Engaging Parents and the Common Core

Back to school night, for most parents, has come and gone. You either got a little more insight into what happens in schools or you’re still wondering what’s really going on. I missed back to school night myself but made it to the meeting where they introduced the new “curriculum coordinator” in the school. I was hoping to get insight into the curriculum. Of course, the topic of Common Core came up.

So what a great opportunity for the schools to step up and de mystify the Common Core for parents. If only it were so easy….At my meeting I heard the curriculum director of my son’s school misleadingly intimate that they could not do a lot of project-based learning because of the Common Core. What she meant to say was that they can’t teach everything in projects and some direct instruction is often necessary as they try to teach to higher standards and try to “fit it all in.” But if I hadn’t been there to make sure that parents know the Common Core does not in any way suggest that project-based learning is a no-no, a lot of parents would have left with the wrong impression.

I’m hoping someone will fund this work with parents because I think it would be a great contribution to help stop the myths about what the Common Core is and isn’t. This is also a way to engage parents in their children’s education in a non-threating way. I watched Marilyn use her elementary school inventory on my daughter and I know I learned a lot (and so did my daughter!). Her simple inventory helped me answer the question we all have — what is my daughter learning and where does she need help?

– C.

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