http://www.slj.com/2012/09/opinion/on-common-core/making-the-parent-connection-on-common-core/ The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:19:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.slj.com/2012/09/opinion/on-common-core/making-the-parent-connection-on-common-core/#comment-2480 Marion Knott Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:56:26 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=13322#comment-2480 I already thought I did. I already thought I did.

]]> http://www.slj.com/2012/09/opinion/on-common-core/making-the-parent-connection-on-common-core/#comment-2479 Marion Knott Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:55:42 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=13322#comment-2479 I am a retired teacher who volunteers weekly in an inner city elementary school in San Francisco. I am continually appalled at what has happened to the kdg. curriculum which impacts on the first through fifth grade curriculum There are no easels and blocks in my kdg. room, just what was used to be the first grade curriculum when I taught. In face it is even worse. When I taught first grade we had a Readiness book for the kids until November, then for those who were not ready, they got another Readiness book and then they were in the pre primers and beyond. We had tons of books for the kids who could handle them. Yet in my school and I believe schools on L.I. where I have my grandchildren as well as in the school in Ga. where two more grandchildren are, are experiencing the same thing. Sure many kids can handle the new curriculum but my concern is for the kids that can't. They are doomed to failure. My k's and my 1's and my 2's that I work with are all in the one book for their grade level whether they can read it or not. The teachers claim they have other independent materials to augment the curriculum I see no signs of grouping. I am continually frustrated by what I see and when I ask the teachers how they allowed this all to happen they say they had no choice. I buy many books from here and in England for the kids that I work with individually but more than the books I endeavor to make the kids I work with feel good about themselves. I give them "stuff" that ensures their success while helping them grow in their reading skills. I am a retired teacher who volunteers weekly in an inner city elementary school in San Francisco. I am continually appalled at what has happened to the kdg. curriculum which impacts on the first through fifth grade curriculum There are no easels and blocks in my kdg. room, just what was used to be the first grade curriculum when I taught. In face it is even worse. When I taught first grade we had a Readiness book for the kids until November, then for those who were not ready, they got another Readiness book and then they were in the pre primers and beyond. We had tons of books for the kids who could handle them. Yet in my school and I believe schools on L.I. where I have my grandchildren as well as in the school in Ga. where two more grandchildren are, are experiencing the same thing. Sure many kids can handle the new curriculum but my concern is for the kids that can’t. They are doomed to failure. My k’s and my 1′s and my 2′s that I work with are all in the one book for their grade level whether they can read it or not. The teachers claim they have other independent materials to augment the curriculum I see no signs of grouping. I am continually frustrated by what I see and when I ask the teachers how they allowed this all to happen they say they had no choice. I buy many books from here and in England for the kids that I work with individually but more than the books I endeavor to make the kids I work with feel good about themselves. I give them “stuff” that ensures their success while helping them grow in their reading skills.

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