Making Peace with the Common Core

It was not surprising to see several articles in the June 2014 edition of OhioSchools magazine that highlighted the mounting concerns with the implementation of the more rigorous Common Core standards and the increase in high-stakes standardized testing.  As these articles simply mirror the voices of teachers and administrators across our state, I fear that after several years of aligning assessments and courses of study to the Common Core, we have still not made peace with the changes that are immediately in front of us. 

In my own experiences, I've talked with teachers who are comfortable with these changes and are at the forefront of experimenting with performance based assessments and more diverse digital resources that increase the rigor and relevance of the content in their classrooms, but I've also met with many teachers who are not ready to face the changes that the Common Core and new testing have brought forth.

So the challenge that we face as administrators is: How do we make peace with the Common Core?

I offer a few ideas here to perhaps assuage the fears of our staff members who need the most support, but I also hope these suggestions compliment the strengths of our best teachers. 

• Professional Development - While this is a no-brainer, it must be mentioned.  Listen to the voices of those teachers who need support and provide a variety of professional development opportunities for all teachers to access.  
• Mentorship - Listen to the voices of those teachers who are leading the change process.  Create mentorship opportunities for these teachers to meet with other teachers and discuss the changes they've made in their classrooms.  Create time for struggling teachers to observe and emulate those teachers in your schools who are tackling the challenges of the Common Core head on.  
• Utilize technology - I'm not talking about teaching here!  I'm talking about using technology as a means of engaging stakeholders in discussion about the Common Core and spreading the word about what your school and district are doing to prepare teachers, educate students, and inform parents about the new standards.  Administrators should be using Twitter, blogs, district websites, etc. to extend the message outside the walls of their schools. 
• Focus on the big picture - There is certainly a place for compliance, but with so many initiatives been created to combat the myriad issues facing schools today, it may be important to examine the non-negotiable initiatives already in place and determine if there are some processes that do not compliment the Common Core vision of your schools.  

In the end, there is no silver bullet.  Change is an arduous process; it leaves many people frustrated, angry, and dismissive.  If we focus on developing the relationships between our best teachers and those teachers who need the most support, and focus less on compliance and more on vision, I think there is a chance to make peace with the Common Core.