Why does teaching to State standards require a grade-by-grade common core curriculum?
Standards-based instruction involves the explicit teaching of specifically identified knowledge and skills. The specifically identified knowledge and skills are the common core curriculum. • What is a common core curriculum? To be sure the specifically identified knowledge and skills are consistently taught across the State, a grade-by-grade common core curriculum for the elementary and intermediate grades needs to be developed. This common core curriculum should constitute a major part (between 50% and 60%) of the total curriculum. The remaining 40% to 50% would be locally developed based on local needs, preferences, custom and history. This core curriculum would be required to be taught in all public and private schools in New York State. • Why is there a need for a grade-by-grade common core curriculum? BECAUSE students and their teachers need to know what is expected of them – The fundamentals that are to be learned in a particular grade should not vary within a school, from school
