Wanted: Common Core aligned curriclum for homeschooling

[Mango]

I want a curriclum that lists the standards covered in their curriculum. 

 

Is there any such thing? I'm exhausted with trying to come up with common core projects to cover standards that aren't being covered in our materials. 

 

We're virtual charter schoolers, for now. The teachers won't help with this. Their job is to give me the curriculum, emphasize the check boxes, and then evaluate how well we check off the standards. The project is entirely up to us to come up with. 

 

If I had 1 child, maybe. 

 

I have 5. 

 

This has me teaching 20 classes from scratch to meet grade level standards. 

 

No longer can I "lump" a couple kids together. 

 

My stupid started where the nicely laid out curriculum ended. 

 

Just give me a curriclulm, with the standards listed next to the projects/experiements in the curriclum. 

 

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just enroll them in public school, if you are bound to teach exactly what ps teaches at each level (and prove that you are) anyway?

 

I can tell you how to find CC aligned hs material: Go find the rabid (sorry, but they are) anti-CC'ers who have a website listing all curric. suppliers who are CC free and another list for the CC aligned. But I'm afraid this won't achieve your need of having specific standards keyed in the lesson plans; it's more about a particular course hitting all the objectives at some point during the year.

 

Most of the older hs materials that are considered CC aligned are designated that way because they already met or exceeded the standards, back before CC was even invented. Others, like Math Mammoth, updated to fit CC standards. Still others, like Math-U-See, added some lessons to fill gaps without changing their original material.

 

I will try to find that link for you, hold on....

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Here it is. You'll need to read everything to really understand how this web resource works. It's not as straightforward as it seems. Also, bear in mind that some companies have been dismissed as CC-friendly simply because they were offended by the interrogation as to whether they supported CC and therefore didn't respond to the survey...when in doubt, google "name of curriculum common core" because many publishers have made their facts known on their own websites.

 

http://www.hsroadmap.org/common-core-project/

[redsquirrel]

But there are so many homeschool materials out there that are CC aligned.  Pretty much anything created for use in a public school should work.

 

For example, SM and Beast Academy are CC aligned.  I know that Math in Focus is CC aligned and if you have the teacher's book it has a huge several page spread with all the state requirements it meets. It might even have a listing lesson by lesson.

 

I frequently see such things in science teacher edition books. It says stuff like "This meets the state requirements of ....blah, blah"

 

So, maybe what you need are some used public school books (those are usually pretty darn cheap) and the corresponding teacher's book.

 

Is this a state requirement? Because I have never heard of a state requiring such a thing from a homeschooler.  I live in NY, a fairly high reg state, and I am not required to meet CC standards.

 

 

[Slartibartfast]

Singapore has some CC math books. Frankly, I would like to shove the CC bits in the garbage disposal. They are  annoying and make things  much more confusing and ridiculous.

[Chelli]

Logic of English has CC aligned info for every lesson at the beginning of the teacher's manual.

[Mango]

"Lessons keyed for common core standards" That's exactly what I'm looking for! 

 

"Common cored aligned" doesn't go far enough. I have to tell the teacher's/have to choose the standards for the lessons we're doing. I am not a profession curriculum writer, I am not a professional teacher who's supposed to know CC standards and when something fits it. I'm just the parent coach who's stupid starts the minute I'm without a lesson plan. 

 

Our reasons for getting more help is because of many personal reasons. Lots of thought has gone into this decision. I'm not open to debate it.   

 

[Tsuga]

 

I am not a professional teacher who's supposed to know CC standards and when something fits it. I'm just the parent coach who's stupid starts the minute I'm without a lesson plan.

 

Though there are some really brilliant teachers out there, I'm pretty sure that you are in the same boat as thousands of public school teachers who also make their lesson plans and are adjusting to common core.

 

Also, can you clarify--are you asking about Common Core standards or Common Core test prep?

 

Common Core standards are easy. Just go to the government website. (Edit--sorry, I thought you were looking for general principles, not like, a textbook and activity level of detail. That is not easy. Good luck.)

 

Test prep, god knows what they have going on there.

[Southern Ivy]

All of BJU Press is common core aligned. Their website doesn't state it, but they do tell schools (if asked) that they are. 


Edit: I apparently can't differentiate between there, their, and they're. Gah! It's corrected now. 

[Farrar]

I'm sure you have your reasons, but this is just baffling to me. Using CC aligned math and ELA so that a child can transition back to school makes a lot of sense to me. Not the choice I'm making, but I totally get that. But this? Baffling to me and to nearly everyone on this board, I'm sure.

[elegantlion]

You might try a teachers school supply store, iow look for things designed for the classroom. I've seen workbooks that list the standards in the front. Also you might check on the site like teachers pay teachers, maybe other teachers have made the standards type of lesson plan notes you are looking for. 

 

Walch.com might be a place to start. 

 

evan-moor.com woud be another. 

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Mango, public school teachers are saying they can't do it, either, especially at the early elementary levels. They get a bye, at least a little bit, because they're in the system and everybody is trying to work together to make the schools align, but if you follow the conversations they aren't finding it logical, simple, or even entirely possible. Will this charter grant you any grace for failing to get it right on the first pass, or are you held to a tougher standard than even the local ps?

 

I know you don't want to debate your decision to go this route but if you were up for sharing some of your needs, maybe we could help you find a less invasive/unreasonable solution. There are lots of ways to homeschool but none of us have ever heard of this one and we don't think it's feasible.

 

Edited to add, for clarification of those reading along: I'm talking about the concept of matching lesson plan to standard, step by step, as Mango is saying is required. This isn't just about buying worktexts labeled "CC aligned," it seems.

[justasque]

Just out of curiosity, can I ask why you are looking for not just CC-alignment, but lesson-by-lesson documentation of it?  That seems unusual for a homeschooler.

And, if your virtual school is a public school, isn't it responsible for giving you curricula and lesson plans that meet the CC standards (thought not lesson-by-lesson documentation thereof)?  Is the school falling down on this and you are trying to compensate by doing the research and changing the curricula to fit CC?  

I did look at some examples of state standards when I designed curricula for my kids, but I used them to get a general sense of what kinds of things were expected and at what level, in the same way I used books like Rebecca Rupp's Home Learning Year by Year.  As a result, my curricula was influenced by these resources, but also by the needs and abilities of my child(ren), by the many books I read on education philosophy and practice, by my experiences as an educator (of my children and others) as I went through our homeschooling journey, and by my own objectives for my children's education.  Obviously, over time I honed my skills at this, learning as I went along.

State educational standards change over the years; what is in vogue when your children are young will be updated several times before they graduate.  As a teacher, and if your kids are doing virtual school you are still a teacher, even if you have outsourced some of the job, it's important to develop your own knowledge, experience and beliefs as to what curricular materials and experiences will benefit your particular children.  

[redsquirrel]

If you need know how each specific lesson meets common core goals then you need public school teacher materials. I have some middle school and high school teacher editions and they have that information along side each lesson.

 

You can also google 'name of curriculum" and 'curriculum map' you  might also have to add 'grade 5' or whatever if it is something like math that goes over a number of grades. 

 

Be aware that very often the standards for each lesson look like this:  "5 NBT 5, 5 NBT 2, 5MD 2"

 

and teachers don't know this off the top of their head, btw. They depend upon the teacher's book to tell them. Very often when they have a lesson they love and have used a long time to teach a particular thing they just fudge it as best they can. The standards are specifically written to allow teachers a lot of leeway in individual lessons. 

[KarenNC]

I'm having trouble getting a good picture of your situation, particularly why you are having to do 20 classes from scratch if they are providing you curricula (which you describe as "nicely laid out") and checklists for them and how projects fit into that vs lessons. Is it every lesson for every class or just special projects?

 

Which curricula are you currently being provided by the school? What sorts of projects or experiments are being required in which subjects for what grades? 

[BusyMom5]

Hugs!  I cannot imagine doing that!  The teachers I know have had a very hard time trying to get everything aligned to the standards, and that is why they have bought pre-aligned materials and had to scrap a lot of their own creative ideas. The new grade cards are sort of CC-aligned in my school.  They list the objective, and then give it a grade/check.  THey list out every objective in 1st grade (for example), and then as the introduce it, it gets a grade or a check all thru the year.  If something is not taught yet, it's left blank.  Grade cards for lower levels are several pages long, but do list all the standards.  Could you make up a list like this in a spreadsheet, then take your favorite materials, and try to make them fit in?  Also, you don't have to focus until mastery on each one, it can be brought up and presented, and then you can check it off.  You don't have to really focus on it.  It will be a lot of work, but if you don't have any other options, it could work.  You could also use a mixture of curriculums if one of your favorites does not approach something that's needed.  I've also noticed a lot of TPT things have the specific CC standards that they cover in them.   Teachers need to know before they purchase exactly what standards are addressed. 

 

I also have a lot of kids, and I cannot imagine doing this for all of them!  One, yes.  Maybe 2.  5?  No.  I'd be finding another alternative.  THat's just too much work.  I also find I need them all combined for as much as possible.  That will be harder if you have to follow CC guidelines, but I still think it could be done.  You will have to write out your own lesson plans to align each grade level.  Best of luck to you!

[Ellie]

 

Is this a state requirement? Because I have never heard of a state requiring such a thing from a homeschooler.  I live in NY, a fairly high reg state, and I am not required to meet CC standards.

 

Her children are enrolled in a charter school, and so are not legally homeschooled children. IOW, she is not following the homeschool requirements in her state because her children are not legally homeschooled children; they are public school children.

 

I know there have been many threads about whether people whose children are enrolled in public school charters are really homeschooling or not; Mango's predicament points out the importance of knowing what the *legal* ramifications are of enrolling the children in a public-school-at-home program. I would not tell her that philosophically she's homeschooling; I would only point out that the legality is that her children are public school students and so she must comply with public school requirements, not homeschool (or private school, depending on the state) requirements.

[Farrar]

Thinking more... ps curricula and many homeschool ones that are aligned usually have a breakdown by chapter for which exact standards they align to. I can only assume that a math program that is aligned will have that if you also have the TM. I've taught in ps and had to do some of this, but mostly they just give you the curricula and know that you're teaching it and that it is therefore covering the standards. The curriculum producers have done the vast majority of the work for you. So if they're insisting you use a curricula and not giving you those materials that show where the specific alignment is and then additionally insisting that you figure it out, they're asking you to do massively more work than ps teachers do.

 

Here's an example. This is the first grade CC alignment page from MM. It tells you exactly which pages correspond to exactly which standards:

http://www.mathmammoth.com/preview/MathMammoth_CommonCore_Alignment_Grade_1.pdf

 

If that isn't enough, I can't imagine what would be? You mention having to do "projects" for each standard? This is in addition to a curriculum? Seriously? For every standard you have to teach it and then do a "project"? Again, I can promise you ps kids and teachers are not doing that.

[momacacia]

Can you just use the ps curriculum? Wouldn't it already be aligned? They won't tell you what to use or what it is that they use?

???

[justasque]

If you are using curricula from the virtual school that is typical public school textbooks, you can usually go on Amazon and purchase the teacher's manual, which often includes references to the standards to which it was written.  I've found that, as schools are mid-transition, this may be expensive and not as easy to find as earlier editions.  If this is the case, contacting the publisher may be fruitful.

Are you using a public virtual charter school?  If so, they should have access to teacher's materials or other documentation regarding CC.  It is, however, very unusual for a parent to take such a detailed interest in the content of curricula, so they may be somewhat unprepared to answer such requests.

[Ellie]

 

Are you using a public virtual charter school?  If so, they should have access to teacher's materials or other documentation regarding CC.  It is, however, very unusual for a parent to take such a detailed interest in the content of curricula, so they may be somewhat unprepared to answer such requests.

 

Mango said:

 

 

I'm exhausted with trying to come up with common core projects to cover standards that aren't being covered in our materials. 

 

We're virtual charter schoolers, for now. The teachers won't help with this. Their job is to give me the curriculum, emphasize the check boxes, and then evaluate how well we check off the standards. The project is entirely up to us to come up with.

 

 

So, yes, it's a public virtual charter school. She is not taking a "detailed interest" in the content; she is trying to comply with the rules, but they are not giving her the tools to do it with.

[Catwoman]

Mango, have you spoken with other parents whose children are enrolled in the same program your family is using? How are they handling the situation?

 

I know you have explained what you are trying to do, but I still feel like I am missing something. Are you concerned with covering all of the cc stuff for testing purposes? Why would your kids have to do independent projects (designed by you) if they are in an existing school program? Shouldn't the school be providing the assignments? And if not, couldn't you simply follow along with the textbooks?

 

I'm sorry if I sound clueless, but this is the first time I have heard of anyone going to such lengths when their kids were enrolled in a virtual school.

[SparklyUnicorn]

I imagine if you buy the teacher manuals for CC aligned books it will get into those details.  Those manuals are quite pricey though. 

[Slartibartfast]

Which virtual charter are you using?

[Daria]

Singapore has some CC math books. Frankly, I would like to shove the CC bits in the garbage disposal. They are  annoying and make things  much more confusing and ridiculous.

 

Can you explain what makes you decide a certain bit is a CC bit?  I really don't understand this comment at all.

[SweetandSimple]

Is it possible that your teacher is new to the school and doesn't really understand what is required? I have noticed that sometimes the newer teachers are a lot stricter with requirements because they don't really know how to work with the system and parents yet. I would make sure that this is something that your SCHOOL is requiring of all parents, and not just something that your teacher thinks is a good idea/will make her life easier.

 

With that being said, have you ever seen StudyIsland.com? Your charter school may already have access to it, or may purchase subscriptions for your students.

 

I know that a lot of people have seen or used StudyIsland mostly as test prep, but I think that it is very good at being a "Check off the Standards" type of program. For English, Math, History, and Science, there are multiple topics that align with the standards. Each topic has a very short lesson that you can discuss with your student, and then lots of practice questions-- these can be completed online or printed. Each topic also has a button with the corresponding standard listed next to it.  If the questions are answered online, the program tracks all of your student's scores and shows if they are "proficient" or "advanced" or "below basic", etc for each topic/standard.

 

You can print reports showing which standards your kids are proficient in, and which ones they are not.

 

I choose whatever other curriculum I want, and then use the Study Island to help with test prep/ common core standards. It has been nice for us because it has helped to identify little gaps here and there, and we feel confident during state testing.

 

I am not sure if the online program would be enough to show the teachers that you are hitting the standards, or if it really has to be a "project."  Just a thought.

 

[Mango]

I'm having trouble getting a good picture of your situation, particularly why you are having to do 20 classes from scratch if they are providing you curricula (which you describe as "nicely laid out") and checklists for them and how projects fit into that vs lessons. Is it every lesson for every class or just special projects?

 

Which curricula are you currently being provided by the school? What sorts of projects or experiments are being required in which subjects for what grades? 

The school has given us a short list of standards(15-20)  that we have to choose 7 from for each subject area for the grade. It is not a comprehsive list because evidently it costs money to get the whole list put into the  grading system. I take my curriculum and decide which activity/assignments/experiements can fit a standard they've listed. If our curriculum doesn't have anything to fit, then I have start googling looking for a lesson plan that will fulfill the specifics of that standard. 

 

Having a standards by lesson would make this process easier. Instead, with the common core aligned material I spend hours with my curriculum trying to figure out if any projects match. The projects and experiments are detailed in the rubric along with the standard. They're ultra specific. You could have a beautiful project and have picked standards that don't quite match. So your final grade will be that you don't meet standards. It's not about creativity & ingenuity. It's about doing those inside ultra specific parameters. 

 

Yes the school bought the materials. No they didn't have a handle on this when ordering materials. We were given a list of common core aligned curriculum to choose from. Hours have spent trying to understand the standard, and then to match it to an activity my kid can do. 

 

Our school is frantically trying to complie to DPI requirements for common core implementation. I do think they are being held to a higher standard than the brick and mortar schools.

 

Believe me the school has evolved. If it was like this when we enrolled or we never would have enrolled.

 

Why did we do this? In the top ten of reasons it was to give our kids an added layer of accountability to step up their academic rigor. The kids have to meet the deadlines. They have to do the assignment. They have to tell their complaints to another non-family individual. I tried many creative things as a homeschooling parent to hold their piggies over a fires of get-it-done. Those of you who exceed at this, kudos! 

[Farrar]

So are the standards CC or something specific to the school?

 

I get wanting an extra layer of accountability. Which is why, if I were in your shoes, I would look for a different virtual charter to use. One with requirements that make sense.

[Mango]

Her children are enrolled in a charter school, and so are not legally homeschooled children. IOW, she is not following the homeschool requirements in her state because her children are not legally homeschooled children; they are public school children.

 

I know there have been many threads about whether people whose children are enrolled in public school charters are really homeschooling or not; Mango's predicament points out the importance of knowing what the *legal* ramifications are of enrolling the children in a public-school-at-home program. I would not tell her that philosophically she's homeschooling; I would only point out that the legality is that her children are public school students and so she must comply with public school requirements, not homeschool (or private school, depending on the state) requirements.

 Exactly, we're not homeschoolers any more. We're public-school-at home. 

 

We started this 2 years ago. Previously we'd been homescooling for 9 yrs. 

[mom31257]

Try being a public school teacher who has NO materials yet has to follow CC standards. That's my dh, and he has to piece together every single lesson plan and activity. 

 

 

[Slartibartfast]

Can you explain what makes you decide a certain bit is a CC bit?  I really don't understand this comment at all.

 

I didn't decide that, I can distinguish what has been added with CC. This isn't my first rodeo.

 

 We used Singapore for several years before CC.

 

 

 

 

[SweetandSimple]

Oh-- one more thought...

 

I've noticed that there are a lot of Common Core products created by public school teachers at TeachersPayTeachers.com.  I think that a lot of these teachers have had to do what you are trying to do. For example, here is a 2nd grade Language Arts packet that claims to have an assessment for every standard and sub-category standard.

 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Language-Arts-Assessments-for-2nd-Grade-364508

 

Some of these products look very good, and are much easier to wade through than a giant teacher's edition. The downside is that the cost would add up if you purchased very many of them.

[KarenNC]

Evidently you aren't in one of the standard virtual charters based around k12 or Connections Academy--perhaps it's a local one only? It certainly sounds like a very unusual situation.

 

Unfortunately, I think the kind of help you want is not going to be possible without a lot more specific information. Do you even have the option of choosing new curricula at this point, if the school has already purchased materials for you? New curricula is one question, working with what you have is another.

 

We are blindly trying to help without knowing ages, subjects, particulars on curricula, etc. If I understand what you are saying, the curricula you are currently using was picked from a school-provided list of common-core aligned material. In that case, it is likely the information you are looking for is online at the publisher's website. Try googling the title of the curriculum and "common core correlation" to see if anything pops up. For instance:

• Holt Science Fusion is a public school text series that I know many homeschoolers use and runs K-8th. Here's a page listing links that will give you Common Core correlations for exercises. http://www.hmhco.com/educators/education-topics/by-topic/hmh-and-ngss/correlations
• Saxon Math 2 (newest edition) http://www.hmhco.com/~/media/sites/home/education/global/pdf/correlations/math/elementary/saxon-k-8/CCSS-saxon-grade-2-140110.pdf
• Saxon algebra 1, 2, and geometry (so probably 4th edition) http://www.gardenhomeslutheran.org/home/2311/3660/images/Saxon%20AGA%20Common%20Core%20State%20Standards%20Correlations.pdf
• Prentice Hall Reader's Journey language arts middle school http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PS1iJy&PMDBSOLUTIONID=6724&PMDBSITEID=2781&PMDBCATEGORYID=3289&PMDBSUBSOLUTIONID=&PMDBSUBJECTAREAID=&PMDBSUBCATEGORYID=&PMDbProgramID=51741&elementType=asset&elementID=Correlations
• Writing Road to Reading http://www.spalding.org/index.php?tname=program&p=commoncore

After that, if you will post the specific title, grade level, publisher (and preferably the edition) of the ones you are having trouble finding, I will be glad to try to help you find something that will help. Otherwise, I think we are just going around in circles.

[Catwoman]

The school has given us a short list of standards(15-20) that we have to choose 7 from for each subject area for the grade. It is not a comprehsive list because evidently it costs money to get the whole list put into the grading system. I take my curriculum and decide which activity/assignments/experiements can fit a standard they've listed. If our curriculum doesn't have anything to fit, then I have start googling looking for a lesson plan that will fulfill the specifics of that standard.

 

Having a standards by lesson would make this process easier. Instead, with the common core aligned material I spend hours with my curriculum trying to figure out if any projects match. The projects and experiments are detailed in the rubric along with the standard. They're ultra specific. You could have a beautiful project and have picked standards that don't quite match. So your final grade will be that you don't meet standards. It's not about creativity & ingenuity. It's about doing those inside ultra specific parameters.

 

Yes the school bought the materials. No they didn't have a handle on this when ordering materials. We were given a list of common core aligned curriculum to choose from. Hours have spent trying to understand the standard, and then to match it to an activity my kid can do.

 

Our school is frantically trying to complie to DPI requirements for common core implementation. I do think they are being held to a higher standard than the brick and mortar schools.

 

Believe me the school has evolved. If it was like this when we enrolled or we never would have enrolled.

 

Why did we do this? In the top ten of reasons it was to give our kids an added layer of accountability to step up their academic rigor. The kids have to meet the deadlines. They have to do the assignment. They have to tell their complaints to another non-family individual. I tried many creative things as a homeschooling parent to hold their piggies over a fires of get-it-done. Those of you who exceed at this, kudos!

Wow, that sounds like a real nuisance and like the parents are stuck doing a good part of the school's job. I would be so angry!

 

Is there any way some of the parents could form an online group and share their ideas?

[Slartibartfast]

Evidently you aren't in one of the standard virtual charters based around k12 or Connections Academy--perhaps it's a local one only? It certainly sounds like a very unusual situation.

 

Unfortunately, I think the kind of help you want is not going to be possible without a lot more specific information. Do you even have the option of choosing new curricula at this point, if the school has already purchased materials for you? New curricula is one question, working with what you have is another.

 

 

 

Calvert also uses the standards.

 

I don't know what virtual program does this.

[Catwoman]

Calvert also uses the standards.

 

I don't know what virtual program does this.

I don't, either, and I don't understand this situation at all.

 

I thought one of the benefits of virtual schools was that the programs were structured and the kids were all following the same schedule, using the same textbooks, doing the same assignments, and taking the same tests.

 

What is the point of a virtual school where the parents have to set up the projects for the kids, and how could they possibly be graded fairly?

 

A program like Calvert makes sense because it's highly structured and kids (and parents) know all along exactly what is required of them. I can't figure out Mango's kids' school at all.

[Ellie]

 

Why did we do this? In the top ten of reasons it was to give our kids an added layer of accountability to step up their academic rigor. The kids have to meet the deadlines. They have to do the assignment. They have to tell their complaints to another non-family individual. I tried many creative things as a homeschooling parent to hold their piggies over a fires of get-it-done. Those of you who exceed at this, kudos! 

 

But now it's really *your* piggies that are being held over the fire, not your dc's. Are you sure it's worth it?

[kitten18]

For elementary history and science we have used Studies Weekly. The teacher guide lists CC standards and ways to meet them for every lesson.

 

If you're not finding what you need in your books/teacher guides you might have some luck on the publishers' websites.

 

 

Hugs. This sounds really ridiculous. We are in a charter school home study program and we don't have to do anything like this.

[EndOfOrdinary]

I think you need to personally look at the Common Core. It is not specific by any means. It you have your elementary children make Valentines, they will hit at least three English CC standards. And I mean all your kids, regardless of grade level. The Common Core in not badly written. It is badly implemented by school districts that want to do the exact thing you are talking about - twenty specific projects for every little thing so they can check boxes rather than accept that teaching can be inclusive and imaginative.

 

One science experiment write up can hit two or three science topics, one or two math topics, and at least two English. It can do that across grade levels. A hypothesis is a thesis statement. A lab write up is expository or technical writing depending on the situation. Data analysis and reasoning are math standards across just about all grade levels.

 

I do not mean this to insult you. I mean this to hold your charter advisor/teacher accountable.

 

I have Common Cored everything my son has in his portfolio and each subject he learns just to have my ducks in a row. I promise that I am not spewing sewage at you. It is highly possible you are not receiving accurate information. The Common Core would be REALLY hard not to hit if you are just doing the usual with your kids. You are being fed a line and being asked to do something unreasonable by your district, not the Common Core.

[Mango]

OK, I called our curriculum providers, gave THEM the list of standards I have to choose from. They agreed to let me know where in the texts these standards might be/or not. :)) I think they were shocked because they didn't realize there are now science standards too. They thought it was just English and History. Nope, science has come online since the fall. 

 

Ours is a virtual charter school. It is different from K12 and Connections Academy. 

 

Change? Aboslutely is being considered. The letter to pull the kids out is drafted. The broken part is on the teacher's end. The children are learning despite the bickering over standards. If I pull the kids out, I lose their school materials half way through the year. 

 

Part of the reason we chose THIS virtual charter school was that we were given curriculum choices. The math curriculum is the only standardarized curriculum that every family has to use. It's Aleks Math, online with standards by each lesson. 

[maize]

OK, I called our curriculum providers, gave THEM the list of standards I have to choose from. They agreed to let me know where in the texts these standards might be/or not. :)) I think they were shocked because they didn't realize there are now science standards too. They thought it was just English and History. Nope, science has come online since the fall.

 

Ours is a virtual charter school. It is different from K12 and Connections Academy.

 

Change? Aboslutely is being considered. The letter to pull the kids out is drafted. The broken part is on the teacher's end. The children are learning despite the bickering over standards. If I pull the kids out, I lose their school materials half way through the year.

 

Part of the reason we chose THIS virtual charter school was that we were given curriculum choices. The math curriculum is the only standardarized curriculum that every family has to use. It's Aleks Math, online with standards by each lesson.

I'm pretty sure Common Core is still only English and math, I see no science on their website. Most states however do have core standards for science, and many use or adapt the Next Generation Science Standards; that is most likely what you are working with.

 

Your supervising teacher should be available to help you through all this, if they are not helpful I would go up the chain at your school. They are receiving funding for your students, they are directly responsible for the education of those students. If they are not offering sufficient help and support be the squeaky hinge; they cannot rightfully demand that you do the work of a public school teacher unless they pay you as such.

 

I am in favor of virtual schools as an educational option, especially the variety of virtual school that allows parents and students to make curriculum choices; in many places however such schools if they exist represent a new model of education and they and the state school boards are having to feel their way towards workable systems and expectations together. The process can be a bit messy.

[Mango]

Sorry, they are the next generation science standards. 

 

Yes, the process is new and messy. 

[Farrar]

What are the history standards though? I'm familiar with the Next Generation Science Standards but not any national history standards. I'm glad the curriculum people are going to do the work for you/do their jobs and tell you where what you need to cover is covered. That sounds like a good solution.

[Slartibartfast]

OK, I called our curriculum providers, gave THEM the list of standards I have to choose from. They agreed to let me know where in the texts these standards might be/or not. :)) I think they were shocked because they didn't realize there are now science standards too. They thought it was just English and History. Nope, science has come online since the fall.

 

Ours is a virtual charter school. It is different from K12 and Connections Academy.

 

Change? Aboslutely is being considered. The letter to pull the kids out is drafted. The broken part is on the teacher's end. The children are learning despite the bickering over standards. If I pull the kids out, I lose their school materials half way through the year.

 

Part of the reason we chose THIS virtual charter school was that we were given curriculum choices. The math curriculum is the only standardarized curriculum that every family has to use. It's Aleks Math, online with standards by each lesson.

Do you have to pay for your materials?

[mom31257]

Here is a math website that has support by grade level and standard. 

 

http://www.mathsisfun.com/links/core-index.html

[Ellie]

Do you have to pay for your materials?

 

Her children are enrolled in a public charter school. The school pays for--and owns--all instructional materials, which is why she'd have to return them if she withdraws her children.

[Slartibartfast]

Her children are enrolled in a public charter school. The school pays for--and owns--all instructional materials, which is why she'd have to return them if she withdraws her children.

 

My kids are enrolled in a public virtual charter school, they are enrolled in Calvert. They sent us our materials.

 

Her virtual charter doesn't seem to work like the others.

 

I don't know if having so much choice sounds like it is worth all the confusion. 

[trulycrabby]

Singapore Math has a cc aligned curriculum, and their "Standards" Editions lists the standards at the beginning of each lesson in the Instructors Guides, although they are California standards, I believe. US edition does not specifically state standards, but does list what skill is being covered with each lesson.

 

We use a CC aligned math curriculum, McGraw Hill Science: A Closer Look, but I do not have the teacher's edition to see if the standards are listed in each lesson.

[Daria]

Singapore Math has a cc aligned curriculum, and their "Standards" Editions lists the standards at the beginning of each lesson in the Instructors Guides, although they are California standards, I believe. US edition does not specifically state standards, but does list what skill is being covered with each lesson.

 

We use a CC aligned math curriculum, McGraw Hill Science: A Closer Look, but I do not have the teacher's edition to see if the standards are listed in each lesson.

 

 

California has adopted CC, so if they are listing the current California standards, they will also be the Common Core standards.

[waa510]

I just got my little one a DK Science workbook that claims to be good for CC standards. That's not why I purchased it but it's on a huge sticker on it's cover so that may work. I'm sure DK has other subjects and multiple grade levels.

 

Rightstart Math has now put CC standards' notations at the very bottom of each of the pages in their math series within the second edition. If you know the notation of the standard, this could be an easy fix for Math.