I’ll start by saying I’m not against textbooks.  I support what’s best for kids.

I had the opportunity to speak at GACIS today and I shared a major concern of mine with a group of decision makers across Georgia.  Recently, I’ve been inundated with textbook samples labeled “Common Core”.  I’m not singling one out but it’s the the same across the board…for the most part.

Here’s some characteristics of textbooks when I was in school:

  • lots of problems (like 35 per page)
  • shows how to do the math
  • naked math followed by 2-3 word problems

Has anything changed?  You be the judge.

Here is what the CCSS version looks like:

The picture of the panda validates the real-world-ness of the problem

The picture of the panda validates the real-world-ness of the problem.  Really?

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Label it as test practice because that's why students should do math!

Label it as test practice… because that’s why students should do math!

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WTH is “Common Core Review”?

 

So here is what we have as a wrap up…


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The CCSS stamp on the front of a book doesn’t mean its what’s best for kids.  You can put lipstick on a pit bull and it’s ….

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