Common Core Standards For Parents For Dummies

Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Beyond the Book 4 Part I: Getting Up to Speed on Common Core Standards 5 Chapter 1: Exploring Common Core’s Roots 7 Understanding the Rationale 8 Recognizing the standards 8 Recognizing the goals 9 Tracing Common Core’s History 10 Identifying the barriers 11 Resuming the conversation 12 Developing the Common Core Standards 13 State Adoptions and Implementation 14 Recognizing Common Core states 15 Striving to implement Common Core 16 Chapter 2: Grasping the Basics of the Common Core Standards 17 Brushing Up on Mathematics Practice and Content Standards 18 Meeting the standards for mathematical practice 19 Getting familiar with content standards by domain 22 Looking at the mathematics appendix 25 Exploring the English Language Arts Standards 26 Improving reading comprehension 27 Honing writing skills 29 Cultivating speaking and listening skills 29 Fine-tuning grammar, usage, mechanics, and vocabulary 30 Addressing Standard 10 30 The literacy standards 31 Tapping the ELA appendixes 32 Focusing on Instructional Shifts 34 Navigating instructional shifts in math 34 Exploring instructional shifts in English language arts and literacy 35 Chapter 3: Supporting Common Core at Home: Your Role as a Parent 37 Creating a Setting Conducive to Learning 38 Modeling Lifelong Learning 40 Encouraging and Nurturing a Curious Mind 41 Making Learning Resources Readily Available 43 Making Education Relevant to the Real World 45 Supporting the School’s Efforts 46 Chapter 4: Teaming Up with Teachers 49 Communicating Effectively with Teachers and Administrators 49 Monitoring Your Child’s Performance and Progress 51 Helping with Homework 54 Volunteering at School 55 Part II: Acquainting Yourself with the Standards 57 Chapter 5: Doing the Math in Kindergarten through Grade 8 59 Looking at K–8 Content Standards 59 Meeting Numbers and Shapes in Kindergarten 60 Counting and cardinality 61 Operations and algebraic thinking 61 Number and operations in base ten 62 Measurement and data 63 Geometry 63 Stepping Up with Numbers, Operations, and Shapes in Grade 1 64 Operations and algebraic thinking 65 Number and operations in base ten 65 Measurement and data 65 Geometry 66 Laying the Groundwork for Multiplication in Grade 2 66 Operations and algebraic thinking 67 Number and operations in base ten 67 Measurement and data 68 Geometry 68 Multiplying, Dividing, and Meeting Fractions in Grade 3 68 Operations and algebraic thinking 69 Number and operations in base ten 69 Number and operations: Fractions 70 Measurement and data 70 Geometry 71 Gaining Expertise in Multiplication, Division, and Shapes in Grade 4 71 Operations and algebraic thinking 72 Number and operations in base ten 72 Number and operations: Fractions 73 Measurement and data 73 Geometry 74 Honing Skills in Fractions, Division, and Volume in Grade 5 74 Operations and algebraic thinking 74 Number and operations in base ten 76 Number and operations: Fractions 76 Measurement and data 76 Geometry 77 Exploring Ratios, Rates, Variables, Exponents, and More in Grade 6 77 Ratios and proportional relationships 78 The number system 78 Expressions and equations 79 Geometry 79 Statistics and probability 80 Solving Real-World Problems Involving Fractions, Ratios, and More in Grade 7 80 Ratios and proportional relationships 80 The number system 81 Expressions and equations 81 Geometry 82 Statistics and probability 82 Gearing Up for Higher Math in Grade 8 82 The number system 83 Expressions and equations 84 Functions 84 Geometry 84 Statistics and probability 84 Chapter 6: Graduating to High School Math Standards 85 Revisiting Number and Quantity 86 The real number system 87 Quantity 88 The complex number system 90 Vector and matrix quantities 94 Discovering the Unknowns with Algebra 99 Spotting structure in expressions 100 Grasping polynomials and rational expressions 100 Building equations 101 Reasoning with equations and inequalities 102 Putting the “Fun” in Functions 103 Creating functions 104 Exploring linear, quadratic, and exponential models 104 Working with trigonometric functions 107 Applying Mathematics to the Real World with Modeling 108 Shaping Up with Geometry 108 Congruence 108 Similarity, right triangles, and trigonometry 109 Circles 112 Geometric properties as equations 113 Geometric measurement and dimension 115 Geometric modeling 116 Crunching Numbers with Statistics and Probability 116 Interpreting categorical and quantitative data 117 Making inferences and justifying conclusions 118 Exploring conditional probability and probability rules 119 Using probability to make decisions 120 Chapter 7: Helping Your Child Achieve English Language Arts Standards in K–5 121 Looking at the Anchor Standards 122 Reading 122 Writing 124 Speaking and listening 125 Language 125 Mastering Foundational Reading Skills 126 Kindergarten 126 Grade 1 127 Grade 2 127 Grade 3 128 Grades 4–5 128 Reading and Understanding Literature 128 Kindergarten 129 Grade 1 130 Grade 2 130 Grade 3 130 Grade 4 131 Grade 5 131 Reading and Deciphering Informational Texts 132 Kindergarten 132 Grade 1 133 Grade 2 133 Grade 3 133 Grade 4 134 Grade 5 134 Writing Clearly and Effectively 135 Kindergarten 135 Grade 1 136 Grade 2 136 Grade 3 136 Grade 4 137 Grade 5 137 Speaking and Listening Standards 138 Kindergarten 138 Grade 1 139 Grade 2 139 Grade 3 139 Grade 4 140 Grade 5 140 English Language Rules and Conventions 141 Kindergarten 141 Grade 1 142 Grade 2 142 Grade 3 143 Grade 4 144 Grade 5 144 Chapter 8: Raising the Bar: English Language Arts Standards in Grades 6–12 147 Reading More Sophisticated Literature and Informational Texts 148 Grade 6 148 Grade 7 149 Grade 8 150 Grades 9–10 150 Grades 11–12 151 Honing Your Child’s Writing Skills 152 Grade 6 153 Grade 7 154 Grade 8 155 Grades 9–10 156 Grades 11–12 157 Mastering the Spoken Word: Speaking and Listening 158 Grade 6 159 Grade 7 159 Grade 8 160 Grades 9–10 160 Grades 11–12 160 Exploring Higher-Level Rules and Conventions of Language 161 Grade 6 161 Grade 7 162 Grade 8 162 Grades 9–10 163 Grades 11–12 164 Chapter 9: Mastering Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 165 Improving Reading Comprehension in History/Social Studies 166 Grades 6–8 167 Grades 9–10 167 Grades 11–12 168 Deciphering Texts on Scientific and Technical Topics 169 Grades 6–8 169 Grades 9–10 170 Grades 11–12 171 Writing about History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 173 Part III: Part of Tens 175 Chapter 10: Ten Tips for Parents 177 What’s My Child Currently Working On? 178 How Well Is My Child Meeting Expectations? 178 May I See Samples of My Child’s Work? 178 Is My Child Struggling in Any Subject Areas? 179 In Which Subject Areas Does My Child Excel? 180 What Can I Do to Help My Child Achieve the Standards? 180 If My Child Needs Help with Homework, What Resources Are Available? 180 Does the School Offer Any Opportunities for Academic Enrichment? 181 What Can My Child Be Doing to Develop Good Study Habits? 182 Which Classes Should My Child Be Taking 182 Chapter 11: Ten Ways to Help Your Child Achieve Common Core Standards 183 Know What Your Child Is Working on 184 Monitor Your Child’s Performance 184 Have a Daily Homework/Study Routine 185 Provide a Study-Friendly Environment 186 Don’t Do Your Child’s Homework! 186 Praise Your Child’s Efforts 187 Provide Interesting Reading Material 188 Encourage Your Child to Take Advantage of Academic Enrichment Opportunities 189 Take Fun, Educational Trips 189 Encourage Stimulating Hobbies 190 Appendix: Resources for the Common Core Standards 191 Index 195