Common Core D-I-Y

Teachers facing evaluations linked to student test scores are finding traditional sources of curricula fall drastically short in respect to the Common Core and aligned tests, reports Jonathan Sapers for The Hechinger Report. Educators are scrapping off-the-shelf lessons, writing curricula themselves or using websites where other teachers post home-made lessons. These sites include Betterlesson.com; ShareMylesson.com (developed by the AFT); and Teachers Pay Teachers. The Center on Education Policy reports that in two-thirds of districts in Common Core states, 66 percent of teachers develop their curricular materials in math, and 65 percent in English Language Arts. In 80 percent of districts, at least one source for curriculum materials originates locally, from teachers, the district, or other districts in the state. That said, 90 percent of districts said developing or identifying Common Core curricular materials poses a challenge. William Schmidt of the Center for the Study of Curriculum at Michigan State University contends "It's a rather elaborate and extensive endeavor to write instructional materials for a whole year, and I think that no one should expect teachers have the time or professional background to do that." The Association of American Publishers states that their 150-member PreK-12 Learning Group has tried hard to align curricula with Common Core standards. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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