Reading SummaryReading Summary

Chapters 1 and 2Chapters 1 and 2

Genesis of StandardsGenesis of Standards

Standards are:Standards are:Expectations of student learning.Expectations of student learning.

Since early time, elders expected and taught young Since early time, elders expected and taught young people skill necessary to carry on society.people skill necessary to carry on society.

Today we have the added emphasis of documenting Today we have the added emphasis of documenting student learning.student learning.

Past Expectations - GeneralPast Expectations - General

WomenWomen CookingCooking SewingSewing CleaningCleaning Child careChild care Assist husband/fatherAssist husband/father

MenMen Make a satisfactory wageMake a satisfactory wage Support familySupport family

None of these required a long-term, successful formal education

Past Expectations - TeachersPast Expectations - Teachers

FemaleFemale SingleSingle No “unseemly conduct”No “unseemly conduct” Read Bible or other good Read Bible or other good

books in free timebooks in free time Spend 10+ hours in Spend 10+ hours in

classroom each dayclassroom each day

MaleMale Similar constraintsSimilar constraints Allowed to marryAllowed to marry Allowed to court one Allowed to court one

night a week, twice if night a week, twice if regularly attending regularly attending church.church.

No mention of that teacher’s impact on student learning!

Context for Today’s Educational Context for Today’s Educational StandardsStandards

Began in the 1980’s (1983 study, Began in the 1980’s (1983 study, A Nation at A Nation at RiskRisk)) Revealed downward trend in documented learning Revealed downward trend in documented learning

results.results. (see quote on p 4 of text)(see quote on p 4 of text) In the midst of the Cold War, this sounded like a In the midst of the Cold War, this sounded like a

threat to the American way of life.threat to the American way of life.

Context for Today’s Educational Context for Today’s Educational StandardsStandards

1989 NCTM published first set of national 1989 NCTM published first set of national standards for mathematics.standards for mathematics.

Many followed, causing confusion as to which is Many followed, causing confusion as to which is THE set of standards to be followedTHE set of standards to be followed

First National Education Summit held in 1989 First National Education Summit held in 1989 leading to 10-year plan highlighting goals to be leading to 10-year plan highlighting goals to be met by 2000.met by 2000.

Standards in Diverse SettingsStandards in Diverse Settings

Trends:Trends: The country will become a nation of minoritiesThe country will become a nation of minorities Education will shift from averages to individualsEducation will shift from averages to individuals The Millennial Generation will insist on solutions The Millennial Generation will insist on solutions

to accumulated problems and injustices.to accumulated problems and injustices.

Standards in Diverse SettingsStandards in Diverse Settings

Racial labels will become more difficult to use.Racial labels will become more difficult to use. Many diverse elementsMany diverse elements

RaceRace EthnicityEthnicity GenderGender ReligionReligion Socio-economicSocio-economic Learning (dis)abilitiesLearning (dis)abilities Spoken languageSpoken language

Standards in Diverse SettingsStandards in Diverse Settings

Emphasis moving to individual achievement Emphasis moving to individual achievement instead of the “average” child concept.instead of the “average” child concept. Bell curve vs all kids will progress satisfactorilyBell curve vs all kids will progress satisfactorily Teacher efforts in this area are now being Teacher efforts in this area are now being

documented, analyzed and, sometimes, used for documented, analyzed and, sometimes, used for evaluative purposes.evaluative purposes.

Standards-Driven ReformStandards-Driven Reform

Decisions are made in ways that reflect the Decisions are made in ways that reflect the intent and purpose of a given standard.intent and purpose of a given standard.

Not the same as “standards-based” where Not the same as “standards-based” where every activity must be based on a standard every activity must be based on a standard with no exceptionswith no exceptions

Standards-driven allows for teacher-flexibility Standards-driven allows for teacher-flexibility and the zig-zagging we do as students ask and the zig-zagging we do as students ask questions and bring up new ideas.questions and bring up new ideas.

Types of Standards – View 1Types of Standards – View 1

Types of Standards

Content Performance Disposition

Types of Standards – View 2Types of Standards – View 2

Types of Standards

Content Curriculumclassroom activities used to teach skills

Types of Standards – View 2Types of Standards – View 2

Types of Standards

Content Curriculum

Procedural Declarative Contextual

Identify the processes students need to master

Identify the basic information students need to know about.

Identify the knowledge and skills that take on a particular meaning because of the conditions in which they occur.

Vertical StandardsVertical Standards

Build w/in a content area from one grade level Build w/in a content area from one grade level to the next.to the next.

Similar tasks gradually increasing in Similar tasks gradually increasing in complexity and difficulty until mastery is complexity and difficulty until mastery is achieved.achieved.

Highest level is often referred to as the overall Highest level is often referred to as the overall standard.standard.

Interim standards provide benchmarks.Interim standards provide benchmarks.

Horizontal StandardsHorizontal Standards

Standards that don’t necessarily build upon Standards that don’t necessarily build upon each other.each other. GrammarGrammar Creative expressionCreative expression

W/in a school year.W/in a school year.

More StandardsMore Standards

InterimInterim Temporary measure of progressTemporary measure of progress

BenchmarkBenchmark See “Interim”See “Interim”

TieredTiered Think “scaffolding”. Combination of both vertical Think “scaffolding”. Combination of both vertical

and horizontal standards.and horizontal standards.

Purpose of StandardsPurpose of Standards

National SecurityNational Security Financial AccountabilityFinancial Accountability School to School DifferencesSchool to School Differences Practices in Other Industrialized CountriesPractices in Other Industrialized Countries A Need to Anchor Standardized TestsA Need to Anchor Standardized Tests

We want a system that performs, that gives our children We want a system that performs, that gives our children a better future that we have had. We want to increase a better future that we have had. We want to increase student achievement, solve problems and achieve student achievement, solve problems and achieve goals.goals.