Understand what the Common Core Standards ELA mean for your Kindergartener

Do you find yourself feeling confused when it comes to the Common Core Standards ELA? Maybe you don’t even know what they are but you have a preschooler who is about to embark on more formal schooling? Trust me, you are not alone! As a fellow parent, I understand the confusion and let’s be honest – indifference to this hot topic in education.

While you may think you don’t have to care about these standards, they will govern everything that your child is expected to learn over the course of his K-12 schooling career. I have put together this comprehensive guide that will help demystify Common Core Standards ELA so you know what you’re up against, how your child will be evaluated, and whether your child is ahead of the curve.

Grab your tipple of choice and let’s get a handle on what these standards mean, how they affect your child’s learning, and some tips on how to support them at home. As with all Buoyant Bloomer Let’s empower ourselves as parents and become true partners in our children’s educational journey.

What are the common core standards?

The Common Core State Standards, established in the United States, provide a set of clear educational expectations for both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, aimed at ensuring students are prepared for future academic and professional endeavors. The initiative is state-led, with standards developed by a diverse group of teachers, school administrators, and other education experts. The Common Core Standards aim to ensure consistency in education across states, such that a student moving from one state to another will have access to the same quality of education. Specifically for ELA, the standards emphasize critical thinking, information literacy, and a deep understanding and command of the English language.

Who created the common core standards?

The creation of the Common Core State Standards is a collaborative effort spearheaded by two key organizations: the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). These organizations led the development process, in collaboration with a diverse group of teachers, school administrators, researchers, and leading experts in education from across the United States. The goal was to devise a set of standards that are robust, relevant, and reflective of the knowledge and skills students need to succeed in the 21st century.

In addition to the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), a wide range of stakeholders were consulted during the creation of the Common Core State Standards. This included educators at all levels—from classroom teachers to school administrators. Also, curriculum design experts, education researchers, and even parents had a say. Furthermore, public feedback was also sought, leading to revisions in the standards to ensure they met the needs and expectations of all stakeholders. Consequently, the standards represent a consensus view of what students should learn and be able to do at each grade level.

The development of the Common Core State Standards in the United States was not an overnight process. It was a comprehensive endeavor that took approximately two years, from 2009 to 2010. This timeframe allowed for in-depth research, open discussion among various stakeholders, and multiple revisions to ensure the proposed standards were robust, relevant, and realistic for all students across the country. The extended timeline also facilitated the significant public feedback sought to shape and refine these standards, underscoring the inclusive and democratic nature of their creation.

What are the big themes of the common core standards ELA?

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) set out the knowledge and skills that students should have by the end of each grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade. The ELA standards are designed to ensure that students are adept in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language. They emphasize the ability to understand complex texts, write with coherence and precision, and participate in collaborative conversations. The standards also promote the development of literacy skills across all academic subjects, reflecting the real-world interconnectedness of knowledge. The ELA standards are divided into several key sections: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language, each further segmented into grade-specific standards.

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) for Kindergarten focus on establishing the building blocks for literacy. Specifically, the Reading standards emphasize understanding key ideas and details, recognizing common types of texts, and understanding foundational reading skills. Writing standards focus on using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to express opinions, convey information or narrate events, and respond to questions and suggestions from peers. Speaking and Listening standards center around participating in collaborative conversations about kindergarten topics or texts, expressing thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly. Lastly, the Language standards concentrate on demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage, vocabulary acquisition, and use. These standards lay the groundwork for continued English language arts and literacy learning.

How has teaching changed after the standards were implemented?

While not all of the information presented below will impact Kindergarteners, it is important for parents to understand that teachers have shifted HOW they teach ELA as a result of the Common Core. These are some of the key shifts in language learning:

1. Increased Emphasis on Non-fiction Texts: The Common Core Standards (CCS) have increased the emphasis on informational and non-fiction texts in ELA. The goal is to prepare students for the types of reading they will encounter in college and the workplace.
2. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Before CCS, the focus was largely on reading comprehension. Now, students are encouraged to analyze what they read, drawing information from multiple sources to build arguments and make connections.
3. Text Complexity: CCS has raised the bar for text complexity, expecting students to read and comprehend increasingly complex texts as they progress through grades.
4. Writing from Sources: Instead of personal narratives, students are now asked to write from sources, including conducting research and writing reports.
5. Text-Based Answers: In discussions and written responses, students are expected to provide evidence from the text to support their arguments.
6. Academic Vocabulary: There’s an increased emphasis on helping students understand and use academic vocabulary, or ‘Tier 2’ words, which are essential for understanding complex texts.
7. Speaking and Listening Standards: CCS includes a set of standards focused on speaking and listening skills, a significant change from previous standards.
8. Media and Technology: The use of digital media and technology is integrated into the ELA standards, reflecting the increasingly digital world students live in.
9. Literacy Across Content Areas: ELA standards under CCS also apply to history/social studies, science, and technical subjects, stressing the importance of reading and writing in all content areas.
10. Standardized Benchmarks: CCS provides consistent learning goals across states, ensuring all students, regardless of where they live, are prepared for success in college and career.

Do ELA common core standards follow the science of reading?

The Common Core does not mandate any specific method to teach reading, only what students outcomes should be. Many states have had laws/regulations in place to ensure students are taught how to read using the five pillars of reading. Whether they followed through is a completely different story, and why New York for example ended up failing so many decades of students with its balanced literacy approach.

Many schools starting with this school year will claim that they are following a structured literacy approach in line with the science of reading (SOR). However, as our experience with our son’s school shows, you can be faithfully adhering to a SOR-aligned program and the program could STILL fall short by only teaching one sound for each letter for example. Parents still have to be on guard during their children’s reading journey.

At the end of the day, the outcomes that the common core standards ELA strive to instill in students really boils down to improving reading comprehension and increasing reading fluency. But to achieve these goals, there are a number of foundational skills:

1. Phonemic Awareness: This involves the understanding of the individual sounds (phonemes) in words. It’s a crucial skill for learning to read and spell.
2. Phonics: A strong foundation in phonics helps children understand the relationship between letters and sounds, further aiding in reading and spelling.
3. Vocabulary: Developing a strong vocabulary aids in reading comprehension and improves overall communication skills.

How can parents reinforce the CCSS ELA standards at home?

Here are five strategies:

1. Create a Reading Environment: Make reading materials readily available at home. Encourage reading by having a variety of books, magazines, and newspapers around the house, demonstrating to your child that reading is a valuable skill in everyday life.
2. Reinforce Phonics and Vocabulary: Engage your child in word-based games that reinforce phonics and vocabulary understanding. Games like Scrabble or Boggle can be educational and entertaining, enhancing your child’s language skills in a fun way.
3. Engage in Discussions: Initiate conversations about the books your child is reading. Ask them questions about the story, characters, and themes. This will not only improve their comprehension skills but also encourage them to think critically.
4. Writing Exercises: Encourage your child to write stories, letters, or keep a journal. Writing practices will help them apply their knowledge of vocabulary and phonics, and enhance their spelling and grammar skills.
5. Support Homework: Assist your child with their homework, but do not do it for them. Your support will help them develop a better understanding of the concepts being taught, while also instilling a sense of responsibility and independence.

If it wasn’t already clear, the Common Core Standards for ELA are a comprehensive roadmap, designed to ensure that students are equipped with necessary reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. These standards underscore the importance of Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, and Vocabulary as critical components of literacy education.

Success in these foundational areas paves the way for improved reading comprehension and increased reading fluency. Don’t outsource learning to read to your teachers alone – especially if your child is high-ability!

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