Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/138130
and assessments for students. "It's definitely an adjustment," say Leung. "But don't be afraid. Work with those around you. Share ideas. And be prepared to work hard." research. That wouldn't have happened under the current standards. While new content standards have not yet been released for science and social studies, teachers in those subjects incorporate CCSS literary and writing standards into Pioneer High School in Whittier curriculum, which means using more priThe teacher doesn't stand at the board and mary sources such as historical and scientific lecture. Students don't sit quietly at their documents, asking students to "reflect" on desks. The freshman algebra class is abuzz reading materials, and replacing multipleas groups of students solve math problems choice assessments with BCRs. together — verbally and on whiteboards. "We are using the same skill set that's Algebra is definitely different since being used in English classes," explains biolPioneer High School began CCSS impleogy teacher Ken Guidry. "We're focusing mentation. more on reading comprehension and collabToday's lesson is on multiplying and oration. I have students write reflections on dividing rational expressions. Teacher what they understand from outside articles. Jennifer De Baca Sandoval circulates I believe these things will make students among groups. more successful after graduation." Students demonstrate BCRs (Brief ConWhittier Secondary Education Associastructed Responses), a CCSS assessment tion members began tackling CCSS in tool where students provide brief answers to summer 2011. English and math BCRs questions to show their knowledge, rather for different grade levels were created, than just regurgitating correct answers. along with a grading rubric. The next "I have adjusted instruction to allow stusummer, they stepped it up. The district dents more time to work together to process continues to provide release time for coland critique the reasoning of others," says laboration. Teachers also communicate Sandoval, who says the shift has been helpful online districtwide, sharing lesson plans with English learners. via Moodle or Dropbox. Students enjoy working with — and learn"Other districts hired consultants, but ing from — one another. we work together," says Dan Esquerra, math tial" or "nonessential" and began building "Sometimes the teacher goes too fast, teacher and CCSS support coach. "It may assessments for key ones. and when we talk to each other, we can go not be perfect, but teachers have buy-in, and Assessments were created before lesson if it doesn't work, we fix it." plans were created, which Leung calls "back- slower," explains Felipa Moreno. "If you Teachers were surprised when district wards planning." It's best to set a destination don't pay attention, you let down your team and your friends." officials told them not to worry about scores and then build a road to get there, she says. English classes have incorporated scienon California Standardized Tests (CST) this Under the new math standards, students year, even though the district is in Program must demonstrate knowledge instead of just tific, nonfiction and historical documents in keeping with the CCSS, says teacher Jae Improvement. Staff were asked instead to answering multiple-choice questions. So Shin. In her classroom, for example, students focus on the new standards in the belief it "performance based assessments" were crewill pay off in the long run. ated, allowing students to demonstrate what write essays about the danger of student concussions in football based on scientific Lessons learned? Begin immediately and they know. In Leung's classroom, students answer word problems not just with an answer, but with an explanation of why they arrived at an answer. "Writing answers with words or equations to show how they arrived at a decision is not something students are used to doing," she says. "Many don't know how to verbally explain something." Textbooks linked to CCSS are not yet available, so San Jose teachers are improvising. English teachers photocopy news Not changing is not an option. Working together as a team makes it easier, say (l-r) Jae Shin, articles and historical documents; math Jennifer DeBaca Sandoval, Lisa Ceja, and Ken Guidry. instructors create their own word problems June/July 2013 www.cta.org Educator 06 June 2013 v2.0.indd 17 17 6/14/13 9:30 PM