts. Kyle Olsen at EAG News has it exactly right about how local districts will purchase curriculum under Common Core. “One might argue […]
Yesterday, I spoke with a Senate aide regarding Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC) to go with the Common Core standards. He challenged my assertion that the federal government is developing the tests with SBAC and not just funding them. I referred him to the technical review announced by the Federal Department of Education last March. From […]
Last week, the Michigan House voted FOR a resolution that continues the funding for Common Core. It now goes to the Senate which could vote on the resolution this week. Before the Senate vote, I encourage lawmakers to watch this video from Bonnie Fisher who testified against Common Core in Indiana. Fisher has decades of […]
Eric Owens, Education Editor at the Daily Caller, highlights the pornographic book “Dreaming in Cuban” in post titled, “Fifty Shades of the Common Core: how much porn is too much for high schoolers?” The title is found in the Common Core appendix and read aloud in classrooms. “Dreaming in Cuban” can be found on page […]
Eric Owen, Education Editor at the Daily Caller, is asking a question that should make most parents cringe, “Fifty Shades of Gray: how much porn is too much for high schoolers?” Owen was prompted to ask because of a book recommended in the Common Core and read aloud in a tenth grade classroom in Arizona. […]
Melanie Kurdy raises an excellent point about the last hearing… I would like to review a point that was discussed briefly at the July 31 hearing that I believe is very important, “expectations for students”. I believe the debate we are having should be about improving student learning for all children in Michigan. This is why we are discussing […]
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal gave a speech at a Redstate gathering on Friday where he addressed the Common Core. He said, “We will resist any attempt … to impose a national curriculum,” But as the news story points out that “the Jindal administration has been supportive of the standards, with state Education Superintendent John White […]