Big Apple schools have a tough new “core.”
The city has launched an ambitious plan aimed at giving all students a set of math and English skills deemed keys to succeeding in college or well-paying careers.
The “Common Core Standards,” adopted in New York and 44 other states, spell out what every kid needs to know and do from kindergarten through 12th grade.
It’s a demanding agenda that starts early and advances, grade by grade, in complexity.
This spring’s statewide math and English Language Arts exams in Grades 3 to 8 are the first to measure how well students meet the Common Core standards.
The new standardized tests will be much harder than those given last year — and New York education leaders expect scores to plunge.
But the results will give “a more realistic picture” of where students stand on a path to being well prepared for the world after they graduate from high school, says state Education Commissioner John King.
The current reality is grim. Just 29 percent of all public-school students graduate ready for college or challenging careers, Mayor Bloomberg’s Department of Education acknowledged last fall.
Nearly 80 percent of city grads who enrolled as freshmen at CUNY community colleges last year needed remediation in math, reading, writing — or all three. Such students are less likely to earn a college degree.
Common Core starts with what officials believe students should know at graduation and works backwards to kindergarten. King calls it “a sea change.”
In math, students spend more time on fewer topics but should gain a deep understanding of how math works — and be able to explain it. They use math in real-life situations. Problems take multiple steps, which students must figure out and explain.
For instance, a kindergarten math task asks children to find all the ways six books can go on two shelves and then to “show and tell how you know.” A top-scoring kid would draw a diagram showing all five combinations, write a number sentence for each (5+1=6, etc.) and use math terms to explain his or her conclusions.
In English Language Arts, students learn about the world — and build vocabulary — by reading more non-fiction, including biographies, historical stories, and articles. In writing, kids must cite “evidence,” or examples from a text to support what they say or argue.
Are your kids ready for the Common Core tests, which will be given this month? The Post has compiled a summary of the standards at all grade levels, plus sample problems and tasks to help you guide your kids.
OLD VS. NEW
MATH
The Common Core questions are more detailed and often deal with real-world examples.
BEFORE
Ms. Upton spends a total of $42 for 3 sweaters for her children. Each sweater costs the same amount. How much does the sweater cost?
Show your work.
Answer: $14
CORE
Grade 4 Math: Sample 2012-13 Common Core Sample Question
Candy wants to buy herself a new bicycle that costs $240. Candy has already saved $32, but she needs to make a plan so she can save the rest of the money she needs. She decides to save the same amount of money, x dollars, each month for the next four months.
Part A: Write an equation that helps Candy determine the amount of money she must save each month.
Part B: Solve the equation to find the amount of money she must save each month to meet her goal of buying a bicycle.
Show your work. Every month for 4 months she has to save X dollars.
Answer: $52
ENGLISH
The Common Core questions are more detailed and often deal with real-world examples.
BEFORE
Grade 4 English Language Arts: 2009-10 NY State Test Question
* Students were asked to read a sample text, which was relatively simple, about a girl who finds a butterfly.
* Students were then asked to express a personal opinion relating to the topics of the text. For example, “why would it be more interesting to take care of a tadpole or a butterfly.”
* Students were asked to use details from the text to support their personal opinion.
CORE
Grade 4 English Language Arts: Sample 2012-13 Common Core Test Question
* Students read a more challenging text about why evergreen trees keep their leaves in winter.
* Response asks students to analyze the text rather than offering a personal opinion. For example, “describe the myth about why evergreen trees keep their leaves. Compare and contrast to what the article says about why they really keep their leaves.”
* Students are asked to use details from the text to support their analysis.
When the Common Core tests will be given
Grades K-2:
While Common Core standards are taught, students in these grades do not take any state exams. Teachers use assessments at their own discretion.
Grades 3–8 English Language Arts exam:
This test is given in three sessions over three days. It includes four sections or “books.” Books 1 and 2 have literary and informational reading passages and multiple-choice questions based on the passages. Book 3 and Book 4 have reading passages with short-response questions and an extended-response question based on the passages.
Tuesday, April 16: Book 1
Wednesday, April 17: Books 2 and 3
Thursday, April 18: Book 4
Makeup dates: Friday, April 19, to Tuesday, April 23
Grades 3-8 Mathematics exam:
This test is given in three sessions over three days. Books 1 and 2 have multiple-choice questions. Book 3 has short and extended-response questions.
Wednesday, April 24: Book 1
Thursday, April 25: Book 2
Friday, April 26: Book 3
Makeup dates: Monday, April 29 – Wednesday, May 1
High School:
The Regents exams in ELA, Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II will be changed to incorporate the Common Core Standards starting in June 2014.
All students who entered Grade 9 this school year must be given English and math courses aligned to the Common Core standards to prepare for the new exams.
Regents exams will be given this year on June 11-30 and August 13-14.