Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/315828
ORAL HISTORY Learning Best practice L I K E M O S T PA R E N T S , Johanna Haag had lots of questions about how the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) would affect her daughter, a fi fth-grader at New Traditions Elementary School in San Francisco. "I had a lot of concerns. I had read some negative press. I wanted to know what was really going on. My biggest question was what the Common Core would look like in my daughter's classroom." S h e we n t to a P TA m e e t i n g p a c ke d w i t h p a re n t s , w h e re United Educators of San Francisco members provided some answers. But first, parents filled out a survey, so teachers could address specific concerns. Fifth-grade teacher Molly Jo Alaimo and third-grade teacher Cristina Fiori explained that many teachers have already implemented CCSS into instruction. They told parents that school staff believe in the new standards because they encourage children to be critical thinkers, write well and prove their work instead of just showing right answers. They also gave some examples of how they would teach certain lessons. For example, Alaimo explained how her students recently read a fact-fi lled piece of nonfi ction, came up with questions based on the facts, and then answered their own questions, which led to students defending their per- sonal opinions on whether the government should raise the debt ceiling. Parents in the audience were amazed to think their youngsters could be thinking about such a weighty subject. Talking to parents about Common Core and more By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin F i o r i e x p l a i n e d t h a t i n s te a d o f j u s t te a c h i n g h e r s t u d e n t s o n e m a t h equation, students learned h o w t o s o l v e p r o b l e m s i n m u l t i p l e ways , u s i n g m a n i p u l a t ive s , d r aw i n g pictures, and sometimes coming up with formulas on their own, deepening their understanding of math concepts. The presentation allayed Haag's concern that cursive would be eliminated and students would only be working At a PTA meeting, Cristina Fiori explains to parents that students learn to solve math problems in multiple ways under Common Core. Molly Jo Alaimo tells parents the Common Core standards encourage critical thinking. P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S C O T T B U S C H M A N 48 M AY 2 0 1 4 why this should be the only credit card you reach for Earn more cash back for the things you buy most at the places you shop the most with the CTA Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit card. Grocery and gas bonus rewards apply to the first $1,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter.* For more information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of the credit card, call the toll-free number above or visit neamb.com. * The 2% cash back on grocery purchases and 3% cash back on gas purchases applies to the first $1,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter. After that, the base 1% earn rate applies to those purchases. ** You will qualify for $100 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of Purchase, Balance Transfer or Cash Advance transactions totaling at least $500 (exclusive of any transaction fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit one (1) bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to new customers opening an account in response to this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8-12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. Bank of America may issue an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) to you that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither Bank of America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide tax advice. This credit card program is issued and administered by FIA Card Services, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks o f Bank of America Corporation. ©2013 Bank of America Corporation MB1013-SEV-AD-CTA Learn more and apply today! Call 1.866.867.6323 mention priority code VABXLA 7 Reasons 1% cash back everywhere, every time 2% cash back at grocery stores* 3% cash back on gas* + $100 cash rewards bonus offer if you make at least $500 in transactions in the first 90 days** and more great features! Educator 05 May 2014 v1.6 int.indd 48 5/16/14 3:21 PM