Professional Development Plan- Rolling out Common Core to our Parents

Background:
There is a lot of negative backlash and unfamiliarity about the new Common Core Standards.
Many parents are confused, scared, and misinformed when it comes to the purpose and content
of the standards.

Goals:
To prepare teachers how to explain the shifts in common core and how to alleviate parent
concerns, fears, or misconceptions.

Preparation/Materials/Resources:
Participant Laptops
Sticky Notes
Pencils & Markers
Chart Paper
Teacher Editions Math and/or ELA


This video displays a parents concerns (and misunderstanding of) regarding Common Core
State Standards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZEGijN_8R0

This three-minute video explains how the Common Core State Standards will help
students achieve at high levels and help them learn what they need to know to get to
graduation and beyond:
http://vimeo.chttp://vimeo.com/51933492

PowerPoint - Common Core shifts in ELA and Math Document given to School Site Councils for
Lincoln Unified School District (Common Core State Standards: The Key Changes in ELA and
Mathematics)
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2F21centuryedtech.wikispaces.com%2F21%2BCe
ntury%2BInfo&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGshL55qtL4EYg_ZSL0lQvD-u5bsg

21st Century Skills
http://21centuryedtech.wikispaces.com/21+Century+Info

Predict a Schedule: 8:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

8:30-9:00 - Welcome and introductions
review goals of day
entry activity (watch Arkansas mom video)
debrief and discuss in small groups ways to respond to the mom
share out to class

9:00-10:30 - Show 3 minute vimeo video explaining why the shift to CCSS is a good thing.
Debrief and discuss how this could be a good tool
Introduce the 21st century skills. The 5 Needs of Employers will be on different posters around
the room.
Each group will go online and find their Common Core Standards for their grade level.
They will choose 5 standards and write them on sticky notes. They will stick the
standard on the corresponding poster of how the standard can be applied in the
workplace.


10:30-10:45- Break

10:45-11:30 -
Pass out the following to small groups (some get language arts, some get math)
Common Core Shifts in English Language Arts/how parents can help students (using
powerpoint) and Common Core Shifts in Mathematics/how parents can help their
students (using powerpoint).
Groups will make double bubble comparison thinking maps or venn diagrams to
brainstorm and document how parents helped students in the past vs. how they should
help them now with common core (they can also use the engageNY sites listed in
Supporting Resources for additional assistance).

11:30-12:00 - Lunch

12:00-12:15 - Groups will present their findings and ideas to the larger group

12:15-1:00-
Participants scan the Look Fors of how schools should be transitioning to Common Core
Standards. These are located here:

http://p2cdn2static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5793793/File/LincNet/Ed%20Ser
vices/Implementation_Look-Fors_ELA_Literacy.pdf

http://p2cdn1static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5793793/File/LincNet/Ed%20Ser
vices/Implementation_Look-Fors_Math.pdf


Following this, teachers will need to investigate their curriculum and find one example problem
or question that was more of a California State Standard (CST) question, and how it is proposed
now that it is a CCSS problem or question. They can share these out after they contemplate
after break.

1:00-1:15 - Break

1:15-2:00 - Closing and reflections and evaluations
Plan Back-To-School Night Parent Information session on Common Core



Supporting Resources:
A National Survey of Business and Nonprofit Leaders: Employers priorities for the kinds of
learning todays college students need to succeed in this innovation-fueled economy
http://www.aacu.org/leap/presidentstrust/compact/2013SurveySummary.cfm


Parents Backpack Guide to Common Core Standards
http://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/parent_workshop_backpack_g
uide.pdf