Week 1 Reading Assignment

Implementation of Common Core State Standards
"A survey conducted by the Center for Education Policy found that of the 38 states responding, the majority felt the CCSS are more rigorous than their previous standards and will require substantial changes in curriculum and instruction."

While I feel that the United States as a whole needs to align their standards so that all students are receiving the same level of education, I am not sure I totally agree with the CCSS.  I haven't taught in eight years, so I am a little out of the loop about Common Core, but what I have seen I am not that crazy about.  The math standards are just ridiculous, they make math impossible for students.  I have seen many teachers complain about Common Core, stating that it involves a lot more planning, resources and time in the classroom.  If the government wants to implement these standards, shouldn't they provide the materials necessary and train the teachers accordingly?  Teachers should not have to spend money from their own meager paychecks to make these changes and they should be compensated for their time to learn about these changes.  I have always had strong opinions about government making the rules and standards for teachers when they don't have any idea what actually goes on in the classroom.  I believe that teachers should be the ones to get together and create standards that would actually work for us in the classroom.    

Censorship Now: Revisiting the Right to Read


"Self-Censorship, perhaps the least obvious form of censorship, occurs when educators choose to exclude certain texts or topics for fear they will arouse controversy. Often a response to the chilling effect of repeated challenges or threats of challenges and/or the lack of censorship guidelines, self-censorship on the part of teachers can deprive students of opportunities to experience texts that engage them in deep reflection and developmentally appropriate reading."

I think that teachers do feel threatened to assign books that could be considered controversial.  Too many people today believe that they have the right to sue for any and everything or to come after others when they feel they are "wrong."  What if, for instance, I was to assign a novel that one parent believed to be inappropriate and that parent decided I needed to lose my job?  Even if administrators don't agree, that parent is going to cause all sorts of problems via social media.  This causes teachers to have to carefully select what they assign, resulting in self-censorship, which in turn prevents students from receiving the best possible education available.


Reading Instruction for All students

"The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for reading state that “all students must be able to comprehend texts of steadily increasing complexity as they progress through school,” and studies of literacy point to the rising expectations for reading in both schooling and the workplace.  Documents like these indicate that teachers need to help all students become readers, regardless of whether they are in elementary or secondary school, so they can succeed in the information age."

This statement is a little confusing, but I do agree with it.  The confusing part is, hasn't this always been true?  Texts have always increased in complexity as we progressed through school.  I do believe that all teachers need to teach students to read, even in high school.  When students read a novel, it is extremely different from reading a science textbook, just as a science textbook is completely different from a history textbook.  Each teacher needs to take the time to make sure their students are comprehending what they are reading and that they understand the textbook.