1. Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) Toombs Central Elementary 2012-2013

2. What are the CCGPS?

3. Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a coherent progression of learning expectations in English language arts and mathematics designed to prepare K–12 students for college and career success. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a coherent progression of learning expectations in English language arts and mathematics designed to prepare K–12 students for college and career success.

4. Which states are participating? Adopted Not adopted Only ELA

5. What are parents saying? Why are we doing this? Why are we doing this? Where are the textbooks? Where are the textbooks? Why does the work look so different? Why does the work look so different? What to expect… What to expect… How am I supposed to help my child? How am I supposed to help my child?

6. Why are we doing this? “While American students are spending endless hours preparing to take tests of their basic reading and math skills, their peers in high- performing nations are reading poetry and novels, conducting experiments in chemistry and physics, making music, and studying important historical issues. We are the only leading industrialized nation that considers the mastery of basic skills to be the goal of K–12 education.”

7. Why are we doing this? We need to prepare our students for an ever- changing, competitive world. We need to prepare our students for an ever- changing, competitive world. The CCGPS for English language arts, mathematics, and literacy in science, history/social studies, and technical subjects will ensure that all Georgia students have an equal access and opportunity to master the skills and knowledge needed for success beyond high school. The CCGPS for English language arts, mathematics, and literacy in science, history/social studies, and technical subjects will ensure that all Georgia students have an equal access and opportunity to master the skills and knowledge needed for success beyond high school.

8. Why are we doing this? Rigorous knowledge and skills are needed to succeed in college and/or careers. Rigorous knowledge and skills are needed to succeed in college and/or careers. The Common Core Standards: The Common Core Standards: –provide consistent expectations across states for students. –provide relevant content and application of knowledge through critical thinking, problem solving, modeling, and higher-order thinking skills –raise the bar in all grades to ensure that our students receive a relevant and rigorous education.

9. Where are the textbooks? Reading/ELA is shifting from basal readers to trade books, novels, and integrated fiction/nonfiction themes as well as an equal share of literary/informational texts. Reading/ELA is shifting from basal readers to trade books, novels, and integrated fiction/nonfiction themes as well as an equal share of literary/informational texts. Math, science, social studies textbooks are not sufficient for the rigor of the new standards. Math, science, social studies textbooks are not sufficient for the rigor of the new standards.

10. Why is the work so different? Emphasis has been placed on more critical thinking, application of skills, and production of work. Emphasis has been placed on more critical thinking, application of skills, and production of work. Emphasis has been placed on more conceptual understanding of math concepts and off of rote memorization. Emphasis has been placed on more conceptual understanding of math concepts and off of rote memorization. More emphasis placed on practical application More emphasis placed on practical application –students will be working on taking the role of scientists, historians, researchers, and more

11. What to expect… The common core state standards focus on the most important topics that students need to know. In math, that means that students focus on really understanding numbers in elementary school before they start to apply that understanding of numbers to data in middle school. The common core state standards focus on the most important topics that students need to know. In math, that means that students focus on really understanding numbers in elementary school before they start to apply that understanding of numbers to data in middle school. As the common core is implemented, students will be expected to read more difficult text sooner, and discuss what they read at a more complex level. For example, instead of pulling out individual text elements, such as characters, plot, and setting, students will be reading or listening to various stories, and will compare stories using their understanding of text elements. As the common core is implemented, students will be expected to read more difficult text sooner, and discuss what they read at a more complex level. For example, instead of pulling out individual text elements, such as characters, plot, and setting, students will be reading or listening to various stories, and will compare stories using their understanding of text elements.

12. What to expect… Compared to current achievement tests, common core assessments will likely be more difficult. For instance, instead of multiple choice tests, students will be analyzing and synthesizing information, writing essay responses, and answering in-depth questions to show how much they understand. Compared to current achievement tests, common core assessments will likely be more difficult. For instance, instead of multiple choice tests, students will be analyzing and synthesizing information, writing essay responses, and answering in-depth questions to show how much they understand. Grades and grading procedures may be different than you’re accustomed to. Grades and grading procedures may be different than you’re accustomed to.

13. How am I supposed to help my child? BE PATIENT!!!!!!!!! BE PATIENT!!!!!!!!! COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION –Talk with your child’s teacher on a regular basis. –Ask specific questions. Read to your child every night. Read to your child every night. Work with your child on his/her homework. Work with your child on his/her homework. http://www.pta.org/5308.htm http://www.pta.org/5308.htm http://www.pta.org/5308.htm