Common Core Benefits

Point #7: Benefits of a Shared Core
There are some major benefits to having the same Core standards as 43 other states.

One of those benefits is that textbook manufacturers are now catering to us! Now, it is true that the textbooks aren't great right now, but they will improve. In the past, it was impossible for textbook manufacturers to cater textbooks to each state's core. So, they made two books: one for Texas's core and one for California's. That was it. The rest of us had to look at the textbooks, find one that kinda sorta fit our core, and then create all kinds of lessons and worksheets to supplement it. It was a pain.

Another benefit is that teachers in all of those states are creating resources for the Common Core. So, I can go online, put in the exact standard I'm looking to teach, and get resources from teachers all over the country. When you realize that 90% of teachers never upload a single lesson online, it's pretty hard to find lessons from Utah teachers for every single standard you teach. However, now, there are a wealth of incredible resources wherever you look. This has basically allowed me to collaborate with teachers all over the country, and it has improved my instruction dramatically.

Another benefit is that all the educational resource companies are now catering to us. I'm not sure if you've heard, but lack of funding tends to be a problem in education. Even entire states can't afford to commission some of the great resources they would like to have. However, when a company can make one product for the entire nation, the cost becomes reasonable because everyone pitches in. This has allowed us to have great resources like adaptive testing (a single test question can cost $100 to develop) and all kinds of apps.

Another benefit is a direct benefit to the students. For the first time, a child can move from one state to another and get the same instruction. In the past, one state would teach Order of Operations in 6th grade and another in 5th. The kid moved from the first state to the second between 5th and 6th grade and was never taught Order of Operations.

This is the end of my Common Core series.  However, I would love to answer any questions you have. Several people have approached me about sharing my posts: please feel free. I really don't have access to a wide base of readers, but I would love for more people to hear another side of the Common Core debate.