Share examples of Indiana’s Common Core rebrand in your child’s school.
With the start of the school year, parents are stunned that nothing has changed under Indiana’s “new” standards. While some politicians are unwillingly to admit that Indiana’s standards are the Common Core rebranded, schools and teachers are not hiding it.
In frustration, parents are submitting to Hoosiers Against Common Core examples of their child’s Common Core homework and textbooks to bring public awareness to the issue.
If your child’s school is still following the Common Core, please upload a snapshot or scan of what your child is using by completing the form below:
On the Indiana DOE website, they’re referring to them as “Indiana Common Core Standards”. (See image below)
Carmel schools adopted the Reach for Reading ELA curriculum as their exclusive language arts curriculum for K-5. This program is widely known as an ESL curriculum, or a remedial program for native English speakers (see images below, referred to an ESL curriculum by one of its authors). It utilizes almost exclusively informational text and is in complete alignment with the travesty and degradation of literature that is Common Core.
Has anyone ever heard of Everyday Math? How about that lattice method?
It’s horrifying reform fuzzy discovery math and children who receive only everyday math will NOT have a prayer at being prepared for higher-level mathematics (and by that I mean Algebra I, let alone Calculus). Get out. Now. Singapore Math or Saxon Math are excellent. Carmel Clay schools use Everyday Math, and students who succeed do supplemental math outside of school. It’s sad because it’s a have vs. have not situation – kids with attentive parents with resources will find a way to make sure their kids are prepared; those without aren’t so lucky and are in for a rude awakening at 17 year olds.
Debra Klinger,
While your reply validates my concerns, it also reminds me of how trapped our children are in this mess. Some can get out and/or have in-home supplements, but others are at the mercy of those they are supposed to trust. My understanding is that school systems enter into contractual periods for curricula. I would encourage parents stuck with Everyday Math at their children’s schools to find out when the contract is up and begin lobbying for the school to begin to move to a new curriculum (I agree about Singapore Math) now.
K-5 is such a formative period that is the foundation for higher learning. Why are we blowing it for this generation?
It amazes me that I have yet to find a parent or teacher that is happy with this way of teaching. I am a delivery driver and go to many schools. I talk to every teacher I come in contact with, I’m shocked at the stories they tell me. Stressed kids, teachers, and parents is not good for society. Another point is how do kids get exercise when the have hours of homework every night. Overweight and stressed or balanced and happy.
I was at the AFP Conference in Dallas as a donor so I had access to the “heavy hitters” and speakers. The first night, George Will spoke (Governor Pence was there listening) and I asked him his opinions on Common Core. He waxed eloquent on the evils of Common Core for the whole room. Then I got to talk with Governor Pence, one on one, over desert for about 5-10 minutes. I put my finger on his chest and said “last year, Bobby Jindal was here and I asked him why he was for Common Core. He said he was definitely NOT. The rest is history. So why are YOU supporting Common Core?” He objected and claimed that he had gotten rid of it and likes local control. I said, “No, you did not!” He tried again to explain how he got rid of PARCC and has calculus…you know the drill. I said again, “No you have not! My friend Sandra Stotsky compared your standards and found they were virtually identical and you just renamed them.” Then I explained our battle in Florida and our recent vote in Lee County to end High Stakes Testing. We talked about “teaching to the test” and narrowing of curriculum and the time in the classroom for learning being diminished by about 40%. The next morning I had another chance and talked with him again for about 20 minutes all by ourselves. I recommended “The Story-Killers” by Terrence Moore for him to read for a full understanding of the damages of Common Core. Please give him one if you see him or have the opportunity. These governors are all dancing to the same tune: Standards and Accountability. Neither of which have raised education one little bit. On the contrary, our costs have exploded exponentially while scores declined. Teachers are certified and schools are accredited. They can make their own tests and finals and we should trust the results. We need to get back to the goal of educating our children to become the best they can be, and whatever they want to be, rather than replaceable cogs in the corporate wheel. They are NOT “human capital” no matter what Bill Gates says, and they are not a political ISSUE, to be traded in back room deals for campaign donation and political support, Jeb Bush. They are our KIDS and we WILL fight for them and we will defeat you!
Chris Quackenbush,
I have no way to know if your story is true, but it was a good one and definitely morale-boosting for someone who has been feeling let down by the leaders once given trust without question–now, I question.
I am a parent of a kindergarten student at Fremont Elementary School in Fremont Indiana. My daughter brought home a copied off phonics book for us to read every night to work on her reading skills. But much to my dismay when I got a good look at it on the very top of the page it says common core state standards. I am not very happy with this. I only made the decision to put my daughter in public school at her urging and also because I was led to believe that common core standards were being removed from Indiana teaching standards. Now I have a little girl that is being taught trash if Indiana is still using common core standards that are just being “rebranded” as it is put which has put me in the dilemma of do I keep her in public school or do I withdraw her and start homeschooling immediately. I am very upset that I am put in this position because she is enjoying being with her friends in public school but I don’t want her to be taught curriculum that she will learn nothing from. So the decision of our legislature in this state has not only affected my child but now puts some parents like myself in a position that we have to make decisions like this. It just shows they have no backbone and can’t stand up for the residents of this state let alone the children that depend on them to make good decisions regarding their educations and well being. I am sorry for the little rant but I am very angry about the whole situation and it needs to be taken care of like we were assured it would be.