Introducing the Common Core Standards

• In June 2010, NJ adopted the new Common Core State Standards for Math and Language Arts

• Currently, 45 states have adopted the CCSS.

• New Math and Language Arts curriculums are being implemented this year

Key Elements of the Common Core for Math

• The standards are fewer, but more rigorous– Deep focus on the concepts that have

priority in the curriculum

• Procedural skills and conceptual understanding are equally important

• Students go beyond computation and procedures and focus on deep understanding

Key Elements of the Common Core for Math

• Fluency – with both math facts and calculations– Students are expected to have speed and

accuracy with simple calculations as these are necessary for more advanced skills in math

• Multiple strategies for computation are required

• Higher order thinking skills and real world application are an emphasis

The South Brunswick K-5 Math Curriculum

• The majority of time is spent on number sense, with limited time on geometry, measurement, and data analysis– The focus for K-5 is on the understanding

of whole numbers and fractions, and calculations that involve them

• Students need to: – be flexible with numbers – adapt their skills to multiple mathematical

situations – make sense of problems and persevere in

solving them– communicate their strategies and justify their

solutions.

Key Elements of the Common Core for Language

Arts - Reading• Read a balance of non-fiction and

fiction• Learn about the world by reading

across the content areas– In addition to reading stories, students

will read texts that give them information about the world.

– Students will read text about social studies and science curriculum topics

Key Elements of the Common Core for Language

Arts-Reading• Read more challenging materials

closely– Read texts at their independent and

instructional levels with a strong emphasis on higher-level comprehension. As appropriate, students will be supported in their reading of more challenging text.

– Discuss reading using evidence from text to support their thinking

– Compare and contrast authors and/or multiple texts on a topic

– Build vocabulary through reading and discussion

Key Elements of the Common Core for Language

Arts-Writing• Write in three different genres, at each

grade level. – Narrative (telling a story or telling about an

event)– Informative/explanative (conveying

information)– Opinion/argumentative (building a position

or explanation using valid reasoning and evidence to support their thinking).

• Conduct both short and longer-term research on a broad range of topics.

Key Elements of the Common Core for Language

Arts• Speaking/Listening– Students will engage in conversations

about grade-appropriate topics and texts.

 • Language: Convention (grammar,

print conventions)– Students learn the essential “rules” of

standard written and spoken English.– Students learn that language and usage

are sometimes a matter of “craft” decisions and making choices.