Dear Jon: Common Core Standards presents a challenge for parents

Parents of today’s students were taught differently than how their children are now being asked to learn. Trying to actually help your child with homework as become a challenge, but not impossible.

Teachers tell me it can be frustrating because children aren’t coming home with a worksheet, but with problems and being asked to solve them using prior knowledge. The common core standards are about critical thinking not just 1+1=2.

In Catarina Beussens math class at Alisal High School, ground zero for the new common core standards, students say it’s a challenge but seem to like it. “In some areas it’s a bit difficult,” say Sophomore Rafael Mejia, “but you always figure out how to do it.”

And for Rito Baltran, “It is a challenge, it’s a challenge because now you’re supposed to explain what you have, this is what the common core does.”

Teacher Catarina Beussen says this new learning procedure engages the students so much better, “What I want my students to come up with is, why a certain procedure works and how did you come up with it.”

But now the challenge has been place in parent’s lap who want to help their children with homework. They weren’t taught this way, but according to Beussen, who’s also a parent herself, there’s much parents can do to help their students in this new common core world.

It starts with just being supportive.

“When we support them and we praise them, ‘wow, that’s great thinking.’ Or, ‘wow, I didn’t really know that!’ Maybe I should talk to your teacher and ask more information on how I can help the child at home. Then the child feels validated for all the effort and it does take effort.”

Judging from my observation in the classroom, there were a lot of frowns and head scratching, but the benefit says Beussen is that students are being taught to think for themselves. And that’s preparing for the future like never before.

“From the business world, we’ve been told time and time again that whatever comes out of our school system doesn’t prepare our students to be successful, they were not college ready they were not career. Common Core standards are changing that,” says Beussen.

The days of work sheets that parents look over are gone, which is tougher for parents. But another suggestion from Beussen is to ask your child to explain the process to you. That way you’re engaged and the child’s learning is reinforced.

If you have a question for me, contact me by email ‘DearJon@KionRightNow.com’ or Facebook, ‘Jon Brent KION’.